KiiwiCherry MX Red switch sound
Hear the Cherry MX Red switch sound on Mac: it plays in your browser as you type below. Cherry's light 45cN linear, the classic smooth switch in gaming keyboards, recorded on ABS keycaps. Recorded from a real board.
Type the words below. Headphones make the difference obvious.
What it sounds like
With a light spring and no bump, the MX Red takes very little effort, so presses come quickly and evenly. On ABS keycaps the sound is bright and a little clacky, with a crisp bottom-out rather than a deep one.
It is the easiest way to hear what weight changes: the MX Black is the same design with a stiffer spring, and it sounds firmer for it.
At a glance
Compared with
Cherry MX Black
Cherry's heavy 60cN linear, one of the original MX switches, recorded stock and on ABS and PBT keycaps.
Gateron Red
Gateron's light 45cN linear, the common budget smooth switch.
Cherry MX Speed Silver
Cherry's fastest linear, with a short 1.2mm actuation point, built for gaming.
Keep exploring
Hear it side by side Cherry MX Red vs Brown vs Blue, Cherry MX Red vs Gateron Red, Cherry MX Red vs Black
More linear switches Gateron Black, Gateron Black Ink, Gateron Red Ink, NovelKeys Cream
Choosing an app Kiiwi vs Thock, more switch vs switch pairs
Questions
What does the Cherry MX Red switch sound like?
With a light spring and no bump, the MX Red takes very little effort, so presses come quickly and evenly. On ABS keycaps the sound is bright and a little clacky, with a crisp bottom-out rather than a deep one.
Is the Cherry MX Red loud?
On the quieter side. A linear has no bump and no click, so almost all of the sound is the key bottoming out.
Which switches sound similar to the Cherry MX Red?
The closest in Kiiwi are the Cherry MX Black, Gateron Red and Cherry MX Speed Silver. Cherry MX Black: Cherry's heavy 60cN linear, one of the original MX switches, recorded stock and on ABS and PBT keycaps. Gateron Red: Gateron's light 45cN linear, the common budget smooth switch. Cherry MX Speed Silver: Cherry's fastest linear, with a short 1.2mm actuation point, built for gaming.
Can I get the Cherry MX Red sound on my Mac?
Yes. Kiiwi plays this recording, key-up sound included, under the keyboard you already own, in every app, from the menu bar. It works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 14 or later, and it's a one-time purchase.
Get the Cherry MX Red sound on your Mac
Kiiwi has all 36 packs, this one included, and plays them under the keyboard you already own, in every app, from the menu bar. It needs macOS 14 or later, costs $4.99 once, and hears that a key was pressed, never what you typed.
Download for macOS