Overview
In this guide to the Best Sounding Keyboard Switches of 2025, we’ll explore top clicky, linear, and tactile options that deliver everything from deep “thocks” to crisp “clakcy.” We’ve included detailed reviews on both sound and feel, along with sound tests so you can hear each switch in action before you decide.
| Clacky | HMX Xinhai |
| Thocky | Akko Rosewood |
| Creamy | MMD Vivian |
| Marbly | Durock Ice King |
| Poppy | BSUN Ocean |
| Clicky | Gateron Melodic |
| Silent | TTC Bluish White |
Clacky
HMX Xinhai
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: PA12
- Bottom Housing: Modified Nylon
- Stem: POM
- Actuation Force: 37g/55g
- Bottom out Force: 45g/62.5g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.4mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The HMX Xinhai offers two options for spring weights: one with an operating force of 37g and a bottom out force of 45g, and another with an operating force of 55g and a bottom out force of 62.5g. The HMX Xinhai has a total travel distance of 3.4mm which creates a more sudden bottom out feel that could make the switch feel more responsive. The HMX Xinhai is smooth right out of the box with little to no stem wobble. The factory lubrication of the HMX Xinhai in stock form provides a smooth typing experienve which could be slightly improved with hand lubing and filming.
Switch Sound
The HMX Xinhai is constructed with a PA12 nylon top housing, a modified nylon housing, and a POM stem. These materials help to contribute to the clacky sound signature of the HMX Xinhai. The HMX Xinhai has a bright and bold sound that is very clean to the ears. The HMX Xinhai has a sharper and higher pitched tone relative to even the average HMX switch due to its choice of materials and having one of the shorter travel distances. The HMX Xinhai sound profile is a great choice for enthusiasts who prefer a sharp, clean, and clacky typing experience.
Here is a sound test of the HMX Xinhai:
Thocky
Akko Rosewood
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: PA12
- Bottom Housing: PA6
- Stem: Nylon
- Actuation Force: 40g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 4.0mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The Akko Rosewood feels very comfortable to type on without fatigue due to its combination of a light spring weight and long spring length, similar to HMX springs. The Akko Rosewood provides a simplistic typing experience for those who enjoy lighter springs weights. In its stock form, the Akko Rosewood has a bit of stem wobble that is more present in the N/S direction. Filming the switch significantly reduces the stem and housing wobble. The Akko Rosewood would be a great choice to try if you are used to the feel of light-spring switches.
Switch Sound
The Akko Rosewood offers a different sound profile than current releases of linear switches. Some of the current popular linear switches emphasize a sharp bottom out with a poppy top out. The Akko Rosewood is true to its design by achieving a deep and thocky bottom out and a deep and soft top out. The Akko Rosewood produces a sound similar to the sound of familiar full travel switches, producing a full and well rounded bottom out, in contrast to the sharp bottom sounds produced from long pole stems. The Akko Rosewood is a great option to try if you are looking for a deep and thocky switch that doesn't have the sharp bottom out sound.
Here is a sound test of the Akko Rosewood:
Creamy
MMD Vivian
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: PA12
- Bottom Housing: Modified PUM
- Stem: Modified UPE
- Actuation Force: 43g/53g
- Bottom out Force: 48g/60g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.6mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The MMD Vivian feels as thocky as it sounds. The MMD Vivian is a great option for those who enjoy the feeling of thoroughly lubed switches. Its creamy typing feel could be due to the modified UPE stem material because of its softness. The modified UPE stem material provides a thocky and soft feeling typing experience.
Switch Sound
The MMD Vivian stands out as a thocky switch. It has a hard and creamy bottom out and a soft and dampened top out. The PUM bottom housing material helps create a deep tone but also a hard plastic-y sound profile. Overall, the combination of the PUM bottom housing and the soft modified UPE stem material produces a soft and thocky sound signature.
