Keyboard Builders' Digest / Tips & Tricks
Ambients Silent Choc switches
As announced by Lowpro.ca, Ambients Silents, truly quiet Choc switches redesigned from the ground up, are in stock now.
Published May 3, 2024
Lowpro.ca's Darryl announced the "worst-kept secret out there": Ambients Silents, truly quiet Choc switches, are in stock now.
The low profile keyboard market asked for it, and now they are here! The first, purpose-built from the ground up, silent low profile keyboard switches are finally available! – lowprokb.
The Ambients line of switches are re-designed from the ground up to provide total compatibility with choc v1 keycaps and keyboards, but allow for the superior performance and smooth operation you expect from premium switches… with the added benefit of being one of the quietest switches around.
All parts of the switch are changed from standard choc v1 switches, so they cannot be swapped with older v1 parts.
Other than that, Ambients were designed in partnership with Kailh engineers, so this line of switches will work on any keyboard that is Choc V1 compatible. Both the keycap interface and the PCB footprint remain unchanged from earlier Choc V1 switches, so your existing keyboard can use these new switches.
Selling started on April 23., and these will be a constantly-stocked products, no group-buy or presale. The two linears (35g Twilight and 20g Nocturnal) will be released first, followed by the 40g tactile Sunrise later.
The Twilight and Nocturnal can be considered the silent versions of the 35g Pro Red and the 20g Pro Pink switches, respectively.
As already told, the Ambients are based on the original Kailh Choc V1 switch, but are a completely new design, having all their parts redesigned to accommodate the new components required to quieten the typical switch noise. Silicone bumpers have been strategically placed within the new design to buffer both the down and the up stroke of a keypress, all while not creating a mushy feeling while typing.
Vendors
Here is the list of international vendors who can ship the Ambients immediately, some of them may accept the KBDNEWS coupon code:
- North America - lowprokb.ca
- EU (NL) - splitkb.com
- EU (CZ) - 42.Keebs
- EU (DE) - Keycapsss
- EU (DE) - Keeb Supply
- EU (IL) - holy keebs
- UK - MechBoards
- AU/NZ - KEEBD
- JP - Yushakobo
- CN - Beekeeb
Sound comparison
A video comparing sound by @bueny52:
The new Ambients (a mix of Twilights on strong fingers and Nocturnals on weak fingers) are on the left half, the regular linears (a mix of Pro Reds, Purpz, and Pinks) are on the right half.
Published on Fri 3rd May 2024. Featured in KBD #164 (source).
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