Dareu Aqua vs. HMX Vintage Citrus
An in-depth look at the Dareu Aqua and the HMX Vintage Citrus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Dareu Aqua and HMX Vintage Citrus offer unique experiences tailored to different user preferences. The Aqua switch is celebrated for its super light 37g actuation force, providing a delightful blend of a chirpy and clacky sound that appeals to those who enjoy a lighter, more responsive touch. This switch excels in everyday typing efficiency and casual gaming, making it a versatile option for users seeking a balanced auditory and tactile experience. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus is engineered specifically for gaming enthusiasts, featuring an exceptionally low actuation force of just 1mm, which allows for rapid-fire inputs—perfect for fast-paced gaming scenarios. With a bright, clacky tonal quality and an impressively smooth feel, the Vintage Citrus caters to those who prioritize speed and precision in their gameplay. While both switches have their distinct advantages, they cater to different needs; the Aqua is ideal for general use and lighter typing, while the Vintage Citrus focuses on maximizing performance in competitive settings. 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
48g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.00 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Housing materials
The Dareu Aqua and HMX Vintage Citrus switches feature distinct materials for their top housings, resulting in contrasting sound profiles. The Aqua utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, offering a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound due to the material's stiffness. This property allows for a more pronounced resonance, making it particularly suitable for builds that utilize RGB lighting, as the translucency of polycarbonate is visually appealing while enhancing the lighting effects. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus uses a nylon top housing, known for its classic reputation in switch construction. Nylon's softer composition absorbs sound, leading to a deeper, fuller sound profile that creates a more muted auditory experience when typing. The fundamental difference in the material properties between polycarbonate and nylon highlights how the two switches cater to diverse preferences in sound and acoustics.
Both the Dareu Aqua and HMX Vintage Citrus employ a nylon bottom housing, contributing to a consistent auditory experience when bottoming out. As nylon is a softer plastic, it absorbs sound effectively, which leads to a deeper and fuller sound profile regardless of the top housing material. Additionally, the rounded acoustic characteristics of nylon enhance the overall typing experience, delivering a satisfying tactile feedback. As the bottom housing significantly impacts the bottom-out sound and feel during key presses, both switches exhibit a uniformity in how they feel and sound upon actuation, further reinforcing the classic qualities attributed to nylon housing.
When considering the combined effects of both the top and bottom housing materials, one can see how the design choices of the Dareu Aqua and HMX Vintage Citrus influence user experience. The Aqua’s polycarbonate top enhances higher-frequency sounds when releasing keys, creating a more immediate auditory response, while the nylon bottom ensures a rounded profile during key presses. Conversely, the Vintage Citrus offers a more cohesive sound signature, with its nylon top fostering a consistent depth throughout the typing experience. Ultimately, while the two switches differ in their top housing materials, they share a compatible nylon bottom, allowing users to achieve notable contrasts in sound profiles while enjoying a common threading of acoustic warmth in their typings.
Weight
When comparing the Dareu Aqua linear switch to the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, there are notable differences in both actuation force and bottom out force that appeal to different preferences in typing feel. The Aqua switch has an actuation force of 37 grams, which makes it the lighter option, allowing users to type for extended periods with less fatigue—ideal for long working hours or gaming sessions. Conversely, the Vintage Citrus switch features a higher actuation force of 48 grams, providing a more substantial feel that some users prefer for a firmer typing experience. In terms of bottom out force, the Vintage Citrus has a measurable bottom out force of 53 grams, while the bottom out force for the Aqua is unavailable, leaving a gap in direct comparison for that measurement. This absence means that enthusiasts looking for a specific bottoming out sensation will not have the same information for the Aqua switch. Ultimately, for those who favor lighter switches for ease of use, the Aqua would be the preferred choice, while those who appreciate a heavier, more tactile experience are likely to lean toward the Vintage Citrus.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Dareu Aqua linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, it's clear that they differ significantly. The Aqua boasts a travel distance of 4 mm, making it the longer option and appealing to those who enjoy a more pronounced key press. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus features a travel distance of 3 mm, which is the shorter option and may be favored by gamers or users who prioritize quick responsiveness. The preference for either switch hinges on individual typing styles—those who appreciate a deeper feel may gravitate toward the Aqua, while those who seek rapid actuation might opt for the Vintage Citrus. Ultimately, although both switches provide distinct tactile experiences, the Aqua offers a more traditional feel, while the Vintage Citrus caters to a more contemporary, shallow preference.
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 HMX Vintage Citrus has an MSRP of $3.49 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Vintage Citrus for $2.79.
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
When comparing the sound profiles of the Dareu Aqua linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, the Aqua offers a unique blend characterized by its chirpy and clacky qualities. The chirpy sound provides a distinct squeak, contributing a playful aspect to the typing experience, while the clacky quality delivers a sharp and percussive tone that enhances feedback. The Vintage Citrus switch, on the other hand, is noted for its bright and clacky sound, though specific descriptors are not provided for its auditory qualities. Overall, both switches lean towards a clacky sound, which is often preferred by gamers and typists alike, making them excellent choices for those who enjoy a lively audio feedback.
In terms of feel, the Aqua switch is praised for its easy-to-press and feathery characteristics. With an actuation force of only 37g, it requires minimal effort for activation, resulting in a typing experience that is both comfortable and responsive. This makes it ideal for prolonged typing sessions, significantly reducing finger fatigue. The Vintage Citrus switch is designed specifically for quick inputs with a low actuation distance of just 1mm, which likely provides a smooth push feel conducive for rapid-fire gaming scenarios. Although the Vintage Citrus lacks a detailed description about its feel, the focus on speed suggests that it also aims to minimize effort during operation, likely offering a different yet enjoyable tactile experience.
In conclusion, both the Dareu Aqua and HMX Vintage Citrus switches cater to those who appreciate light actuation forces and responsive feedback, making them suitable for both gaming and typing. While the Aqua's sound is more varied due to its chirpy and clacky elements, both switches emphasize a clacky profile that many users enjoy. The feel of the Aqua is marked by its exceptionally light and comfortable characteristics, while the Vintage Citrus is designed for speedy inputs. Ultimately, either switch can deliver a satisfying typing experience with a unique combination of sound and feel, appealing to different preferences within the mechanical keyboard community.
Conclusion
To conclude, when deciding between the Dareu Aqua linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, it comes down to your specific typing preferences and usage needs. If you favor a lighter actuation force and enjoy a chirpy, clacky sound profile, the Aqua would be an excellent choice, especially for extended typing sessions where comfort and reduced finger fatigue are paramount. Its gentle resistance and feathery feel make it perfect for general typing and casual gaming, allowing for a responsive and effortless experience. On the other hand, if you're a dedicated gamer looking for speed and precision, the HMX Vintage Citrus is designed with you in mind. With its exceptionally low actuation distance and a medium-light bottom-out force, it enables rapid inputs and a sharp, bright sound that can enhance the gaming experience. Ultimately, assess your primary use case and prioritize comfort versus speed to select the switch that will best meet your needs.
Mentioned in this article
