Overview
For enthusiasts who appreciate a "soft clack" sound profile, these switches offer a variety of satisfying acoustic experiences that aren't harsh or overly loud, yet still deliver a crisp, refined feedback with every keystroke. The HMX Hyacinth V2U, with its silky smooth feel and subtle lively clack, sets the tone for a balanced, controlled typing experience, the HMX Macchiato and KTT Laurel produce soft, musical clacks that maintain clarity while avoiding excessive volume, making them great choices for a less intrusive typing sound. The Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro offers a soft yet pronounced clack. And the WS Light Tactile adds a poppy, clacky feel, appealing to those who like their switches to be smooth and soft without sacrificing tactile feedback. Each of these switches strikes a perfect middle ground for those who seek a refined typing experience with just the right amount of auditory satisfaction.
| HMX Hyacinth V2U |
| HMX Macchiato |
| KKT Laurel |
| Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro |
| WS Light Tactile |
HMX Hyacinth V2U
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: PC
- Bottom Housing: Modified Nylon
- Stem: POM
- Actuation Force: 45g
- Bottom out Force: 52g
- Pre Travel: 1.9mm
- Total Travel: 3.9mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The first thing you’ll notice when typing on the Hyacinth V2U is just how silky-smooth it feels. Consistent with HMX factory lube, straight from the packaging, this switch delivers a frictionless, polished keystroke that requires virtually no adjustment period. The build quality of the HMX Hyacinth V2U is top notch with tight tolerances and reduced wobble making each keypress feels confident and deliberate. With a 45g actuation force and full 4.0mm of total travel, the V2U offers just enough resistance to feel satisfying, without being fatiguing. Although it has an advertised total travel of 3.9mm, the HMX Hyacinth V2U feels more like a full-travel linear design, which allows for a consistent and controlled typing experience, whether you're grinding through a late-night coding session or breezing through emails.
Switch Sound
The Hyacinth V2U sets itself apart from its sound signature, producing a soft yet lively clack that brings a sense of precision to every keypress. It’s not harsh just crisp and satisfying soft clack, the kind of sound that makes you want to keep typing. The HMX Hyacinth V2U can be a versatile switch depending on the different combinations of plates and configurations to help amplify the V2U’s natural brightness, creating a refined and balanced tone that suits a wide variety of setups.
The HMX Hyacinth is a perfect acoustic middle ground for those who like a livelier sound. It is bold enough to be heard with its soft clack, without being distracting. Ideal for typists who want feedback without the noise fatigue.
Here is a sound test of the HMX Hyacinth V2U:
HMX Macchiato
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: PA12
- Bottom Housing: Modified Nylon
- Stem: POK
- Actuation Force: 42g
- Bottom out Force: 50g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 4.0mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
Smooth as silk, the HMX Macchiato glides effortlessly under your fingertips. Thanks to its tight tolerances and minimal stem wobble, this switch offers a typing experience that's second to none. Whether you're a seasoned typist or a casual user, you'll appreciate the consistent feel and satisfying feedback of the HMX Macchiato.
Switch Sound
When it comes to sound, the HMX Macchiato sings a sweet melody. With a slightly lower pitch compared to the HMX Cheese, this switch delivers a symphony of satisfying keystrokes that's music to your ears. The HMX Macchiato has the signature HMX clack but with a slightly softer volume due to the longer travel distance. Whether you're typing up a storm or engaging in a gaming marathon, the HMX Macchiato's melodious sound profile adds an extra layer of enjoyment to every keystroke.
Here is a sound test of the HMX Macchiato:
KTT Laurel
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: POM
- Bottom Housing: POM
- Stem: POM
- Actuation Force: 43g
- Bottom out Force: 50g
- Pre Travel: 1.8mm
- Total Travel: 3.5mm
- Mount: 3 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The KTT Laurel overall has the long pole typing feel. It comes lightly factory lubed and feels smooth to press without any noticeable scratch. There is some slight stem wobble with it being a little more noticeable in the N/S direction. It uses a lightweight and long spring that gives it a responsive feeling of fast actuations and fast key returns.
Switch Sound
For the typing sound, overall the KTT Laurel has a clacky sound profile, although it is slightly different than the usual sharp long pole bottom out sound. While the KTT Laurel still feels and sounds like a long pole switch, it produces a softer clack rather than a sharp loud clack possibly due to its design and materials. The KTT Laurel creates a satisfying clack without the loud sharpness that some other long pole clacky switches might create. The KTT Laurel would be a great choice for someone who likes a bright and clacky typing sound but with a softer volume.
