HMX Macchiato vs. Outemu Silent Ocean

Overview

When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the HMX Macchiato and the Outemu Silent Ocean offer distinct benefits that cater to different preferences. The HMX Macchiato, designed by YG Studio, is celebrated for its silky smooth typing experience and bright sound profile, making it an appealing choice for typists who enjoy audible feedback and a more engaging keystroke. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Ocean provides a quieter typing experience, perfect for those who prioritize a noise-free environment, whether in an office setting or during late-night gaming sessions. While both switches are classified as linear switches, their unique characteristics can significantly impact user satisfaction. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.

By the numbers

HMX Macchiato Linear

Outemu Silent Ocean Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

$3.10 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the HMX Macchiato and the Outemu Silent Ocean, we find significant differences in their top housings. The Macchiato features a nylon top housing, which creates a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. The softer nature of nylon contributes to its ability to absorb more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder auditory experience. Contrastingly, the Silent Ocean utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, known for its stiffer properties that produce a sharper and crisper sound. This distinction not only affects the sound profile but also the aesthetics; the translucency of polycarbonate allows for enhanced visibility of RGB lighting, an appealing feature for visually-oriented users.

Moving to the bottom housings, both switches share a commonality with nylon as the material of choice for the Silent Ocean's bottom housing as well as the Macchiato. This unifying aspect means that while the top housings differ significantly in their acoustic properties, the bottom housings will elicit comparable sound characteristics. The nylon composition of both sides promotes a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a consistency in user experience upon bottoming out the key. Hence, despite having a distinct top housing behaving differently acoustically, the interaction of both nylon bottom housings ensures a level of uniformity in the tactile and auditory feedback experienced during use.

Overall, the combination of a nylon bottom housing and differing top housings leads to a unique blend of sound properties between the HMX Macchiato and Outemu Silent Ocean. While the nylon bottoms promote deep and rounded sounds for both switches, the contrasting top housings influence the overall acoustic signature significantly. Users can expect a fuller sound profile from the Macchiato while experiencing a sharper sound from the Silent Ocean due to their material choices. Ultimately, both switches can deliver an enjoyable typing experience, albeit with distinct auditory results influenced heavily by their construction.

Weight

When comparing the HMX Macchiato linear switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch, notable differences in actuation and bottom out forces emerge. The Macchiato features a relatively light actuation force of 42 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, making it suitable for prolonged typing sessions or gaming, as users can benefit from less strain over time. In contrast, the Silent Ocean's actuation force is slightly heavier at 45 grams, with a more substantial bottom out force of 65 grams. This makes the Silent Ocean a medium-heavy option, appealing to those who prefer a more forceful and substantial typing experience. Consequently, while the Macchiato is the lighter switch, allowing for easier key presses and extended use without fatigue, the Silent Ocean caters to users seeking a firmer tactile feedback. Ultimately, these differences in force characteristics suggest that the choice between the switches hinges on individual preferences regarding typing feel and endurance.

Travel distance

The HMX Macchiato linear switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm, indicating that they provide the same distance when pressed from the top to the bottom. Since their travel distances are identical, users can expect a similar tactile experience when using either switch. This means that both switches will feel comparable in terms of keypress depth, allowing for a consistent typing or gaming experience across both options.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the HMX Macchiato switch is known for its bright sound profile, which can enhance the overall typing experience with a clearer auditory feedback. This can make each keystroke feel more rewarding and adds a certain liveliness to use. Conversely, while the Outemu Silent Ocean switch lacks a specific sound profile description, given its designation as a "silent" switch, one could infer that it is designed to minimize noise during use. This makes it a potentially excellent choice for environments where quiet operation is a priority, similar to how the Macchiato's sound may appeal to those who enjoy more audible feedback.

When it comes to feel, the HMX Macchiato offers a silky smooth typing experience, which is likely to be favored by users who enjoy gliding through their keystrokes without any resistance. This smoothness can contribute to a generally fast typing speed and a pleasant overall experience. On the other hand, there is no specific description available for the feel of the Silent Ocean switch. However, its classification as a linear switch typically indicates a lack of tactile bump, which suggests a similar smooth experience as the Macchiato. Without any concrete descriptors, it’s challenging to differentiate how the two might feel in practice.

In conclusion, while the HMX Macchiato switch is recognized for its silky smooth experience and bright sound profile, the Outemu Silent Ocean switch, while lacking detailed descriptors, is anticipated to offer a quieter typing experience typical of silent linear switches. If you prefer a more pronounced auditory feedback, the Macchiato might be your pick, whereas if quiet operation is paramount, the Silent Ocean may serve your needs adequately. Given the design characteristics, both switches can offer smooth keystrokes, but the auditory experience differs significantly, highlighting how personal preference will guide your choice.

Conclusion

To conclude, when deciding between the HMX Macchiato linear switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences and intended usage. If you enjoy a lighter touch and a silky smooth typing experience, the HMX Macchiato with its 50-gram bottom out force could be an excellent choice for you. Its bright sound profile adds a pleasant auditory element to your typing, making it great for both casual use and extended typing sessions where comfort is key. On the other hand, if you prefer a firmer feedback with a more robust bottom out force of 65 grams, the Outemu Silent Ocean may better suit your needs. This switch is ideal for a quieter environment, such as an office or shared workspace, where the absence of noise can enhance focus and minimize distractions. In essence, if you prioritize a lighter, more engaging experience with a bit of sound, go for the Macchiato; if you want a heavier, quieter switch that reduces noise but maintains a satisfying feel, the Silent Ocean is your best bet.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Macchiato Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn more

Outemu Silent Ocean Linear

$3.10 per 10

Learn more