MX Blue Dampeners

[Hyydrah]

Has anyone tried these with their blue switches? http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-switch-dampeners.html (I think the blue rings would be most suitable since they seem to be optimized for them)

 

I'm just wondering what their pros and cons are, and if you prefer them over stock switches

[Lukiose]

To be honest, if you're getting a fat o-ring to go with Blues then it largely defeats the purpose of going with a blue switched keyboard as it removes a large portion of the audible feedback - in which case you should have simply went with a brown to feel maximum key travel without the hassle.

If you wanna dampen the sound somewhat though the .2mm rings should be pretty good as the travel of the key should still feel rather similar, but the sound made from bottoming out (NOT THE CLICK!) would be dampened by the o rings

[Hyydrah]

I don't intend on reducing noise, in fact that's one of the main selling points of Blues for me. I'm looking for a faster typing experience

[Lukiose]

Ah i can't help much with that i'm afraid x.x

(Although something inside me screams out a possibility with the .4mm due to possible shorter travel distance)

[WindyDays]

Blue rings aren't optimised for blue switches.

The red 0.2mm rings will probably be the best choice as people have had some complaints about the typing experience feeling unnatural on the 0.4mm rings.

Though the rings are effective at reducing the noise of bottoming out, I highly doubt it will improve the speed of typing - I think you will be better off practicing or just keeping in mind that you can let go once you feel the tactile bump. However, I don't speak from personal experience - this is from knowledge I've read and/or derived.

 

It's probably more of a personal preference thing though - you might want to check out WASD's sampler kit:

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-sampler-kit.html

[Dave :)]

I don't intend on reducing noise, in fact that's one of the main selling points of Blues for me. I'm looking for a faster typing experience.

 

The O-Ring dampers won't really effect your typing speed. They are only used to reduce the sound when your bottom out your keys - it makes a distinctive noise separate from the standard "actuation" click.

[Hyydrah]

The O-Ring dampers won't really effect your typing speed. They are only used to reduce the sound when your bottom out your keys - it makes a distinctive noise separate from the standard "actuation" click.

But I heard that because many of us tend to bottom out our keys, the reduced distance can increase typing speeds

[Dave :)]

But I heard that because many of us tend to bottom out our keys, the reduced distance can increase typing speeds.

 Well yes but the dampers won't help you do that - you have to learn to type lighter. The dampers only reduce the sound of your keys bottoming out.

[Hyydrah]

 Well yes but the dampers won't help you do that - you have to learn to type lighter. The dampers only reduce the sound of your keys bottoming out.

And reduce the maximum travel distance. It's very difficult to not bottom out stock Blue switches while still making the key register

[Dave :)]

And reduce the maximum travel distance. It's very difficult to not bottom out stock Blue switches while still making the key register.

 

Put it this way - from my experience with Browns (granted, not blues but similar nonetheless), ORings didn't help me improve my typing speed from preventing me bottoming out. You may be different, but i don't wish to give you a false hope in that it will dramatically improve your typing experience.

[Hyydrah]

Put it this way - from my experience with Browns (granted, not blues but similar nonetheless), ORings didn't help me improve my typing speed from preventing me bottoming out. You may be different, but i don't wish to give you a false hope in that it will dramatically improve your typing experience.

Hmm okay, how long did you use them for?

[Dave :)]

Hmm okay, how long did you use them for?

 

Had them for about a month. They didn't really feel that different - i could tell they were there, but wasn't a completely different experience. I still have them on now, so it's not a negative addition at all.

[Hyydrah]

Had them for about a month. They didn't really feel that different - i could tell they were there, but wasn't a completely different experience. I still have them on now, so it's not a negative addition at all.

Why do you still use them? And what o-rings are they by the way?

[Kiraaaa]

Yea.. o-rings won't really increase your typing speed. Sure they reduce travel distance.. but that's VERY minimal. Expect like an extra 1wpm? lol

They're intended to just dampen the noise, as you can see by their name.

