Dareu Holly vs. Durock Piano
An in-depth look at the Dareu Holly and the Durock Piano switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that stand out are the Dareu Holly, a tactile switch, and the Durock Piano, a linear switch. The Dareu Holly switch is known for its medium 50g actuation force and offers a unique sound signature that combines chirpy and clacky elements, providing a balanced and distinctive typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Piano switches are favored for their proprietary material blend, resulting in a smooth gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature. While the Holly switch is categorized as 'Chirpy', 'Clacky', 'Neutral', the Piano switch falls under 'Bassy', 'Frictionless', 'Silky'. Each switch has its own strengths and characteristics that appeal to different preferences. 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
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 Holly and the Durock Piano both feature unique housing materials that contribute to their sound profiles. The Holly utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, known for creating a sharper and crisper sound with its stiff plastic composition. In contrast, the Piano features a proprietary POM blend top housing, offering a deep and satisfying sound profile. While the Holly's housing allows for RGB lighting due to its translucency, the POM blend in the Piano remains a mystery in terms of its exact composition.
The bottom housings of the Holly and Piano also differ, with the Holly incorporating a nylon bottom housing for a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs sound and creates a rounder sound compared to harder plastics. On the other hand, the Piano's proprietary POM blend bottom housing is designed to enhance the overall sound profile of the switch, providing a unique and satisfying typing experience. Both switches focus on optimizing sound quality through their choice of housing materials.
Despite their differences, both the Dareu Holly and the Durock Piano highlight the importance of housing materials in achieving desired sound profiles. While the Holly's polycarbonate top housing offers a clear and resonant sound, the Piano's POM blend top housing provides a deep and satisfying typing experience. Similarly, the nylon bottom housing of the Holly and the POM blend bottom housing of the Piano each contribute to the overall sound profile of the switches, creating unique typing experiences for users. Ultimately, both switches prioritize sound quality through their carefully chosen housing materials, showcasing the significance of material selection in keyboard design.
Weight
The Dareu Holly tactile switch has a lighter actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Durock Piano linear switch, which has an unknown actuation force. However, the Holly switch has an unknown bottom out force, while the Piano switch has a heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams. This means that the Holly switch may feel lighter to type on, making it more suitable for longer typing sessions or gaming, while the Piano switch offers a more substantial typing experience due to its heavier bottom out force. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
Both the Dareu Holly 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, users will experience the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. The similarity in travel distance between these two switches ensures that users will get consistent results in terms of key press feel and actuation. This makes them both suitable choices for those who prefer a standard 4 mm travel distance in their mechanical keyboards.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Holly has an MSRP of $6.59 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Holly 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 Holly tactile switch is known for its unique combination of chirpy and clacky elements, providing a balanced and distinctive typing experience. The chirpy sound adds a little squeak to the key presses, setting it apart from other switches, while the clacky sound is sharp and snappy, giving it a crisp and percussive tone. On the other hand, the Durock Piano linear switch offers a deep and creamy sound profile, characterized by a bassy tone that delivers a rich and full-bodied sound during key presses. The choice between the two switches will ultimately come down to personal preference, with the Holly providing a more lively and distinct sound, while the Piano offers a smoother and more luxurious auditory experience.
When it comes to feel, the information provided for the Dareu Holly tactile switch is currently unknown. However, the Durock Piano linear switch is praised for its frictionless and silky feel, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience. The frictionless nature of the switch minimizes any resistance or friction when pressing the keys, providing a fluid and seamless typing sensation. The silky feel further enhances the smoothness of the overall typing experience, reducing resistance both when pressing and releasing keys. This makes the Durock Piano switch a popular choice among users looking for a refined and comfortable typing feel.
In conclusion, the Dareu Holly tactile switch stands out for its unique sound signature combining chirpy and clacky elements, appealing to those seeking a distinctive typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Piano linear switch excels in providing a deep and creamy sound profile, along with a smooth and luxurious typing feel thanks to its frictionless and silky attributes. Both switches offer high-quality performance, so choosing between them will depend on whether you prioritize sound uniqueness and balance (Holly) or a smoother typing experience (Piano). Ultimately, users can expect satisfying results with either switch based on their personal preferences and typing style.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a balanced and distinctive typing experience with a unique sound signature that combines chirpy and clacky elements, the Dareu Holly tactile switch with its medium 50g actuation force would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth and effortless typing experience with a deep, creamy sound signature, then the Durock Piano linear switch with a bottom out force of 63.5 grams would suit you better. Ultimately, the choice between the Holly and the Piano switches will depend on your specific preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience.
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