Durock Black Lotus vs. KTT Orange

Overview

When it comes to selecting the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options stand out: the Durock Black Lotus and the KTT Orange. The Black Lotus is renowned for its silky smooth feel and unbeatable precision, ensuring a typing experience free from any wobbling of the housing and stem. With an actuation weight of 55g, it strikes a balance between substantial weight and comfortable key presses. Additionally, the Black Lotus boasts a unique light column that provides customizable in-switch lighting. On the other hand, the KTT Orange switches offer a different set of advantages. Equipped with a 22mm spring, they provide a bouncy and springy typing feel. Featuring a polycarbonate milky top housing, a long pole POM stem, and a vivid orange nylon bottom housing, these switches deliver a frictionless typing experience with a pleasantly low-pitched sound profile. Thanks to the excellent factory-lubing, the KTT Orange switches offer a refined and fluid key travel, minimizing friction and maximizing smoothness. However, let's dig deeper into the specifics of each switch to help you make the best decision for your typing preferences.

By the numbers

Durock Black Lotus Linear

KTT Orange Linear

$5.60

$4.57 per 10

$5.55

$4.15 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The housing materials of the Durock Black Lotus and the KTT Orange switches have some similarities and differences. The Black Lotus features a modified PC and UPE blend top housing, which gives it a unique and premium feel. On the other hand, the Orange switch has a polycarbonate top housing that creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, making it more suitable for RGB lighting due to its translucency. Both switches provide a distinct and high-quality feel, although the Black Lotus offers a more luxurious touch, while the Orange emphasizes a brighter sound profile.

In terms of the bottom housing, the Black Lotus utilizes a nylon material, which is renowned for generating a deeper and fuller sound. The softer nature of nylon allows it to absorb sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Conversely, the KTT Orange switch incorporates a polycarbonate bottom housing. Like its top housing counterpart, the polycarbonate material contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and more resonant sound. Additionally, the clear nature of polycarbonate enables better illumination when using RGB lighting. While both housing materials offer their distinct advantages, nylon may provide a more mellow and immersive typing experience compared to the crisper sound produced by polycarbonate.

Overall, the Black Lotus and the KTT Orange switches share some characteristics, particularly when it comes to their top housing. Both switches prioritize a premium feel, with the Black Lotus featuring a modified PC and UPE blend and the Orange employing polycarbonate. However, their bottom housings differ, with the Black Lotus using nylon for a deeper sound profile and the Orange utilizing polycarbonate for a sharper sound. While the Black Lotus may deliver a more luxurious typing experience, the Orange switch emphasizes a brighter sound and is more suitable for RGB lighting. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preferences for feel, sound, and aesthetics.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Black Lotus linear switch and the KTT Orange linear switch, there are notable differences. The Black Lotus has an actuation force of 55 grams, while the Orange requires a lighter 46 grams of force to actuate. Similarly, their bottom out forces are also different, with the Black Lotus requiring a heftier 63.5 grams compared to the Orange's 53 grams. These variances suggest that the Black Lotus provides a slightly heavier typing experience, while the Orange offers a lighter touch.

Considering weight becomes important in this context. Those who prefer a lighter typing experience may find the Orange switch more suitable, as it requires a lighter actuation force and has a lower bottom out force. This is advantageous for individuals who wish to type for longer durations, such as in professional settings or during extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, individuals seeking a more substantial push feel may opt for the Black Lotus, as its higher actuation force and bottom out force provide a stronger tactile sensation during typing.

In terms of similarities, both switches fall within the medium range, with the Black Lotus leaning slightly towards the heavier side and the Orange towards the lighter side. Therefore, if one desires a similar result despite the differences in force requirements, either switch can provide a satisfactory typing experience within the medium category.

Travel distance

The Durock Black Lotus linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the KTT Orange linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. The 4.0mm travel distance of the Black Lotus is considered more traditional, while the 3.5 mm travel distance of the Orange switch is on the shallower side. In recent times, shorter travel distances have become increasingly popular, especially among gamers who prioritize faster response times. These individuals may prefer the shorter travel distance of the KTT Orange switch. On the other hand, some people find short travel distances to feel abrupt and prefer a deeper key press experience. If you fall into this category, the Durock Black Lotus switch with its longer travel distance might be the better option for you. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and whether you prioritize responsiveness or a more substantial key press feel.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the Black Lotus switch does not have a specific descriptor provided. However, the Orange switch is described as having a low-pitched sound profile. Low-pitched switches typically produce a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is affected by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.

When it comes to the feel of the switches, the Black Lotus switch is described as silky, buttery, mild, and polished. Silky switches offer an exceptionally smooth typing experience, enhancing overall smoothness and minimizing resistance. Butter switches provide a seamless and fluid keystroke experience. Mild switches offer a gentle typing experience that is approachable for most users. Polished switches have a smooth and refined finish, resulting in a sleek typing experience due to materials used or factory lubing. On the other hand, the Orange switch is described as bouncy and frictionless. Bouncy switches provide a spring-like or elastic feedback sensation, giving keys a lively feel and rebound when pressed. Frictionless switches offer an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys.

In conclusion, while specific information about sound qualities for the Black Lotus switch is not provided, both the Black Lotus and Orange switches offer subjective qualities that enhance the typing experience. The Black Lotus switch is known for its silky smooth feel, minimized wobble, and unique removable light column. The Orange switch, on the other hand, provides a slick and frictionless typing experience, with a low-pitched sound profile. With both switches, you can expect a refined and smooth key travel, although the exact sound and feel may vary depending on other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used. Overall, both switches offer unique qualities that can contribute to a satisfying typing experience, resulting in similar results in terms of smoothness and reduced friction.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are someone who values a medium-heavy switch with a substantial actuation weight, as well as in-switch lighting and reduced housing and stem wobble, the Durock Black Lotus linear switch would be a great option for you. With its silky smooth feel, buttery sound profile, mild typing experience, and polished finish, this switch offers an unparalleled typing pleasure. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light switch with a bouncy type feel, slick and frictionless typing experience, and a low-pitched sound profile, the KTT Orange linear switch would be a better fit for you. Thanks to its long spring, polycarbonate milky top housing, POM stem, and nylon bottom housing, this switch provides a unique and enjoyable typing sensation. Ultimately, the choice between the Black Lotus and the Orange will depend on your personal preferences for bottom out force, typing experience, sound, and other factors.

Mentioned in this article

Durock Black Lotus Linear

$5.60

$4.57 per 10

Learn more

KTT Orange Linear

$5.55

$4.15 per 10

Learn more