Mechanical keyboards: A unique playground for switch sound enthusiasts.

Even with popular switches like Cherry MX Blue, the sound recorded on the website may not match the keyboard you're actually using.

Have you ever wondered how people who work all day with spreadsheets like Google Sheets entertain themselves? For the team at sheets.works, the answer is… they've built an entire 'museum' dedicated to the sounds of mechanical keyboards.

The project, called The Listening Museum, is an interactive website where users can experience the typing sounds of 36 different keyboard models, from classic to modern. Simply click on each model, turn on the speakers, and 'try typing' on the virtual keyboard to hear the distinctive sound of each switch type.

From the legendary IBM Model M to the modern switch

This collection includes many familiar names such as the IBM Model M – an icon of mechanical keyboards in the 1980s, as well as the popular Cherry MX switches and new products from SteelSeries and Logitech.

Interestingly, each keyboard has its own unique 'voice'. For example, the IBM Model M is famous for its extremely distinctive 'clicking' sound – something that many collectors of vintage keyboards still seek out today.

According to the museum's description, this sound comes from the buckling spring mechanism: the spring bends and strikes the mechanism underneath, creating resonance within the key body, which is amplified by the steel plate and the large casing. The result is a sound that is almost impossible to reproduce on modern keyboards.

An enjoyable but imperfect experience.

The Listening Museum's interface is designed to be quite intuitive. When you select a keyboard layout, a virtual layout will appear for you to try typing directly with your mouse. However, the actual experience may differ significantly from what you hear.

Even with popular switches like Cherry MX Blue, the sound recorded on the website may not sound the same as the keyboard you're using. This is understandable, as many factors affect typing sound: from the microphone, room environment, keycaps, case, to the listener's speakers or headphones.

The project team themselves acknowledge this. They emphasize that reproducing keyboard sounds over the internet always has limitations, and each real-world setup will yield a different experience.

A valuable reference library for keyboard players.

While it can't replace hands-on experience, The Listening Museum is still an incredibly useful resource for anyone wanting to learn about the world of mechanical keyboards. Especially for those who don't have the opportunity to "test" them in stores, it's the quickest way to visualize the differences between various switch types.

In the context of the growing popularity of keyboard collecting, sound has become just as important as the typing feel. From 'clicky' and 'thocky' to 'silent', each type of sound offers a unique experience.