Here is a sound test of the KTT Laurel:
Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro
Product Details
- Type: Linear
- Top Housing: PC
- Bottom Housing: PA
- Stem: POM
- Operating Force: 55g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.8mm
- Mount: 3 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro feels comfortable with spring weight that isn't too light but also not too heavy. The Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro has a soft bottom out feel that makes it pleasant to type on. With long pole stems gaining popularity, the Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro with almost a full travel provides a more cushioned typing experience than the sudden bottom outs of shorter travel switches. There is slight stem wobble in the Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro but due to the improved stems, it is not noticeable during normal typing.
Switch Sound
The Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro leans towards the "clackier" side during normal typing, but upon closer inspection, the Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro has more dimensions to its sound profile. The Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro on the bottom out has a slightly more muted and softer sound than on the top out. When topping out, the Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro has a harder and louder sound that creates the higher pitched "clack". If we were to be picky, the Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro has some slight hollowness, but this can be easily fixed with optional lube and film.
Here is a sound test of the Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro:
WS Light Tactile
Product Details
- Type: Tactile
- Top Housing: PC
- Bottom Housing: Nylon
- Stem: POM
- Actuation Force: 35g
- Bottom out Force: 55g
- Pre Travel: 2.0mm
- Total Travel: 3.9mm
- Mount: 5 pin
- Factory Lube: Yes
Switch Feel
The Wuque WS Light Tactile feels incredibly smooth with its factory lube, espcially for a tactile switch. It feels smooth and also poppy at the same time due to its light but snappy tactile bump. Due to its tight housing tolerances and minimal stem wobble, the majority of the typing experience of the Wuque WS Light Tactile comes from its tactility. This smoothness and snappy responsiveness make the Wuque WS Light Tactile a great choice for a comfortable typing experience.
The Wuque WS Light Tactile also feels comfortable to type on as it has a similar feeling bottom out as full travel switches. Some of the most popular tactile switches in the hobby, such as Gazzew Boba U4T and Invyr Holy Pandas, have a pronounced tactile bump at the initial keypress followed by a short linear post travel until bottoming out. Similarly, the Wuque WS Light Tactile has its tactile bump at the top of the keypress, but where it differentiates itself by having a slightly longer linear post travel. The extra linear post travel after the tactile bump could create a more comfortable typing experience as the bottom out doesn't happen as suddenly as other tactile switches. The Wuque WS Light Tactile would be an interesting tactile switch to try for typists who are used to the feeling of full travel switches.
Switch Sound
The Wuque WS Light Tactile has a neutral sound profile that is neither too thocky nor too clacky. The Wuque WS Light Tactile falls in the mid tones with a poppy bottom out and top out due to its light tactile bump. The bottom out has a soft yet bright sound profile (with its nylon bottom housing material), while the top out has a hard and poppy sound profile (with its PC top housing material). The Wuque WS Light Tactile also still retains a similar snappy tactile sound profile that exists in the Wuque WS Heavy Tactile and other larger-bumped tactile switches, despite its lighter tactile bump. The Wuque WS Light Tactile also feels and sounds closer to a full travel switch since it has a 3.9mm travel distance. The bottom out of the Wuque WS Light Tactile is affected less by the sharp stem pole bottom, that most other tactile switches possess, and is more affected by its tactile bump and its combination of materials. The Wuque WS Light Tactile would be a fun option to try for typists who enjoy the crisp and poppy sound of a tactile switch that is softer on the ears.
Here is a sound test of the WS Light Tactile:
Conclusion
Each of these switches bring something unique to the table for those who enjoy a "soft clack" sound profile. The HMX Hyacinth V2U shines with its silky smooth feel and balanced sound, offering a lively clack that maintains a level of clarity without overwhelming the senses. The HMX Macchiato stands out for its melodious, slightly lower-pitched clack, providing a symphony of satisfying keystrokes perfect for any typist. The KTT Laurel delivers a soft, less intrusive long-pole clack, offering a bright but more subdued typing experience for those who appreciate a gentler sound. The Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro adds a layered sound profile with a punchy top-out and softer bottom-out, offering versatility in acoustic feedback. Finally, the WS Light Tactile impresses with its smooth yet poppy feel, offering a neutral sound profile that’s perfect for those seeking a tactile response with a slightly longer post-travel experience. Each of these switches strikes an ideal balance between comfort and sound, making them excellent options for those looking for a refined, soft clack that doesn't sacrifice performance.
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