I put the G710+ o-rings onto the QFR w/ blues just for fun and to test the feel. I found that I don't like o-rings, and I would definitely not get them on blues because I think it's kinda stupid lol. But that's just me.

[tbc]

just learn to type better.  notice they're called 'dampeners' and not 'type faster' rings?

 

learning the actuation point of your keys will reduce the travel distance by a WAYYY larger amount while still having the click and saves you money and time.

 

by all means, go ahead and buy them if it makes you feel better and it's fun - just don't actually go around telling people it has benefits it doesn't.  I know you want to BELIEVE this will help, but it won't.

[WaiseCoo]

I have 4mm o-rings, which reduce the travel about 1mm. At the moment they are in the closet, cause I dont particulary like them.

 

I tought that blues were too loud so I purchashed them. By the time they arrived I had already gotten used to the sound and feel. I definitely can understand if someone likes them, it gives them somewhat more "quality" feel. As far as the typing speed comes, i do not find myself typing faster with them. The 1mm travel reduce is insignificant in real world usage, atleast in my opinion.

 

If you want to get o-rings for the blues, i'd recommed for you to search the 1mm thick ones. The travel after the actuation point feels very natural, and who knows. maybe you will type faster with them, once you get used to them.

The 0.4mm reduce will probably be just fine, I just think that the effect is too small with such a small travel reduce.

 

But you should definitely try some of them, there isn't much to loose.

[Hyydrah]

just learn to type better.  notice they're called 'dampeners' and not 'type faster' rings?

 

learning the actuation point of your keys will reduce the travel distance by a WAYYY larger amount while still having the click and saves you money and time.

 

by all means, go ahead and buy them if it makes you feel better and it's fun - just don't actually go around telling people it has benefits it doesn't.  I know you want to BELIEVE this will help, but it won't.

I'm not telling people that there is a benefit, just that I heard that there is. Just because they're advertised as being noise dampeners doesn't mean that they don't have other side effects as well

 

I have 4mm o-rings, which reduce the travel about 1mm. At the moment they are in the closet, cause I dont particulary like them.

 

I tought that blues were too loud so I purchashed them. By the time they arrived I had already gotten used to the sound and feel. I definitely can understand if someone likes them, it gives them somewhat more "quality" feel. As far as the typing speed comes, i do not find myself typing faster with them. The 1mm travel reduce is insignificant in real world usage, atleast in my opinion.

 

If you want to get o-rings for the blues, i'd recommed for you to search the 1mm thick ones. The travel after the actuation point feels very natural, and who knows. maybe you will type faster with them, once you get used to them.

The 0.4mm reduce will probably be just fine, I just think that the effect is too small with such a small travel reduce.

 

But you should definitely try some of them, there isn't much to loose.

Look at it this way. You press the key, and one of the bottlenecks that is preventing you from increasing your typing speed is the time it takes to press the key. Wouldn't you agree that spending less time to actuate the key can increase your typing speed? From what I've read, people either don't mention it, or they do and only here have I heard anyone saying that it doesn't make much of a difference

[TheProfosist]

Which keyboard are you going to put these on or which keycaps do you have. The reason I ask is the thickness of o-ring you get really depends on the profile of your keycaps which determines how much room in under them. Also only get 40A dont bothe with 50A they have too little give when you do bottom out.

 

I also think putting orings on a blue switch keyboard is a good thing as the thock of bottoming out to me is rather annoying but the click is great audible feedback. Id you really want something that sounds like typing on a mechanical keyboard get a Model M Variant or something with a form of clicky ALPS.

 

About making you type faster they due to bottoming out sooner. Mostly likey ones of those thickness will make little to no difference at all, you probably need something 2x as think to reduce the distance enough to make a difference on OEM height keycaps.

 

And about o-rings feeling different than normal typing this will happen but I prefer it as it makes bottom out much less jaunting when you do it and if you bottom out makes the keyboard considerably quieter in most cases.