Gateron CAP Anniversary vs. Durock Sea Glass
An in-depth look at the Gateron CAP Anniversary and the Durock Sea Glass switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Gateron CAP Anniversary and Durock Sea Glass both offer unique features and benefits to enhance your typing experience. The CAP Anniversary switch boasts a novel CAP structure that delivers exceptionally smooth keystrokes, thanks to aerodynamic principles and a unique stem design. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switch series by Durock stands out with its captivating pastel colors and a distinct dry, wispy feel during typing. While the CAP Anniversary is characterized by its snappiness and creamy feel, the Sea Glass offers a frictionless and easy-to-press experience. 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
50g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
P3+
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated 20mm spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The CAP Anniversary and the Durock Sea Glass both offer unique housing materials that contribute to their sound profiles. While the CAP Anniversary features a polycarbonate top housing, the Sea Glass boasts a Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing. The polycarbonate top housing of the CAP Anniversary creates a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile, ideal for users looking for a clear and resonant sound. In contrast, the Sea Glass's blend offers a more pleasant and brighter sound profile, perfect for those who prefer a less sharp tone.
In terms of bottom housing materials, the CAP Anniversary utilizes nylon, providing a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic composition. On the other hand, the Sea Glass features the same unique Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend for its bottom housing, offering a pleasant and bright sound profile that may differ from the CAP Anniversary's nylon bottom housing. These differences in bottom housing materials can impact the overall sound and feel of the switch when typing, making each switch unique in its own way.
Despite their differences in housing materials, both the CAP Anniversary and the Durock Sea Glass aim to provide a premium typing experience with distinct sound profiles. While the CAP Anniversary's polycarbonate and nylon housing materials offer a sharper and deeper sound, the Sea Glass's unique blend provides a more pleasant and brighter tone. Regardless of these variations, both switches are designed to enhance the user's typing experience with their respective housing materials, delivering satisfying sound profiles for different preferences.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it is evident that the Sea Glass is the lighter option. The CAP Anniversary has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Sea Glass's 45 grams. Similarly, the bottom out force for the CAP Anniversary is 65 grams, while the Sea Glass requires 62 grams. Overall, both switches fall within the medium to medium-heavy range. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Durock Sea Glass would be the ideal choice, allowing for longer typing sessions without fatigue. On the other hand, those who enjoy a more substantial push feel may lean towards the Gateron CAP Anniversary for a more pronounced typing experience. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will come down to personal preference in terms of actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Durock Sea Glass linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm. Both switches fall within the range of traditional travel distances, with the CAP Anniversary being slightly longer. Gamers who prioritize faster response times may prefer the Sea Glass switch with its shorter travel distance. On the other hand, those who prefer a more substantial key press may lean towards the CAP Anniversary switch. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference in terms of travel distance and key feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron CAP Anniversary has an MSRP of $4.90 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the CAP Anniversary for $4.10.
The Durock Sea Glass has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Glass for $4.87.
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 CAP Anniversary is known for its unique hollow sound signature, while the Sea Glass switch series emits a distinct, hollow sound that adds to the overall typing experience. When comparing the two, the CAP Anniversary may provide a slightly deeper sound profile due to its novel CAP structure, while the Sea Glass switches offer a dry, wispy sound that sets them apart.
When it comes to feel, the CAP Anniversary switches are often described as snappy, creamy, and polished, providing a responsive and smooth typing experience with minimal friction. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switches are known for being frictionless, mild, feathery, and easy-to-press, offering a light and effortless typing feel with reduced finger fatigue. While both switches prioritize smoothness, the CAP Anniversary may provide a slightly more refined and polished typing experience, while the Sea Glass switches excel in offering a feather-light actuation force.
Overall, the Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch both offer high-quality typing experiences with their own unique characteristics. The CAP Anniversary excels in providing a smooth and stable keystroke with a hollow sound signature, while the Sea Glass switches stand out for their pastel color selection, frictionless feel, and light actuation force. Depending on personal preferences for sound, feel, and actuation force, both switches can deliver a satisfying typing experience, ensuring that newcomers to the mechanical keyboard world will find options that suit their individual needs.
Conclusion
In closing, when choosing between the Gateron CAP Anniversary linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, consider your preference for bottom-out force and typing experience. If you prefer a slightly heavier bottom-out force at 65 grams and enjoy a smooth keystroke with minimal wobble, the CAP Anniversary switch with its unique aerodynamic design may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you lean towards a lighter bottom-out force at 62 grams and appreciate a distinct dry, wispiness in your typing experience along with a weightless feel, the Durock Sea Glass switch may be more suited to your style. Ultimately, both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, so it's important to consider what qualities are most important to you when making your decision.
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