Here is a sound test of the MMD Vivian:
Marbly
Durock Ice King
Product Details
- Type: Linear, Tactile
- Top Housing: Polymer Nylon
- Bottom Housing: Polymer Nylon
- Stem: Modified Nylon
- Actuation Force: 52g (Linear), 58g (Tactile)
- Bottom out Force: 62g (Linear), 68g (Tactile)
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.5mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The Durock Ice King Linear feels smooth with no apparent scratchiness. The factory lubrication of the Durock Ice King Linear feels consistent and provides a comfortable typing experience without fatiguing your fingers. The comfortability of the Durock Ice King Linear makes it a great option for enthusiasts who type frequently at work or even for gamers who have long sessions of gaming.
Switch Sound
The Durock Ice King Linear creates a deep, thocky and slightly dampened bottom out sound and a soft creamy top out sound. The Durock Ice King Linear has an inoffensive sound signature that would be suitable for shared spaces. The Durock Ice King Linear also comes close to recreating the popular PE foam sound on its own without the need to use foam, making it a solid option for enthusiasts who enjoy a creamy and thocky sound profile.
Here is a sound test of the Durock Ice King Linear:
Poppy
BSUN Ocean
Product Details
- Type: Tactile
- Top Housing: PC
- Bottom Housing: Nylon
- Stem: LY
- Actuation Force: 40g
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Bottom out Force: 57g
- Pre Travel: 1.8mm
- Total Travel: 3.8mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
BSUN Ocean has a comfortable typing feel and satisfying medium tactile bump. The evenly applied factory lube provides a smooth typing experience, while the medium spring weight allows for a controlled and comfortable typing feel. There is slight stem wobble in both the N/S and the E/W directions, although not noticeable during normal typing. The BSUN Ocean has a sharp and snappy tactile bump at the top of the keypress with a slight linear post travel. Its pronounced tactility and 22mm spring produces a responsive typing experience allowing for long typing sessions without fatigue.
Switch Sound
The BSUN Ocean has a sharp and crisp bottom out that leans towards the mid tones and a hard and poppy top out that produces a mid to higher pitched tone. The BSUN Ocean can be used to build a versatile keyboard that can sound both bright or deep. The BSUN Ocean would be a great option to try if you are looking for a mid toned tactile switch that has a crisp tactile bump.
Here is a sound test of the BSUN Ocean:
Clicky
Gateron Melodic
Product Details
- Type: Clicky
- Top Housing: PC
- Bottom Housing: Nylon
- Stem: POM
- Operating Force: 60g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 4.0mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
Gateron Melodic is a clicky switch with a click leaf mechanism to produce the clicky sound. The activation feel of the Gateron Melodic can be compared to the feel of a tactile switch with the slight increase in force at the click leaf, but shortly after activation the operating force of the Gateron Melodic reverts to a lower force required to bottom out. Gateron Melodic has a sharp clicky leaf at the top of the keypress followed by linear travel after the click. Past the click leaf, Gateron Melodic feels consistent to type on with minimal stem wobble. This could be due to the dual rail stem design of the Gateron Melodic that allows for tighter tolerances and the conistent factory lube.
Switch Sound
As a clicky switch, the Gateron Melodic sound profile is dictated by its "click." Rather than sounding metallic, the Gateron Melodic clicks sound less metallic and is reminiscent of the sound of clicking a pen. The light clicks of the Gateron Melodic are isolated and tight to produce a clean clicky sound. The Gateron Melodic would be a great choice for you if you like the sound of a thinner clicky switch and the feel of a light tactile switch.
Here is a sound test of the Gateron Melodic:
Silent
TTC Bluish White
Product Details
- Type: Silent Tactile
- Top Housing: PC
- Bottom Housing: PA66
- Stem: POM
- Operating Force: 42g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.5mm
- Mount: 3 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
TTC Bluish White V2 in stock form feels smooth but tends to have a little bit of scratchiness when the keypresses are off-center. Although, the scratch is more apparent in the sound than feel. The TTC Bluish White V2 switch has very little stem wobble, possibly due to its tight housing tolerances and dustproof stem.
