Further examination of the custom mod silent Topre keyboard

Yes, I am a fan of the new Ducky 104UB silent keyboard because it really doesn’t take away too much of that special Topre switch feel.  Yet, it still retain some silencing features that makes the board more appropriate for a quiet environment.  The Topre switch are fairly quiet to begin with when compares to the Chery MX blue for example.  So, it’s not starting out in a bad place per se.  The auditory feedback really is something else once somebody experience it.  However, I have been going back to reexamine the custom silent version that I had purchased sometimes ago.

Now, in my previous post, I noticed that the custom version probably took too much of that trademark sonic vibe from Topre switch, but also dampen the key to the point where it is almost flat.  I am back to check out what that flat means.  Topre switches are very smooth because it has very gentle slope going up or down the force-distance curve.  It’s just enough to let the user know that the key has been activated.  The arc has that beautiful s-curve that wasn’t too steep, unlike, say, a scissor switch.  I don’t have the proper instrument to demonstrate it, but the custom version has even flatter curve going by what I feel.

So, in a way, it’s almost like a linear switch because there’s no hills and valleys, except it is not linear, but a relatively flat line across all the distances.  The key force push back is as more or less constant across the distance.  This is different from a linear switch like Cherry MX red where the resistance builds up the further the key press goes.  So, it’s another way to look at why this particular mod makes it so smooth, perhaps almost too smooth for some folks because the unique Topre feel is gone.  On the other hand, this is such as smooth switch, it’s like pushing on butter.  This may have some folks salivating in more than one way.

My experience with this mod is that it is one of the quietest keyboard I have used with the most “flat” feel.  However, it’s not exactly a Topre switch anymore, but should almost be considered as entirely in a different class.  It just happen to build on a Topre switch and took great advantages of its unique design.