Keyboard Builders’ Digest / Evaluate
XVX Whisper EC/HE swap assessment
The very first EC/HE dual-sensing switches: XVX Whisper 2-in-1 magnetic silent – Topre really feel additionally to your Corridor-effect keyboards.
KBD.information
Printed August 3, 2026
I’ve already talked about the beautiful loopy XVX Whispers right here and there, however these switches are actually one thing distinctly novel, deserving a devoted write-up as nicely.
TL;DR: Refined and silent gentle tactile Topre dome really feel to your magnetic (or EC) keyboards. The XVX Whisper EC/HE switches can be found from $0.60 per piece (10% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code). Good versatile dome, conical spring, and a small magnet within the middle to your HE boards. Sensible. Nice RGB assist is the icing on the cake. As a non-gamer, I like these switches on my Corridor-effect keyboards.
Disclaimer
The Whisper switches got here instantly from XVX. As all the time, free samples and never having to pay for one thing could introduce all types of biases – each damaging and optimistic in my expertise. Take all the pieces I write with a grain of salt.
Sound and Really feel
The Whisper is a pleasant silent tactile with the distinctive dome really feel.
The rubber dome has been tuned to offer a barely tactile but clean really feel. There’s just about no pre-travel, the tactile bump begins immediately and stays current all through your complete keypress, all the way in which to bottom-out.
Whereas it is undoubtedly there, the bump is comparatively gentle and likewise very lengthy, making the texture virtually linear. Particularly in comparison with fashionable MX tactiles just like the Sort R, HMX Firecracker, however even the lighter and silent Akko Penguin.
The Whisper’s typing really feel is rather more nuanced and refined. A reasonable resistance proper from the beginning.
As well as, this should be new to all of you rocking magnetic boards, as HE switches have been completely linears. For aggressive gaming, linearity is justified so you may freely modify pre-travel and actuation. For non-gamers although, a little bit of tactility could turn out to be useful.
Dangerous rubber domes vs good rubber domes
The keyboard passion is unusual in some ways, and one in every of its oddest quirks is the group’s hate or love for rubber domes at reverse ends of the fanciness spectrum: low cost basic rubberdome keyboards on one finish, and area of interest Topre boards on the opposite.
The Whisper switches introduce the domes to magnetic keyboards – HE-boards, principally focused at avid gamers, want no introduction. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re new to the Topre and capacitive PCB area of interest, that includes switches with domes, usually scavenged from retro keyboards, let me reference Cipulot’s Introduction Calendar piece – oldie however goodie – about precisely that: the bizarre, costly Japanese breed of keyboards like Realforce, HHKB, and many others.
Principally, these switches aren’t fairly mechanical and are not fairly rubber domes within the basic sense both. The rubber is not a big sheet, as a substitute, a cute little dome resides contained in the housing: a rubber dome over a conical spring, mixed with capacitive sensing. The texture is comfortable, clean, and even luxurious in response to some. Individuals who love Topre (each the producer and a basic time period for suitable switches and keyboards) usually describe the expertise like typing on marshmallows. In distinction, individuals who do not love Topre often name it a really costly rubber dome.
I am not right here to ship the decision, what I’ve to say although is that I actually favored playing around with these switches. They flip an in any other case hard-hitting magnetic gamer board, just like the IQUNIX EV63, tuned for aggressive gaming and possibly one in every of this yr’s coolest designs, right into a well-mannered device for typing and coding.
Options
- MX-compatible stem (round dustproof)
- Appropriate with each EC and HE PCBs
- Gentle tactile really feel
- Silent sound
- Further Spacebar springs included
The magnet is situated within the stem
Specs
- Mannequin: XVX Whisper EC/HE
- Change kind: hybrid Electro Capacitive (EC) / Corridor Impact (HE)
- Preliminary pressure: 35gf
- Rubber dome: 45g
- Peak pressure: 55gf
- Pre-travel: adjustable
- Whole journey: 3.5 mm
- Materials: Nylon (housing) / POM (stem)
- Preliminary flux: 100±15Gs
- Backside-out flux: 900±15Gs
- Pre-lubed
Packaging
The Whisper switches are available in packs of 35 switches (however ordering them by 70 or 105 is comparatively cheaper).
Fancy cardboard field with good graphic design, some shiny golden elements, and fundamental information with social media hyperlinks.
Compatibility, orientation
This swap is designed with the north magnetic pole dealing with the PCB (N-pole-down) and is barely suitable with keyboards that assist N-pole-down magnetic switches.
As well as, for correct HE performance, XVX suggests putting in the switches with the highest housing quantity marking dealing with left.
This after all has nothing to do with LED orientation: it really works with each north-facing and south-facing LED layouts, as LED place doesn’t impression magnetic performance in any method.
Extras
The 35pcs containers include two gentle gold-plated springs.
If that is complicated first, nicely, these should not substitute springs, clearly, as the inner springs of the switches are conical.
These additional springs are for bigger keycaps, e.g. the spacebar.
Virtually, for finer management on bigger keys, by putting in the spring between the stem and keycap you enhance resistance, actuation pressure, and forestall unintended presses.
This makes a number of sense when combining gentle switches with heavy keycaps just like the spacebar or ISO Enter. E.g. I used to be all the time questioning concerning the basic usability of Cerakey’s ceramic keycaps or Awekeys’ steel units – now XVX involves the rescue. That stated, even when it is a uncommon case, you may see the golden spring by way of translucent spacebars just like the one within the photographs.
Lighting traits
I do know that per-key RGB lighting is necessary for a lot of of you, and the Whisper switches ship on this regard as nicely.
Picture from XVX. The stylish EV63 is just too reserved by default with regards to lighting.
The translucent milky white housing and stem mixture is right for RGB, appearing as an enormous diffuser, permitting your RGB lighting to shine by way of.
Conclusion
I can undoubtedly advocate the XVX Whisper switches if you would like to expertise some refined gentle tactile Topre dome really feel in your magnetic (or EC) keyboard. At about $0.60 per swap (10% off with the KBDNEWS coupon code), it is positioned proper in the course of the HE swap market. Nice RGB assist as nicely. The Whisper switches introduce some tactility into Corridor-effect boards, so they’re undoubtedly one thing to contemplate if you happen to discover the market of linear magnetic switches soulless and boring.
Worth & Availability
The XVX Whisper EC/HE switches can be found at xvxchannel.com. Probably the most favorable 105pcs supply begins at $70 $63 – utilizing the KBDNEWS coupon code. Remember to say your 10% low cost!
Printed on Mon third Aug 2026. Featured in KBD #215.
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