Cherry MX Black Clear Top "Nixie" | Linear Switch Review

Overview

Cherry MX Black Clear Top Switches are a recreation of the switches used in the old Nixdorf CT06/07 keyboards. By integrating the latest Cherry technology, Cherry created a new iteration of these "Nixie" switches. Cherry MX Black Clear Top "Nixie" Linear Switches offer a winning combination of smoothness, responsiveness, and distinctive sound signature that will be appealing to hobbyists, gamers, and frequent typists.

Product Details

Cherry MX Black Clear Top "Nixie" Linear Switch

• Switch Type: Linear
• Manufacturer: Cherry MX
• Stem Material: Black Cherry Stem
• Top Housing Material: Special Milky Top
• Bottom Housing Material: Cherry Black Bottom Housing
• Operating Force: 63.5g
• Mount: 5 pin
• Pre Travel: 2.0mm
• Total Travel: 4.0mm
• Spring: Gold-Colored Stainless-Steel
• Factory Lubed: No

In response to the high community demand, Cherry MX introduced the "Nixie" under a new a new name, the Cherry MX Black Clear Top, to spotlight the improvements. The Cherry MX Black Clear Top retains the familiar milky top housing, black bottom housing, black stem, and gold-colored stainless-steel spring. The Cherry MX Black Clear Top preserves the essence of the original while integrating contemporary production optimizations, thus elevating the switch to meet today's industry-leading MX standard.  

Switch Sound

The Cherry MX Black Clear Top are very similar to the Cherry MX Blacks, but the Cherry MX Black Clear Tops sound relatively more full than the usual Cherry MX Blacks with less scratch. Because of the milky top, the Cherry MX Black Clear Top has less of the "poppy" Cherry top housing sound from black tops and more of a deeper sound profile for the upstroke similar to the Gateron Milky Yellows or the Gateron Ink Blacks. 

Sound Test Cherry MX Black Clear Top "Nixie" Stock vs Hand Lubed and Filmed:

Switch Feel

The Cherry MX Black Clear Top feel similar to the Cherry MX Blacks but with less stem wobble, less scratchiness, and less spring ping. 

Things to Note

The milky top housing of the Cherry MX Black Clear Top does let much RGB shine through.

Comparisons to Other Linear Switches

Cherry MX Black Clear Top vs Cherry MX Black

• Cherry MX Black Clear Top and Cherry MX Black are both heavy linear switches.
• Cherry MX Black Clear Top has a gold spring that is slightly longer than the Cherry MX Black, making the Cherry MX Black Clear Top feel slightly heavier.
• Cherry MX Black Clear Top are less scratchy and have less spring ping than the Cherry MX Black

Cherry MX Black Clear Top vs Gateron Milky Yellow

• Gateron Milky Yellows and Cherry MX Black Clear tops have a similar milky top housing, but with their own special milky blend. 
• Gateron Milky Yellows have an operation force of 50g, and the Cherry MX Black Clear Top has an operation force of 63.5g, so the Cherry MX Black Clear Top will feel relatively heavier to press than the Gateron Milky Yellows.
• Both the Gateron Milky Yellows and the Cherry MX Black Clear Top have a total travel of 4.0mm. 

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