Dareu Aqua vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the Dareu Aqua and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Dareu Aqua linear switch stands out with its super light 37g actuation force, delivering a unique blend of chirpy and clacky sound signature, making it a distinctive choice for those who favor a lighter touch. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch is loved for its silenced version of the Ink Black switch, perfect for environments that require quieter typing. This switch provides a cushy, pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. The Aqua's characteristics of being easy-to-press and feathery contrasts with the Silent Ink Black's silky, muted, and polished qualities. Both switches have their own advantages and appeal to different preferences. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
37g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
70g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The Dareu Aqua and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches both feature unique housing materials that contribute to their distinct sound profiles. The Aqua's polycarbonate top housing offers a sharper and crisper sound compared to the Silent Ink Black's proprietary INK blend top housing, which provides a slightly higher-pitched and clacky sound. Both top housings have their own advantages, with polycarbonate being stiffer for a more resonant sound and the INK blend offering a satisfying thin sound. Additionally, the Aqua's nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound, while the Silent Ink Black's INK blend bottom housing complements the top housing with its high-pitched yet not overly sharp sound.
Despite their differences, the Dareu Aqua and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches share some similarities in their housing materials. Both switches prioritize creating a unique sound profile for keyboard enthusiasts, with the Aqua utilizing polycarbonate in its top housing to enhance RGB lighting effects and the Silent Ink Black employing its proprietary INK blend for a pointed and satisfying sound. While the Aqua's nylon bottom housing provides a duller and rounder sound, the Silent Ink Black's INK blend bottom housing complements the top housing's high-pitched sound, creating a harmonious typing experience.
Ultimately, the choice between the Dareu Aqua and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches comes down to personal preference for sound and feel. The split qualities of the top and bottom housings in each switch offer a unique typing experience, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing influences the sound when releasing a key. Whether you prefer the sharper and crisper sound of the Aqua's polycarbonate top housing or the slightly higher-pitched clackiness of the Silent Ink Black's proprietary INK blend, both switches provide a satisfying typing experience for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.
Weight
The Dareu Aqua linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 37 grams compared to the heavier actuation force of 60 grams of the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch. Both switches do not have a specified bottom out force, making it hard to directly compare this aspect. Those who prefer a lighter touch may lean towards the Dareu Aqua for a smoother and potentially faster typing experience. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black may be more suitable for users who prefer a more substantial typing feel with a higher actuation force. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for typing pressure and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Dareu Aqua linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, which means that you will get a similar typing experience in terms of the distance the keys travel when pressed. The shorter travel distance allows for quicker keystrokes and a more responsive feel, while the longer travel distance can provide a more tactile feedback. Overall, both switches offer a smooth typing experience with minimal travel distance, making them suitable for those who prefer a more compact and efficient keyboard setup.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Aqua has an MSRP of $6.59 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Aqua for $3.76.
The Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
In terms of sound, the Dareu Aqua linear switch stands out with a unique blend of chirpy and clacky sound signatures, offering a distinctive typing experience characterized by a light and sharp sound when pressed. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch provides a muted typing experience, minimizing noise and creating a softer and quieter sound compared to regular switches. Both switches offer different sound profiles, with the Aqua being more distinctive and the Silent Ink Black focusing on a quieter typing environment. Ultimately, the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard configuration and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Dareu Aqua linear switch boasts an easy-to-press and feathery typing experience, characterized by a light 37g actuation force that requires minimal effort to activate. This results in a responsive and low-impact typing feel, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch offers a silky and polished typing experience, with smooth key travel and minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Both switches provide unique tactile feedback, with the Aqua focusing on ease of typing and light actuation force, while the Silent Ink Black emphasizes smoothness and refined key travel.
In conclusion, the Dareu Aqua linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch offer distinct sound and feel profiles to cater to different preferences. The Aqua excels in providing a chirpy and clacky sound with an easy-to-press and feathery typing feel, ideal for those who prefer a light touch. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black delivers a muted sound and a silky, polished typing experience, making it a great choice for environments where noise reduction is crucial. Ultimately, both switches offer quality performance, and choosing between them will depend on individual preferences for sound and typing feel.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Dareu Aqua linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, consider your preferences and needs. If you prefer a super light actuation force, a chirpy and clacky sound profile, and an easy-to-press and feathery feel, the Dareu Aqua switch may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you require a quieter typing experience, a cushioned bottom-out feel, and a silky and polished typing feel, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch might be more suitable. Ultimately, your decision should be based on what qualities are most important to you in a mechanical keyboard switch.
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