Quality Quite keyboard

r3awak3n

Gawd
Joined
Dec 7, 2006
Messages
965
Hey guys,

I have a original das keyboard ultimate. Not only I love that there are no printing on the keys (makes me type faster too :)) but I love that its a mechanical keyboard. Before this I had a razer which was fine but I definitely like mechanical.

My problem is that living in New York City, places are small and I have to share my computer space with my lovely girlfriend aka my computer is right behind the couch. She does not like mechanical keyboards and she already complained about the rezer (non mechanical) and now she just cant stant the clicking everytime she is watching her favorite episode of gossip girl (ehh).

What do you guys recommend for a good silent (doesnt havet o be ninja assasin silent but decently) keyboard that is a good typer and good for games. I also like the minimal look (most keyboards now adays are all cyborged out and I hate that shit). Something simple and good that is not super loud. Also would love it to not have any letters ont he keys but if it does its not a problem.

Price is not an issue but would love it to be $100 on amazon ( have an amazon gift cert) and up to $150 if that much better), I will sell my das here on the forum.

HaLP
 
Hey guys,

I have a original das keyboard ultimate. Not only I love that there are no printing on the keys (makes me type faster too :)) but I love that its a mechanical keyboard. Before this I had a razer which was fine but I definitely like mechanical.

My problem is that living in New York City, places are small and I have to share my computer space with my lovely girlfriend aka my computer is right behind the couch. She does not like mechanical keyboards and she already complained about the rezer (non mechanical) and now she just cant stant the clicking everytime she is watching her favorite episode of gossip girl (ehh).

What do you guys recommend for a good silent (doesnt havet o be ninja assasin silent but decently) keyboard that is a good typer and good for games. I also like the minimal look (most keyboards now adays are all cyborged out and I hate that shit). Something simple and good that is not super loud. Also would love it to not have any letters ont he keys but if it does its not a problem.

Price is not an issue but would love it to be $100 on amazon ( have an amazon gift cert) and up to $150 if that much better), I will sell my das here on the forum.

HaLP

Given the noise issues, I'd suggest moving to a board with cherry brown switches. That will still give you some familiar tactile feedback similar to the blues but without the clack that annoys your gf.

I have the blue version of the CM Storm and like it, maybe worth checking out. It may be a bit flashier than you want though, and the font on the keys is a bit goofy. http://www.amazon.com/Storm-QuickFire-Rapid-Mechanical-SGK-4000-GKCM1-US/dp/B007VDKLLM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357607419&sr=8-3&keywords=mechanical+keyboard+cherry+brown

I'm currently typing on a brown based Filco board, and think it seems ever so slightly sturdier than the CM Storm. It's also a bit more expensive though too... There is also an option for otaku keys somewhere (couldn't find it easily) that has letters printed on the front of the keys instead of the top - http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87MC-EB2/dp/B004WOF7S0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1357607583&sr=8-7&keywords=mechanical+keyboard+cherry+brown+filco

I'd stay away from Rosewills (bad USB connectors) and iArmour/iOne boards (bad build quality and wobbly keys in my experience).

If you really want to minimize noise and have issues with bottoming out your keys when typing, I'd suggest getting O-Ring dampeners like wasdkeyboards sells - http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-switch-dampeners.html. These will help a lot with reducing the sound of bottoming out, but I imagine also change the feel of typing (I've never personally used them).

If you want entirely blank keys you can order sets from WASD as well. I have blank white keys for my board from them and have been impressed with their quality so far.

Hope that helps.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I have a new WASD mx brown keyboard with dampers it isn't very loud at all probably less noisy than than the m$ ergo keyboard I was using before
 
Last edited:
I have a new WASD mx brown keyboard with dampers it is very loud at all probably less noisy than than the m$ ergo keyboard I was using before

I hope you ment "isn't", because if you brown board is loud with dampeners, then something is grossly wrong. My Ducky Shine is Browns with dampeners, and its damn near silent.
 
I like you guys answers because I would hate to move back to membrane.

I cheked out the matias pro keyboard which is apparently very quite but still found it loud. I guess its not only the bottoming out thats loud but also the initial click (when i barely even click down). Will the cherry brown improve that?

Should I just try some dampeners on the das? will that make a big difference or the browns are just quiter engaging and bottoming out?

I am going to check a few videos on you tube on mx brown switches. I am just scared to spend another 100 something dollars on a keyboard that is still loud and then i have to hear my gf bitch because i bought a 100 something dollar keyboard thats loud lol

edit: Ok, i am pretty much have the loudest switches which are the blue. The browns are still loud much much softer because there is basically very little noise from the click. I also listened to the reds which are by far the quiest. I guess if I order a mx brown with dampers like atarione I should be fine.
 
