Epomaker Split 65% Sound Mod

Why I Did This

My home office desk sits uncomfortably close to other family members’ spaces. While I personally love the satisfying clack of mechanical switches, not everyone appreciates the symphony of productivity echoing through the house at 2 AM.

The goal: Keep the tactile feedback I need, but make the keyboard quiet enough that anyone within three feet doesn’t get annoyed.

The solution: Poron foam sound dampening + AKKO V3 Fairy Linear Silent switches.

The Keyboard

The Epomaker Split 65% is a hot-swappable split ergonomic keyboard - meaning I can pull switches out without soldering. Perfect for modding.

Specs:

Layout: 65% split (ergonomic split design)
Connection: Wired USB-C
Hot-swap: Yes (makes switch replacement easy)
Acquired: February 19, 2025

The Mod Process

Step 1: Disassembly and Planning

Keyboard internals exposed showing switch sockets

First step was pulling all the keycaps and existing switches. The hot-swap sockets make this straightforward - just grip each switch firmly and pull straight up.

Key observation: The split design means switches around the border where the keyboard separates need extra care during reassembly.

Step 2: Poron Foam Installation

Close-up of AKKO V3 Fairy switches and old switches

Here’s where things got interesting. Poron foam is a high-performance dampening material that absorbs vibration and reduces sound transmission. The challenge? It comes in sheets, not pre-cut keyboard shapes.

The process:

Measured the internal cavity around the switch plate
Cut Poron foam to size (this took patience - measure twice, cut once)
Created cutouts for the switch posts
Installed foam between the PCB and bottom case

Pro tip: Use a sharp craft knife and make multiple light passes instead of one heavy cut. Poron is dense and can be tough to cut cleanly.

The border switches around the split point were particularly finicky - the foam needed precise cutting to avoid interfering with the split mechanism.

Step 3: Silent Switch Installation

Mid-assembly showing switches being tested with blue organizer tray

Swapped all switches to AKKO V3 Fairy Linear Silent switches. These use dampened stems to reduce both bottom-out and upstroke noise.

Switch specs:

Type: Linear (smooth, no tactile bump)
Actuation force: 45g ± 5g
Travel: 4.0mm total, 2.0mm actuation
Sound dampening: Dual-stage rubber dampeners
Material: POM stem, PC top housing, Nylon bottom

The challenge: Getting switches to seat properly around the border where the keyboard splits was tedious. The split point adds mechanical complexity, and I had to ensure switches were fully inserted without damaging the hot-swap sockets.

Some switches needed multiple insertion attempts to get them flush with the plate.

Step 4: Reassembly

Completed left half with all keycaps installed

With foam installed and switches replaced, time for the satisfying part - installing keycaps.

Watch the keycap assembly process after switch installation

Final result:

Both halves fully assembled and ready to use

The keyboard is complete - quiet, tactile, and office-friendly.

The Results

Sound reduction: Mission accomplished. The combination of Poron foam and silent switches reduced typing volume dramatically. Anyone within three feet can barely hear it over ambient room noise.

Tactile feedback: The linear switches don’t have the tactile bump of my previous switches, but the actuation point is clear and consistent. I adapted within a few hours of typing.

Trade-offs:

Lost that satisfying mechanical thock sound (but that was the point)
Linear switches take getting used to if you prefer tactile
Mod cost ~$40 ($25 switches, $15 foam)

Difficulty Assessment

Rating: Medium

Why medium, not easy:

Poron foam cutting: Requires precision and patience. Irregular cuts can interfere with switch operation or create pressure points
Border switch reassembly: Switches around the split point are finicky to install properly
No soldering required: Hot-swap design keeps this accessible

Time investment: