Keyboard Sound Profiles Guide

Keyboard sound is subjective, personal, and surprisingly important. Understanding sound profiles helps you build or buy a keyboard that sounds perfect to your ears.

Why Sound Matters

Typing Satisfaction

Sound feedback enhances typing enjoyment:

Confirms keypresses
Creates satisfying rhythm
Makes typing feel mechanical and intentional

ASMR and Content

Keyboard sounds have become content:

YouTube sound tests get millions of views
ASMR typing videos for relaxation
Streamers showcase keyboard sounds

Workspace Compatibility

Sound affects environment:

Office-friendly (muted, quiet)
Home use (loud, expressive)
Shared spaces (moderate, controlled)

Main Sound Profiles

Thocky (Deep, Muted)

Characteristics:

Deep, low-pitched sound
Muted, controlled resonance
Soft bottom-out
Bass-heavy

Described as: “Thock… thock… thock”

Best for:

Typing enthusiasts
Office environments
Those who want satisfying but not loud sound

How to Achieve:

Aluminum or brass case
Gasket mount
POM or nylon housing switches
Lubed switches
Case foam and plate foam
PBT keycaps (thick, deep sound)

Example Builds:

Mode Sonnet + Boba U4T + PBT keycaps
Keychron Q1 + lubed Gateron Oil Kings
GMMK Pro + Holy Pandas

Clacky (Sharp, High-Pitched)

Characteristics:

Sharp, crisp sound
High-pitched, bright
Clear bottom-out
Snappy, energetic

Described as: “Clack… clack… clack”

Best for:

Fast typists
Gamers
Those who want lively, energetic sound
Content creators (ASMR)

How to Achieve:

Polycarbonate or thin aluminum case
Top mount or tray mount
Polycarbonate switch housings
Minimal dampening
ABS keycaps (higher-pitched)
Stock (unlubed) switches

Example Builds:

Polycarbonate Bakeneko60 + Cherry MX Blacks + ABS keycaps
Mode Envoy (PC plate) + Tangerine switches
Any board with minimal foam and hard mounting

Creamy (Smooth, Soft)

Characteristics:

Smooth, flowing sound
Soft, rounded edges
Minimal harshness
Gentle, buttery

Described as: “Cream… cream… cream”

Best for:

Luxury typing experience
Quiet environments
Those who want smooth, refined sound

How to Achieve:

Lubed linear switches (generously)
Soft mounting (gasket, leaf spring)
Thick PBT keycaps
PE foam mod (between switches and PCB)
Cream switches or similar housings

Example Builds:

Any board + Cream switches (heavily lubed)
Keychron Q2 + lubed Gateron Milky Yellows + PE foam
Mode Sonnet + lubed Alpacas

Marbly (Resonant, Sharp)

Characteristics:

High-pitched, crisp
Marble-on-marble sound
Clean, clear resonance
Distinct, bright

Described as: “Tock… tock… tock” (sharper than thock)

Best for:

Unique sound signature lovers
Content creators
Those who want crisp, clean sound

How to Achieve:

Polycarbonate case
Firm mounting (top mount)
Tape mod (2-4 layers on PCB back)
Minimal foam
Polycarbonate plate
ABS or PBT keycaps

Example Builds:

Polycarbonate KBD67 Lite + tape mod + Gateron Yellows
Any PC case + tape mod + minimal dampening

Poppy (Lively, Energetic)

Characteristics:

Bouncy, lively sound
Moderate pitch
Energetic, rhythmic
Clear definition between keypress and release

Described as: “Pop… pop… pop”

Best for:

Fast typing
Gaming
Energetic, expressive typing

How to Achieve:

PE foam sheet (between PCB and switches)
Polycarbonate or FR4 plate
Minimal case dampening
Stock or lightly lubed switches
ABS keycaps

Example Builds:

Any board + PE foam mod
Keychron Q1 + PE foam + Gateron Black Inks

Silent (Muted, Quiet)

Characteristics:

Minimal sound
Dampened bottom-out
No top-out noise
Quieter than membrane keyboards

Best for:

Office environments
Shared spaces
Late-night typing
Recording studios

How to Achieve:

Silent switches (Boba U4, Cherry Silent Red)
Heavy lubing
Maximum dampening (case foam, plate foam, PCB foam)
Soft mounting (gasket, o-ring)
Thick PBT keycaps

Example Builds:

Any board + Boba U4 Silent + all foam installed
Leopold FC660M + Cherry Silent Red (stock is great)

Factors Affecting Sound

1. Case Material

Aluminum:

Deep, controlled sound
Moderate resonance
Premium thock

Plastic:

Higher-pitched
Can sound hollow (without foam)
Light clack

Polycarbonate:

Bright, poppy
Clean resonance
Marbly or clacky

Brass:

Dense, heavy clack
Maximum resonance
Authoritative sound

Wood:

Warm, organic
Natural dampening
Muted, soft

2. Mounting Style

Gasket Mount:

Soft, controlled sound
Reduced harshness
Thocky profile

Top Mount:

Firm, clear sound
More resonance
Clacky profile

Tray Mount:

Varies (usually harsh without mods)
Budget keyboards
Can sound hollow

Plateless (PCB Mount):

Soft, muted
Flexier feel
Dampened sound

3. Plate Material

Aluminum:

Firm, clear sound
Moderate resonance
Balanced

Polycarbonate (PC):

Softer, deeper sound
Flexible typing feel
Thockier than aluminum

FR4 (Fiberglass):

Stiff but slightly muted
Unique sound signature
Popular for custom builds

Brass:

Sharp, high-pitched
Maximum resonance
Clacky, bright

Carbon Fiber:

Deep, muted
Dampens vibration
Thocky, controlled

4. Switch Type

Linear:

Smooth, consistent sound
No tactile click
Best for creamy, thocky profiles

Tactile:

Audible bump
Moderate sound
Thocky when lubed

Clicky:

LOUD click sound
High-pitched
Clacky by nature

5. Switch Housing Material

Nylon:

Deeper, muted sound
Soft, rounded
Thocky

Polycarbonate (PC):

Bright, sharp sound
Higher-pitched
Clacky

POM:

Deep, muted
Unique sound signature
Creamy, thocky

Blends (PC top + Nylon bottom):

Balanced sound
Moderate pitch

6. Keycap Material

PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate):

Deeper, lower-pitched sound
Textured, muted
Thocky

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene):

Higher-pitched, brighter sound
Smooth, sharp
Clacky

Keycap Thickness:

Thick keycaps (1.4-1.5mm): Deeper sound
Thin keycaps (1.0-1.2mm): Higher-pitched

7. Keycap Profile

Cherry Profile:

Moderate sound
Balanced

SA Profile (Tall):

Deeper, louder sound
More surface area = more resonance

DSA/XDA (Uniform, Low):

Quieter, muted
Less key travel sound

8. Lubing

Unlubed:

Scratchier, sharper sound
Clacky, bright

Lubed:

Smoother, muted
Thocky, creamy

Over-Lubed:

Mushy, muted
Dampened too much

9. Dampening (Foam)

No Foam:

Maximum resonance
Hollow, loud
Clacky, bright

Case Foam:

Reduces hollowness
Deeper sound
Controlled resonance

Plate Foam:

Softens sound
Slightly mushy feel

PCB Foam:

Absorbs vibration
Fuller sound

PE Foam (Between PCB and switches):

Creates poppy sound
Reduces scratchiness sound

10. Stabilizers

Stock (Unlubed):

Rattly, ticking sound
Ruins sound profile

Tuned (Lubed, Balanced):

Smooth, quiet
Matches switch sound

Over-Lubed:

Mushy, sticky sound

Sound Profile Recipes

Recipe 1: Maximum Thock

Goal: Deep, muted, satisfying thock

Ingredients:

