Just a small experiment to answer a question about silents that was posed in this thread:
Basically, Sea Salt Lemon silent linear [Epomaker / KBDiy] was not quiet enough for someone.
I tested a couple in my silenced NCR-80, which has OUTEMU Silent Lemon / Lime in it.
Here are just some thoughts on the various switches I tried [which were OUTEMU Silent Lemon, TTC Silent Brown V2, Epomaker Sea Salt Lemon silent linear, OUTEMU Cream Yellow Pro V2 “Butter Yellow,” and OUTEMU Jade Yellow “Topaz”]:
Butter Yellow felt as if it were 25% louder and 25% more tactile than lubed OUTEMU Silent Lemon.
Butter Yellow felt subjectively a little bit lighter than Jade Yellow “Topaz.”
The Sea Salt Lemon silent linear seemed 10 - 33% louder than Butter Yellow. Especially if Sea Salt was allowed to “smack” or “thump” as it likes to do.
“Topaz” and “Butter Yellow” are about at the same volume level, but make slightly different kinds of noise.
They both make a number of sounds when typing - there is clearly stuff going on here. It’s not particularly ‘clean.’ In fact, “Butter Yellow” is indeed reminiscent of buttered popcorn tumbling down a bowl after being popped.
The TTC Silent Brown V2 are about 10% louder [when someone is talking] than the OUTEMU yellows.
From quiet to louder:
lubed OUTEMU Silent Lemon < stock “Topaz” AND “Butter Yellow” < TTC Silent Brown V2 < Silent Sea Salt Lemon linear
[They are all stock except for the Silent Lemon.]
Stock “Butter Yellow” is actually a pretty good stock switch. It’s close to what you get after lubing a Silent Lemon. [But still not there].
Hand-lubed Silent Lemon in a dampened board is more than adequate for a quiet office keyboard.
TTC Silent Brown V2 are the most ‘Brown-like’ in feel, as advertised. It’s not much more intense than MX Brown, but the bump is top-mounted [like DMT]. In fact, not far from Durock Medium Tactile.
The TTC Silent Brown V2 might have the best typing characteristics for someone accustomed to light-tactiles. However, not being as silent as OUTEMU, you’d probably want to lube them.
The OUTEMU Silent Lemon is sharper in push-feel than the TTC Silent Brown V2.
Ergo Clears are like a horse pulling a wooden buggy over cobblestones.
Silent Sea Salt Lemon linear are just the horse.
Overall, I think that lubing with 3204 produces the best improvement in OUTEMU silent switches, as opposed to buying some other switch.
TTC Silent Brown V2 and Epomaker Sea Salt Lemon silent linear have a propensity to “smack,” which makes them intrinsically less-quiet than the OUTEMU switches.
Someone accustomed with light tactiles (Browns) might be most comfortable with the TTC Silent Brown. They may actually be a little heavier at the top than the OUTEMU Silent Lemon / Lime. However, the TTC Silent Browns are more rounded.