Dareu Dream vs. Durock Sea Glass
An in-depth look at the Dareu Dream and the Durock Sea Glass switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Dareu Dream linear switch is renowned for its lightness and affordability, making it a popular choice among budget-conscious enthusiasts seeking a quality typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch offers a unique typing experience with its proprietary material blend, resulting in a distinct dry, wispy, and airy feel while maintaining smoothness. Despite the Sea Glass switch's 62g bottom-out force, it defies expectations by possessing a weightlessness that sets it apart, along with a uniquely hollow sound signature. Both switches offer qualities like easy-to-press keys, but the Sea Glass switch provides a more frictionless and feathery typing experience. However, delving deeper into each switch's characteristics will help you determine the best option for your preferences and needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
40g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
N/A
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
Partial box
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
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Dareu Dream and the Durock Sea Glass, they both offer unique benefits. The Dream's polycarbonate top housing provides a sharper, crisper sound profile due to its stiffness, while the Sea Glass's Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing offers a pleasant, bright sound. However, where the Dream's nylon bottom housing creates a deeper, fuller sound profile, the Sea Glass's blend bottom housing is unique in providing a pleasant, yet brighter sound. These differences offer users the opportunity to choose a sound profile that best suits their preferences.
Although the Dareu Dream and the Durock Sea Glass use different materials for their top and bottom housings, the impact of these materials is felt differently during use. The bottom housing affects the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, with the Dream's nylon bottom housing creating a deeper sound and the Sea Glass's blend bottom housing offering a brighter tone. On the other hand, the top housing has more influence on the sound when releasing a key, with the Dream's polycarbonate creating a sharper sound and the Sea Glass's blend providing a more pleasant, bright sound. Overall, users can expect a unique sound experience based on the housing materials chosen for these switches.
Both the Dareu Dream and the Durock Sea Glass offer distinct advantages based on their housing materials. The Dream's polycarbonate top housing is ideal for those who prefer a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile, particularly when paired with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Sea Glass's blend top housing provides a pleasant, bright sound that may appeal to those seeking a different auditory experience. With their respective nylon and blend bottom housings also offering unique sound characteristics, users have the opportunity to tailor their switch choice to their preferred sound profile, whether it be deep and full or bright and resonant.
Weight
In comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Dareu Dream linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, we see some differences. The Dream has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams compared to the Sea Glass's 45 grams, making the Dream easier to trigger a keystroke. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Sea Glass is heavier at 62 grams compared to the Dream's unknown bottom out force. This means that the Sea Glass offers a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel. The lighter actuation force of the Dream may be preferable for those who type for extended periods of time, while the heavier bottom out force of the Sea Glass may be favored by those looking for a more solid and tactile typing experience. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will come down to personal preference based on whether you prefer a lighter or heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
The Dareu Dream linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Durock Sea Glass linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. The Dareu Dream has a slightly longer travel distance, making it better suited for those who prefer a bit more depth when pressing down on a key. On the other hand, the Sea Glass has a slightly shorter travel distance, making it ideal for those looking for a quicker response time, such as gamers. Gamers often prefer shorter travel distances for faster reaction times. Both options offer a good balance between responsiveness and depth, but ultimately the decision between the two will come down to personal preference in terms of how much travel distance feels most comfortable.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Dream has an MSRP of $6.59 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Dream for $3.76.
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 Dareu Dream linear switch is known for its clacky sound profile, producing a sharp and snappy sound when pressed, which can be described as crisp, bright, and percussive. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch offers a uniquely hollow sound signature, creating a distinct typing experience. Both switches showcase different sound characteristics that cater to individual preferences, with the Dream emphasizing a more pronounced clack and the Sea Glass providing a softer, hollower sound.
Moving on to feel, the Dareu Dream linear switch is praised for its easy-to-press nature, offering gentle resistance during key presses and requiring minimal force to activate. This light actuation force enhances the typing experience by reducing finger fatigue and providing a low-impact typing feel. Similarly, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch boasts a frictionless and feathery typing experience, with a fluid travel that minimizes resistance and strain on the fingers. Both switches fall under the category of mild switches, offering a comfortable typing experience that most users can appreciate.
In conclusion, the Dareu Dream linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch each bring unique qualities to the table when it comes to sound and feel. While the Dream emphasizes a clacky sound and easy-to-press feel, the Sea Glass showcases a distinct hollow sound and a frictionless, feathery typing experience. Both switches offer a blend of quality and affordability, catering to enthusiasts seeking different typing experiences. Ultimately, choosing between these switches will depend on personal preferences for sound, feel, and overall typing experience. Both switches are reliable options that will deliver satisfactory results for newcomers exploring the world of mechanical keyboard switches.
Conclusion
In closing, when considering whether to choose the Dareu Dream linear switch or the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preferences. If you prioritize a light and affordable option that provides a gentle and easy-to-press typing experience, then the Dareu Dream switch would be the way to go. On the other hand, if you are captivated by the pastel colors and unique typing feel of a switch that offers a frictionless and feathery typing experience, then the Durock Sea Glass switch might be the perfect choice for you. Both switches have their own distinct characteristics that cater to different preferences, so it's essential to consider what qualities you value most in a keyboard switch when making your decision. Ultimately, the choice between the Dareu Dream and Durock Sea Glass switches will depend on your typing style, sound preferences, and overall typing experience goals.
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