I have an old Steelseries 6Gv2 keyboard. It’s a great keyboard but I’m tired of not having a left super-key, so I want to find a replacement.

I got a Cherry MX tester box with lots of different switches to try some switches out. The 6Gv2 keyboard has Cherry MX Black switches and I’m perfectly happy with the switch and don’t really feel any need to change it, but I just wanted to try.

However, when I compare the switch on my 6Gv2 keyboard with the Cherry MX Black in the tester box, the tester box switch sounds different and quite a bit louder.

There’s much more “friction” sounds when the key is being pressed down or coming up (i.e. not related to the sound of the key actually hitting the bottom or top of its travel). I also feel like I can hear the spring more and there’s sort of more of a “reverb” to the new switch, as if it vibrates when I release it and it comes up.

In comparison, the 6Gv2’s switch sounds quieter and more muffled, a much more pleasant sound than the high frequency tacking from the new switch.

Anyone has any idea what the difference might come from? Is it switch lubing? Does soldering switches change their sound (I believe the 6Gv2 is soldered)? Is it the case or is there perhaps a chance that Steelseries did something special to the switch, to make it quieter? Or perhaps is it just age? Any advice appreciated!