A keyboard's sound is not decided by one part. It is the sum of the switch, the way the switch meets the plate, how the plate is held, what fills the empty space inside and what the case is made of. The F99 Max tackles several of those at once. Understanding what each layer does explains how a quiet linear mechanical keyboard gets its softer voice, and what you can still change if you want it quieter.

Quick Answer

The AULA F99 Max gets its softer sound from factory-lubed Reaper linears by LEOBOG, a gasket mount and five layers of damping. IXPE, foam, silicone and PET sit between the plate, the circuit board and the case, soaking up vibration. AULA does not publish a decibel figure, so treat it as built for a gentle sound rather than rated silent. Evetech lists the board in Gradient Grey, with a price tag of R799.

🧈 Why pre-lubed linears sound softer

Linears travel in one smooth line, without a tactile bump or a click bar, which already removes two sources of noise found in tactile and clicky switches. What remains is the stem sliding in its housing, the spring, and the sound of the key hitting the bottom and returning to the top.

Lubrication addresses the sliding part. A thin coat on the stem and spring reduces scratch and ping, the thin metallic ring a dry spring can make. Having that done at the factory means you get a smoother, quieter stroke without opening every switch yourself.

On the numbers, a Reaper registers at roughly 45gf, stiffens towards 55gf as it bottoms out, and fires 1.8mm into a 3.6mm stroke. A light switch like that suits a gentle typing style, and a gentle style is quieter in its own right, because keys bottom out with less force.

The Reaper also carries a light diffuser, which spreads the RGB glow rather than affecting sound, and AULA rates it for 60 million keystrokes.

🧱 The five layers, and where they sit

Every keystroke sends vibration from the switch into the plate, then through the circuit board into the case. Empty space inside a case can act like the body of a drum and amplify it. The F99 Max fills that space.

AULA lists the materials as:

  • IXPE, a dense foam sheet often used directly under switches to soften the high-pitched part of a keystroke.
  • Foam, which fills the case cavity and absorbs hollow echo.
  • Silicone, a heavier damping material that deadens low-frequency thud.
  • PET, a thin, tough film used between layers.

AULA places these between the plate, the circuit board and the case. The gasket mount adds another element: instead of screwing the plate rigidly to the case, gaskets cushion it, which takes some harshness out of each impact and gives a slightly softer feel.

The case itself is thick ABS plastic. Thicker walls resonate less than thin ones.

🔉 How quiet, and how to go quieter

AULA publishes no decibel figure for the F99 Max, so there is no number to quote. The fair summary is that every part of its design, from lubed linears to gasket mounting and five layers of damping, points towards a soft, rounded sound rather than a loud clack.

If you want it quieter still:

  1. Use a desk mat underneath, which stops the case transmitting sound into a hard desk.
  2. Type with a lighter touch. A 45gf switch needs very little force, and not bottoming out hard reduces the loudest part of each press.
  3. Consider different switches. Its sockets accept both 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, and AULA includes a puller, so quieter linears can go in later.
  4. Keep the board on a solid surface rather than a hollow shelf.

You can browse the F99 Max in Evetech's gaming keyboard section, and a quiet board with a full numpad is equally at home among the office keyboards Evetech carries. A 1 Year Local Warranty applies, and pricing sits on the product page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials fill the case?

IXPE, foam, silicone and PET, placed between the plate, circuit board and case.

What does pre-lubing do for the sound?

It smooths the stem and spring, cutting scratch and spring ping for a cleaner, softer stroke.

How light are the Reaper switches?

Light: 45gf gets a keypress registered, and 55gf is reached at the floor, with 1.8mm of pre-travel.

Does the plastic case make it louder?

The case is thick ABS, and thicker walls resonate less. The internal damping does most of the work.

Is there a decibel rating?

No. AULA does not publish one, so it is best described as built for a softer sound.

How can I make it quieter?

Add a desk mat, type more lightly or fit quieter compatible switches in the hot-swap sockets.

After a softer-sounding keyboard? Explore Evetech's gaming keyboard range and see the F99 Max with its lubed linears and layered damping.