Durock Dolphin vs. HMX Vintage Citrus

Overview

When it comes to the diverse world of mechanical keyboard switches, the Durock Dolphin and the HMX Vintage Citrus present two distinct yet appealing options for users with different priorities. The Durock Dolphin excels in environments where noise is a concern, thanks to its silent design, making it a superb choice for office settings or shared workspaces. With a medium-heavy actuation force of 62g, this switch strikes a balance between precision and a satisfying tactile response, catering to those who appreciate a bit of resistance in their keystrokes. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus is engineered specifically for gamers, featuring an incredibly low actuation force with a quick 1mm response, allowing for rapid key presses that can enhance performance in fast-paced gameplay. Its bright and clacky sound profile, paired with an exceptionally smooth push feel, creates an engaging typing experience. While both switches cater to linear preferences, their unique characteristics make them suited for different uses. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Durock Dolphin Linear

HMX Vintage Citrus Linear

$6.87

$5.41 per 10

$3.49

$2.79 per 10

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Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Durock Dolphin and the HMX Vintage Citrus, a clear distinction emerges in their top housing compositions. The Dolphin features a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for producing a sharper and crisper sound profile. This is largely attributed to the stiffer nature of polycarbonate, which facilitates greater resonance and clarity. Furthermore, its translucency allows RGB lighting to showcase vibrant colors, enhancing the switch's aesthetic appeal. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus is equipped with a nylon top housing. Renowned as a classic switch material, nylon produces a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer composition, which tends to absorb more sound. Hence, while the Dolphin's polycarbonate top emphasizes brightness and clarity, the Vintage Citrus's nylon top offers a more subdued and rounded auditory experience.

However, when we turn our attention to the bottom housing of both switches, we find a uniformity that plays a significant role in their sonic characteristics. Both the Dolphin and Vintage Citrus utilize nylon for their bottom housings, providing a deeper and fuller sound profile regardless of the top material. This shared nylon bottom points toward a common auditory experience when the switch bottoms out, as the softer plastic absorbs sound and creates a more resonant feel. This overlap indicates that, despite the differences in top materials, both switches will deliver an enhanced typing sensation rooted in the acoustic properties of nylon in their bottom housing.

In essence, the combination of materials in each switch offers distinct sound and feel characteristics that balance each other out. The Durock Dolphin's sharp polycarbonate top provides a uniquely bright auditory experience when releasing the switch, while its nylon bottom ensures a consistent, fuller sound upon bottoming out. On the other hand, the HMX Vintage Citrus’s nylon top leads to a more muted but equally plush sound profile, complemented by its nylon bottom. Ultimately, while the materials differ in their contributions to the sound profile, both switches can provide satisfying acoustic responses through the synergy of nylon in the bottom housing, allowing users to enjoy a rich typing experience with unique tonal qualities.

Weight

When comparing the Durock Dolphin linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Dolphin switch's actuation force is unspecified, which makes it difficult to determine how it compares to the Vintage Citrus, which has a measured actuation force of 48 grams. However, the Dolphin has a bottom out force of 62 grams, indicating a firmer feel when fully pressed. In contrast, the Vintage Citrus's bottom out force is lighter at 53 grams. As a result, the Vintage Citrus can be considered the lighter option, making it potentially more comfortable for extended typing or gaming sessions, while the Dolphin offers a heavier bottom out force, appealing to those who prefer a more substantial key feel. Overall, if you're seeking a switch that balances both actuation and bottom out forces without the stress of a heavier push, the HMX Vintage Citrus may be the preferable choice.

Travel distance

The Durock Dolphin linear switch and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switch differ in their travel distances, with the Dolphin featuring a travel distance of 3.8 mm and the Vintage Citrus at a shorter 3 mm. This means that if you choose the Vintage Citrus, you will experience a more shallow press, which can offer quicker response times that gamers often prefer. On the other hand, the Dolphin's longer travel distance provides a more substantial depth, appealing to those who enjoy a more pronounced tactile feedback with each key press. Ultimately, if you're seeking a balance between responsiveness and depth, the Dolphin's 3.8 mm travel distance is the superior option, while the Vintage Citrus serves those who favor a snappier actuation.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Durock Dolphin linear switch offers a distinctly muted and low-pitched experience. This characteristic makes the Dolphin a standout when noise levels are a concern, providing a soft tone that is easier on the ears compared to more traditional switches, which can be more disruptive in shared or professional environments. In contrast, the HMX Vintage Citrus switch’s sound profile is not detailed in the provided information, but given its gaming orientation, one might expect it to deliver a more pronounced auditory feedback—possibly clackier or sharper—compared to the subdued nature of the Dolphin. However, both sound characteristics can also be influenced by the type of board and keycaps used, which adds another layer to their audio performance.

In terms of feel, the Durock Dolphin switch excels with its polished design that offers a smooth and refined typing experience. With a medium-heavy actuation force of 62g, users can enjoy a tactile satisfaction and resistance that many enthusiasts favor. This assertiveness encourages precision in typing and gaming. On the other hand, the HMX Vintage Citrus switch, while not specifically described in terms of feel, is designed for quick inputs, suggesting it may have a lighter actuation and less resistance, catering to rapid fire actions essential in gaming. Therefore, while the Dolphin provides a substantial and silky typing experience, the Vintage Citrus likely prioritizes responsiveness and agility in use, although the exact tactile qualities remain unspecified.

In summary, the Durock Dolphin linear switch offers a muted sound and a polished feel, making it great for environments where quiet operation is key, while delivering a satisfying typing experience. The HMX Vintage Citrus switch, although lacking specific descriptive details, is designed for gamers with rapid actuation and likely a clackier sound. Both switches cater to different preferences—one prioritizing silence and smoothness and the other focused on speed and responsiveness. Users can expect distinct experiences from each, tailored to their specific needs in either casual typing or competitive gaming contexts.

Conclusion

To conclude, your choice between the Durock Dolphin and the HMX Vintage Citrus linear switches ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize a quiet and polished typing experience, especially in shared or office environments, the Dolphin is the way to go. Its medium-heavy actuation force of 62 grams provides a satisfying resistance that many find preferable for everyday typing tasks, helping to enhance both precision and comfort. On the other hand, if you’re a gamer seeking speed and responsiveness, the Vintage Citrus would be your better option. With its exceptionally low actuation force of just 53 grams and rapid-fire sensitivity, this switch allows for quick and effortless key presses, essential for competitive gaming scenarios. The bright and clacky sound of the Vintage Citrus also adds an engaging auditory feedback that complements its swift action. Thus, your choice should reflect whether you lean towards a more refined, quiet typing experience with the Dolphin or an explosive, speedy response with the Vintage Citrus.

Mentioned in this article

Durock Dolphin Linear

$6.87

$5.41 per 10

Learn more

HMX Vintage Citrus Linear

$3.49

$2.79 per 10

Learn more