Aluminum case (thick walls)
Gasket mount
Polycarbonate or FR4 plate
Lubed tactile or linear switches (POM/nylon housing)
Thick PBT keycaps (Cherry or MT3 profile)
Case foam installed
Tuned stabilizers

Example: Mode Sonnet + PC plate + Holy Pandas (lubed) + MT3 PBT keycaps

Recipe 2: Maximum Clack

Goal: Sharp, bright, crisp clack

Ingredients:

Polycarbonate or thin aluminum case
Top mount or tray mount
Aluminum or brass plate
Stock (unlubed) or lightly lubed switches with PC housing
ABS keycaps (Cherry or OEM profile)
Minimal or no foam
Tuned stabilizers

Example: Bakeneko60 (PC) + aluminum plate + Cherry MX Blacks (stock) + GMK keycaps

Recipe 3: Creamy Smooth

Goal: Smooth, soft, buttery sound

Ingredients:

Aluminum case
Gasket mount
Polycarbonate plate
Heavily lubed linear switches (Cream, Gateron Milky Yellow)
Thick PBT keycaps
Moderate foam dampening
Tuned stabilizers

Example: Keychron Q2 + lubed NK Creams + thick PBT keycaps

Recipe 4: Marbly

Goal: Sharp, resonant, marble-like sound

Ingredients:

Polycarbonate case
Top mount
FR4 or PC plate
Tape mod (3-4 layers on PCB back)
Stock or lightly lubed switches
Minimal foam
ABS or PBT keycaps

Example: KBD67 Lite (PC) + tape mod + Gateron Yellows + any keycaps

Recipe 5: Poppy

Goal: Lively, bouncy, energetic sound

Ingredients:

Any case (aluminum or PC)
Gasket or top mount
FR4 plate
PE foam sheet mod (between PCB and switches)
Lightly lubed or stock switches
Minimal case dampening
ABS keycaps

Example: Any board + PE foam mod + Gateron Black Inks

Recipe 6: Silent

Goal: Minimal noise, office-friendly

Ingredients:

Any case (aluminum preferred)
Gasket mount
Polycarbonate plate
Silent switches (Boba U4, Cherry Silent Red)
Thick PBT keycaps
All foam installed (case, plate, PCB)
Heavily lubed stabilizers

Example: Leopold FC660M + Cherry Silent Red (stock configuration is excellent)

Testing and Adjusting Sound

Sound Test Before Full Assembly

Step 1: Install stabilizers, a few switches, and keycaps

Step 2: Test sound and feel

Step 3: Adjust foam, tape, or lubing as needed

Step 4: Once satisfied, complete assembly

Recording Sound Tests

Why: Compare before/after modifications

How:

Use phone or dedicated mic
Record in quiet room
Type consistent test sentence
Compare recordings

Common Sound Problems

Hollow, Empty Sound

Cause: No foam, large empty case

Fix: Add case foam, plate foam, or PCB foam

Pingy Sound

Cause: Spring ping from switches

Fix: Lube springs with GPL 105 or bag lube method

Rattly Sound

Cause: Untuned stabilizers

Fix: Lube stabilizers, balance wire, holee mod

Scratchy Sound

Cause: Unlubed switches or poor-quality switches

Fix: Lube switches or upgrade to smoother switches

Mushy Sound

Cause: Over-lubed switches or too much foam

Fix: Reduce lube application or remove some foam

Takeaway

Sound is subjective. What sounds perfect to you might not appeal to others. Trust your ears.

Most popular:

Thocky (deep, muted)
Creamy (smooth, soft)

Polarizing:

Clacky (some love, some hate)
Marbly (unique signature)

Start with a profile goal: Choose thocky, clacky, creamy, etc., then build or mod accordingly.

Sound tests on YouTube: Watch sound tests before buying keyboards or switches. Sound is personal.

Next Steps

Modding Guide - Modify your keyboard for desired sound
Case Materials - Understand how materials affect sound
Building Guide - Build a custom keyboard with specific sound profile