In this post, we would like to recommend the Best Sound Dampening Foams For A Keyboard and why they have such a significant impact on dampening the typing sound produced by a mechanical keyboard.
We discuss various kinds of materials that can be used as dampers in the keyboard casing even from objects that you may throw away frequently.
One of the best ways to reduce sound on a keyboard apart from adding O-Rings to a mechanical keyboard is to add foam to your keyboard case. This method is one of the most effective because adding foam to your keyboard case will reduce the resonance space of the sound and also the foam can absorb sound very well so that it can reduce sound when you use your keyboard to type.
In this article, we want to provide recommendations for the best damping foam materials on the market today, and we will also provide recommendations for the best keyboard dampening foams on the market today. We’ve used each material in an experiment to find out which is the most appropriate keyboard dampening foam so that it’s easier for you to decide which cushioning foam to use for your keyboard.
Why Add Damping Foam?
By adding foam to your keyboard case, you will see noticeable changes in the following ways:
- Deeper and more bass sound: The sound of the keyboard when used to type will be bassy and not feel hollow when you compare it to a keyboard without foam dampers. Because the foam that is installed in the case will absorb your typing sound and reduce the high sound that is produced in every keystroke.
- Reducing air resonance space on the keyboard: The case can produce loud sounds because it has a large enough resonance space, with the addition of dampening foam, you will reduce the resonance space of the sound so that the resulting typing sound becomes quieter.
- Less metal spring ping noise: The collision between components on the keyboard such as the Switch with the PCB which is the interaction between metal pings will be well damped by the damping foam. Generally the collision between the spring pings on the switch to the PCB is quite noisy and unpleasant to hear. So when you add foam to your keyboard casing, the sound can be reduced by a fairly high percentage.
- Increase keyboard weight: Adding foam (especially sorbothane) will add weight to your keyboard significantly. With this added weight, your keyboard won’t shift easily when you use it to work or play games at your desk.
How to Add Damping Foam To Your Keyboard
The damping foam mount on the keyboard is not suitable for low profile keyboards with thin casings. Damping foam can be easily inserted into a keyboard that has a casing with a standard design (high profile). Some of the steps you will take when installing the foam damper on the keyboard are as follows:
- Remove Keycaps
- Remove Plate
- Remove PCB
- Cuts the Silencer Foam to the base size in the keyboard case space
- Install the components that you have reopened.
For more details, you can watch the video below how to install the damper foam properly and correctly:
Best Sound Dampening Foams For A Keyboard
The following are recommendations for the best dampening foam for keyboards on the market today:
- Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film
- Dualplex Neoprene Sponge Foam: Neoprenes
- Rubber Mouse Pad
- Packing Foam: Cheapest Option
- Shelf Liner: If You Can’t Find Anything Else
1. Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film
Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film is the best material you can use to maximize damping on your keyboard. Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film is indeed a special product that is made to be used to dampen and reduce sound resonances both indoors, speakers, keyboards, cars, and various other objects that require damping.
Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film is made of polyurethane material which is known to be very effective for isolating sound and reducing the sound resonance that can be created every time you type on a keyboard. Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film works like it absorbs sound and makes it sound more minimal.
Sorbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film is the best material option you can use to add sound dampening to your keyboard case. One product that is very often used for mechanical keyboards is Orbothane Acoustic & Vibration Damping Film 70 Duro from Isolate it. You can find it on Amazon at an affordable price.
2. Dualplex Neoprene Sponge Foam: Neoprene
Neoprene is one of the best dampening materials you can use for your keyboard. Neoprene is a material that is often used in a sound recording studio because Neoprene is a very effective material in isolating and absorbing sound. Neoprene has very similar damping power to acoustic-absorbing sorbothane.
Neoprene is very easy for you to fit into your keyboard case because Neoprene is not too thick and easy to cut. To get a bassy keyboard sound, most people will choose to use Neoprene material on their keyboard. One of the most widely used Neoprene products for keyboard soundproofing is the Dualplex Neoprene Sponge Foam Rubber Roll Adhesive which you can find on Amazon.
3. Rubber Mouse Pad
If you have a Rubber Mouse Pad that is outdated or you don’t use anymore, you can use it as a damper for your keyboard. Rubber Mouse Pad is an object made of rubber and also a bit of cloth whose main function is to be used as a surface to move mice to be more precise.
Rubber Mouse Pad also turns out to be very effective for use as a sound absorber on a keyboard because the basic material is made of rubber and cloth which is quite effective at isolating, absorbing, and reducing sound resonance. If you have a Rubber Mouse Pad at home, you can use it too.
4. Packing Foam: Cheapest Option
If you often do online shopping and your shipping package contains Packing Foam, you can also use this thing to provide a damper to your keyboard case.
Packing Foam is a cheap material and you can find it everywhere. Packing Foam has been proven to provide excellent attenuation on a keyboard because it is quite effective at absorbing sound.
However, for the installation of Packing Foam on the keyboard casing, we recommend you to use a double tip because the Packing Foam cannot adhere well like a silencer made of rubber and also because it is very light in weight.
5. Shelf Liner: If You Can’t Find Anything Else
In general, people use Shelf Liners on the floors of their homes to isolate dust or dirt from falling food. Make no mistake, you can also use the Shelf Liner as a damper on your keyboard.
The Shelf Liner is made of rubber and elastic plastic which is proven to isolate, absorb, and reduce sound resonance very effectively. If you’re just too lazy to buy sorbothane or neoprene, the Shelf Liner in your home is not a bad choice for you to use as a damper for your keyboard.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/625437467013139954/
