How to compare keyboard switch sounds at the same distance

One keyboard switch sounds louder than another, but it is easy to get a misleading comparison if the microphone moves or you press the keys differently. Even a small change in microphone position can change the reading.

Use the Noise Meter to compare sound levels at a fixed distance. The number is most useful for comparing repeated tests made with the same microphone and setup, not as a certified measurement of how loud a keyboard is.

Compare the switch sounds

Open the Noise Meter on the computer you will use for every comparison. Allow microphone access when the browser asks. Keep the same microphone selected throughout the tests.
Place the microphone a measured distance from the keyboard, such as 12 inches (about 30 cm). Keep it at the same height and angle, and do not rest it on the desk or keyboard, where surface vibration can affect the sound.
Choose a quiet time and leave the keyboard, microphone, chair, and nearby objects in place. Note the meter reading with no typing so you know how much background noise is present.
Test the first switch with a repeatable pattern. For example, press the same key 10 times at a steady pace, using a comfortable and consistent force. Watch the meter while you type and note the readings you see.
Repeat the same pattern with the other switch. If you are changing switches in one keyboard, keep the keycap, keyboard position, and test key consistent where possible. Repeat each comparison a few times.

For a second comparison, type the same short phrase at a similar speed. A controlled series of single presses helps compare the sound of individual switches; a phrase shows how the switches sound during ordinary typing. Do not compare a slow, gentle test with a fast, forceful one.

What the readings mean

One switch reads higher in repeated tests

If the same switch produces higher readings across several runs, it is likely louder in your setup at that distance. Treat this as a relative comparison, not proof that the switch will be louder in every keyboard or room. The case, mounting plate, keycaps, desk, and typing force all affect the sound.

The readings are close

Similar readings mean the meter did not show a clear difference in overall sound level under your test conditions. You may still hear a difference in pitch, sharpness, or tone. The Noise Meter measures loudness, not the sound's full character, so listen as well as watching the number.

The readings jump around

Changing results can come from inconsistent key presses, room noise, a moving microphone, or automatic processing in the microphone or computer. Repeat the test after the room is quiet and your setup is still. If the background reading is close to the typing readings, the room may be masking the difference.

A different microphone gives a different result

That is expected. Microphones have different sensitivities and may apply different processing. Use one microphone for both switches instead of comparing numbers from a laptop microphone and a phone, for example. For more on this limitation, see why Noise Meter readings depend on microphone sensitivity.

How to make the comparison fair

Mark the microphone position. Use a ruler and mark the spot on the desk with a small piece of tape. Keep the distance, height, and direction the same for every run.
Keep the keyboard setup unchanged. The same keyboard case and keycaps make the comparison more meaningful. If you compare switches in different keyboards, the result includes differences between the boards too.
Use the same typing force and pattern. Press the same key with a similar touch, then repeat the exact pattern. A harder press can make the key bottom out more sharply, which changes the sound.
Control the room noise. Turn off nearby fans or music if practical, and wait for intermittent sounds to stop. Avoid moving your hands or objects near the microphone during a run.
Check microphone permission if the meter gets no sound. In Windows 11, open Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone and allow microphone access for desktop apps. On macOS, open System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone and allow your browser. You can also check the microphone permission for the site in the browser's address bar controls.
Compare several runs, not one number. Write down the readings from each attempt and look for a consistent pattern. A single spike may be caused by a louder press or a sound in the room.

For an informal check in a shared space, use the same fixed distance and method each time, and focus on whether one setup is consistently louder. The guide on comparing keyboard noise in a shared workspace covers how to make that kind of comparison in context.

What the Noise Meter can and cannot tell you

A decibel reading gives you a way to compare overall sound level. Decibels use a logarithmic scale, so a change in the number is not a simple percentage change in loudness. Also, a browser microphone test is not a calibrated sound-level meter. Its result can depend on the microphone, computer audio settings, and browser.

Use the meter to answer a practical question, such as whether one switch setup is consistently louder than another in the same room. It cannot determine whether a sound is pleasant, identify a switch type, or predict how the keyboard will sound to someone sitting farther away.

The Noise Meter uses your microphone to measure sound in the browser. It does not create a recording file.