Last edited:
I hope you ment "isn't", because if you brown board is loud with dampeners, then something is grossly wrong. My Ducky Shine is Browns with dampeners, and its damn near silent.

lol...ooops "isn't" (was posting from tablet before...)
 
I like you guys answers because I would hate to move back to membrane.

I cheked out the matias pro keyboard which is apparently very quite but still found it loud. I guess its not only the bottoming out thats loud but also the initial click (when i barely even click down). Will the cherry brown improve that?

Should I just try some dampeners on the das? will that make a big difference or the browns are just quiter engaging and bottoming out?

I am going to check a few videos on you tube on mx brown switches. I am just scared to spend another 100 something dollars on a keyboard that is still loud and then i have to hear my gf bitch because i bought a 100 something dollar keyboard thats loud lol
I've never used Alps switches and that looks like what the matias uses, so I can't comment on that. I can tell you though that the browns will be a lot quieter than your current blue based board. The browns are basically a blue switch with slightly less tactile feedback and no audible clack when you press the key - if you don't bottom out the keys they are actually pretty quiet. If you want an even quieter option, the black/red based board don't even have the near silent tactile feedback and could potentially be even quieter (feedback on this anyone?). Qualitatively I feel my red-based board is slightly quieter than my brown board if I don't bottom out, but to be honest the difference to ME isn't too great.

There is a great video on youtube showing a comparison of blue, brown, and black switches that I just remembered, you might want to check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFkl1Vet1eU

I can tell you without a doubt that even with dampeners the das /w blue switches will still be loud - the clack sound isn't effected by dampeners, just the bottoming out of the key against the board. The clack is loved by many people, but if you want silence there is really know way to get around it.

I hear you on sound though - I am using my brown board for the same reason since my fiance hates the sound of my blue board. I bottom out a lot and she doesn't mind that vs. the clack, so I haven't tried o-rings myself yet...
 
first of all thanks for all the replies. You guys are awesome.

@krakerman: I think she hates the clack way more than the bottoming out. Even when I try to soft type, that clack is still present. I am whiling to try the cherry brown with some orings and see how it goes. WASD keyboard

That damn site though, too many options haha, I kind of like the look of the engraved keys but really like the look/feel of no printing on the keys. Too many choices. I will probably get it and see how my gf likes it. It will have a 10% restocking fee so if she hates it too I guess I will return it and get some sort of membrane keyboard like the logitech g110 or something.

Maybe was a bad idea putting the computer behind the couch but its too late now/there is no where else to put it.

edit: I kinda really like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasdkeyboards/6837562762/in/photostream
 
Last edited:
first of all thanks for all the replies. You guys are awesome.

@krakerman: I think she hates the clack way more than the bottoming out. Even when I try to soft type, that clack is still present. I am whiling to try the cherry brown with some orings and see how it goes. WASD keyboard

That damn site though, too many options haha, I kind of like the look of the engraved keys but really like the look/feel of no printing on the keys. Too many choices. I will probably get it and see how my gf likes it. It will have a 10% restocking fee so if she hates it too I guess I will return it and get some sort of membrane keyboard like the logitech g110 or something.

Maybe was a bad idea putting the computer behind the couch but its too late now/there is no where else to put it.

edit: I kinda really like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasdkeyboards/6837562762/in/photostream

Nice old school look to that board. I've never used a WASD board but I think people generally like them. You can also add customized keys to most other cherry board, so you could get a brown board from Amazon and just get o-rings and key caps from WASD. Not sure how the prices will shake out compared to each other that way though.
 
so... i guess it won't necessarily solve the issue with teh g/f with the das ..cause of the click or whatever

you can get these dampers from amazon 125 for $8.99


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051XWXCE

I'm ordering these for the rosewill i was talking about in my other thread and all i think...

or i might just order the 40A-L ones from WASD but that will be 2x the price... should be a "fun" project istalling all 104 for the damn things however.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
/\ thats why I am just going to pay more and have them install them lol. Removing keys from some of these keyboards is not fun.

I thought about putting the O Rings on the das but to be honest the click is probably what is annoying her, even typing very slow is annoying. But thanks for the link, that is half the price of the WASD Orings.
 
for me it's Blues at home and Browns with o-rings at work and it's very quiet - it's definitely the choice where noise needs to be minimized.

Nice link from atarione - those o-rings are a decent deal.
 
Back
Top