The TTC Bluish White V2 appears to have a more rounded tactile bump than switches like the Holy Panda or the Gazzew Boba U4T. The TTC Bluish White V2 does not feel as snappy or sharp as the Holy Panda or Gazzew Boba U4T in terms of tactility, but it provides a comfortably smooth bump along the entirety of the keypress, making it a great choice for those seeking a smaller tactile feedback.
Switch Sound
The TTC Bluish White V2 is very silent due to the way it's designed. The tactile switch has a dampening pad inside the hole where the pole of the stem would bottom out which enables the silencing mechanism when bottoming out and the TTC Bluish White V2 has a silicone ring out the stem that enables the silencing mechanism on top out. The TTC Bluish White V2 does its job as a silent switch, however, it has a slight scratch noise when the keypress is off-center but it is not audibly noticeable during normal typing sessions. The TTC Bluish White V2 typing sounds come mostly from the round tactile bump and the dampened bottom and top outs, which has relatively no difference in sound from the average membrane office keyboard, making it a great choice for a silent office keyboard build.
Here is some sound test of the TTC Bluish White:
Conclusion
No matter your sound or feel preference, this selection offers something for everyone—from sharp clacks to subtle thocks, creamy smoothness to crisp pops. Whether you're refining your endgame board or exploring switch types for the first time, these switches provide a great foundation to elevate your typing experience. Here’s a quick summary of each switch and what makes it stand out:
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Clacky – HMX Xinhai:
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Delivers a crisp, high-pitched clack with fast, punchy keypresses
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Shorter total travel enhances responsiveness for quick typing
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Pre-lubed and ready to use right out of the box
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Thocky – Akko Rosewood:
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Prioritizes a mellow, low-pitched thock that's easy on the ears
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Offers a classic full-travel feel and lightweight spring tension
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Especially great for those who like a soft, rounded sound profile
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Creamy – MMD Vivian:
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Smooth and plush keypresses create a soft typing sensation
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Modified stem and housing materials enhance its signature creamy feel
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Perfect for users who value a richly dampened, low-friction experience
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Marbly – Durock Ice King:
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Produces a dense, layered sound that’s satisfying yet subtle
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Clean, consistent movement makes it suitable for long, uninterrupted sessions
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Appeals to those who want a deeper acoustic profile without added foam
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Poppy – BSUN Ocean:
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Features a pronounced tactile bump with snappy feedback
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Balanced tone sits between bright and deep, depending on your build
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Great fit for typists who enjoy a responsive tactile switch
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Clicky – Gateron Melodic:
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Offers tight, precise clicks that avoid the usual harshness of clicky switches
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Click mechanism feels refined, like a lightweight tactile with a satisfying snap
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Ideal for users who enjoy auditory feedback without metallic resonance
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Silent – TTC Bluish White:
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Designed for stealth, quiet bump, and dampened bottom out
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Comfortable for long sessions without distracting others
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A solid option for quiet setups in shared workspaces or nighttime use
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If you're after a bright, responsive clack, the HMX Xinhai delivers a sharp, clean sound with smooth linear travel. For fans of a deep, satisfying thock, the Akko Rosewood brings a deep bottom-out and soft top-out perfect for long sessions. Prefer something smooth and rich? The MMD Vivian offers a creamy typing experience with soft acoustics and a buttery keypress. The Durock Ice King leans into a marbly profile, with its deep, mellow sound and smooth travel ideal for both gaming and office work. Tactile lovers will enjoy the poppy snap of the BSUN Ocean, with its crisp bump and versatile tone. Clicky switch fans aren't left out either, the Gateron Melodic brings clean clicks with minimal wobble. And for stealthy typers, the silent TTC Bluish White keeps things quiet while still offering a smooth, tactile bump. Each of these switches is unique in sound, feel, and build, so whether you're chasing a specific aesthetic, tone, or typing feel, there's something here for every keyboard lover.
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