Dareu Firefly vs. Durock Piano
An in-depth look at the Dareu Firefly and the Durock Piano switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Dareu Firefly and the Durock Piano offer unique and appealing features for a variety of typing preferences. The Firefly is a tactile switch that provides a light actuation with a hint of clickiness, giving it an 'Easy-to-press' and 'Chirpy' feel. On the other hand, the Piano is a linear switch known for its smooth gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature, categorized as 'Bassy', 'Frictionless', and 'Silky'. Choosing between these switches ultimately depends on whether you prefer a tactile or linear typing 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
40g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Mystery material
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Dareu Firefly and the Durock Piano utilize different materials for their top and bottom housing, resulting in distinct sound profiles. The Firefly's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound, ideal for RGB lighting due to its translucency. In contrast, the Piano's proprietary POM blend top housing offers a deep and satisfying sound profile. While both materials aim to enhance sound quality, the polycarbonate material of the Firefly focuses on clarity and resonance, while the POM blend of the Piano emphasizes depth and richness in sound.
On the other hand, when it comes to the bottom housing of the switches, the Firefly features a nylon material known for producing a fuller and deeper sound. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a rounder and duller sound profile. Similarly, the Piano's proprietary POM blend bottom housing also offers a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile, although the specific details of the blend remain undisclosed. Despite their differences, both housing materials serve to enhance the overall typing experience by providing subtle nuances in sound and feel.
Ultimately, the choice between the Dareu Firefly and the Durock Piano comes down to personal preference in sound characteristics. The split between the top and bottom housing materials allows for a tailored typing experience with varying impacts on sound and feel. Whether you prefer the sharper and clearer sound of the Firefly with its polycarbonate top housing or the deep and satisfying sound of the Piano with its POM blend top housing, both switches offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences in keyboard aesthetics and sound profiles.
Weight
The Dareu Firefly tactile switch has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams compared to the Durock Piano linear switch, which has an unknown actuation force. However, the Firefly lacks information on its bottom out force, while the Piano has a medium-heavy bottom out force of 63.5 grams. This means that the Firefly may provide a more effortless typing experience due to its lighter actuation force, while the Piano offers a more substantial typing feel with its heavier bottom out force. Ultimately, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may lean towards the Firefly, while those seeking a more substantial push feel may prefer the Piano. Both switches offer unique benefits based on individual preferences, with the actuation and bottom out forces playing a key role in determining the typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Dareu Firefly tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel the same amount of travel distance. The Firefly and Piano switches are equal in this aspect, providing a consistent typing experience in terms of key travel. However, it is worth noting that these switches may differ in terms of actuation force, tactile feedback, and overall feel despite having the same travel distance. In terms of travel distance alone, both the Firefly and Piano switches offer a moderate key travel that can satisfy most typists and gamers alike.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Firefly has an MSRP of $6.59 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Firefly for $3.76.
The Durock Piano has an MSRP of $6.70 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Piano for $5.57.
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 Firefly switch offers a unique chirpy sound due to its light actuation with a hint of clickiness, setting it apart from traditional clicky switches. On the other hand, the Durock Piano switch provides a deep and rich bassy sound profile with a gliding push feel, creating a pleasant typing experience. Depending on your preference, the Firefly switch will give you a chirpy sound, while the Piano switch will give you a bassy sound, both contributing to a satisfying auditory experience during typing sessions.
Moving on to feel, the Dareu Firefly switch offers an easy-to-press experience with gentle resistance during key presses, requiring minimal force to activate. This light actuation force enhances typing efficiency and comfort, reducing finger fatigue during prolonged use. In contrast, the Durock Piano switch provides a frictionless and silky typing experience, offering an exceptionally smooth and effortless typing feel. Whether you prefer an easy-to-press and low-impact typing experience with the Firefly switch or a frictionless and silky typing feel with the Piano switch, both switches cater to different preferences in terms of typing sensation.
In conclusion, the Dareu Firefly tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch each offer unique subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Firefly switch provides a chirpy sound and an easy-to-press typing feel, the Piano switch delivers a bassy sound and a frictionless, silky typing experience. Depending on your personal preferences for sound and feel, you can achieve similar satisfactory results with either switch by choosing the one that best suits your typing style and preferences. Ultimately, both switches offer distinctive characteristics that contribute to an enhanced typing experience, catering to different preferences in the mechanical keyboard community.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Dareu Firefly tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, consider the type of typing experience you prefer. If you enjoy a light actuation force and a subtle clicky sound, the Firefly switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force and a smooth, frictionless typing experience with a deep, creamy sound, the Durock Piano switch may be more suitable for your typing style. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and what type of typing feel and sound signature you prefer.
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