Bsun Kiki Red vs. Durock Piano
An in-depth look at the Bsun Kiki Red and the Durock Piano switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Bsun Kiki Red and the Durock Piano are both linear mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique typing experiences. The Kiki Reds from BSUN are known for their high-pitched, clacky nuance that is not excessively loud, making them a preferred choice for enthusiasts who appreciate subtlety in auditory feedback. With all-POM housings and Ly stems, these switches provide a smooth actuation and medium-light weighting for a refined tactile experience. On the other hand, the Durock Pianos stand out for their proprietary material blend, offering a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature that makes typing on them a pleasant experience. While the Kiki Reds are categorized as 'Clacky', 'Creamy', 'Frictionless', 'Polished', 'Silky', 'Snappy', 'Easy-to-press', the Pianos are categorized as 'Bassy', 'Frictionless', 'Silky'. 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
42g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
Mystery material
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
20.4mm single-stage nickel-plated spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Bsun Kiki Red and the Durock Piano both feature POM top housing materials that contribute to a deep and satisfying sound profile. While the exact details of the POM blend used in the Piano are not disclosed, both keyboards offer a unique sound experience that is on the deeper side and relatively more muted. This similarity in top housing material ensures that users can expect a consistent sound profile when typing on either keyboard.
In terms of bottom housing materials, the Bsun Kiki Red and the Durock Piano once again share POM blend components that enhance the overall sound experience. The POM bottom housing in both keyboards helps create a pleasing and unique sound that is deeper and more muted. This consistency in bottom housing material ensures that users will continue to experience the same satisfying sound profile regardless of which keyboard they choose to use.
Overall, the Bsun Kiki Red and the Durock Piano offer a similar sound experience due to their shared use of POM blend materials in both the top and bottom housings. The impact of the bottom housing material is felt when pressing down on a key, while the top housing material influences the sound when releasing the key. Whether you choose the Kiki Red or the Piano, you can expect a consistent and deep sound profile that is sure to enhance your typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Bsun Kiki Red linear switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, it is evident that the Kiki Red is lighter while the Piano is heavier. The Kiki Red has an actuation force of 42 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams, providing a light typing experience. In contrast, the Piano's exact actuation force is unknown, but it has a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, making it a medium to heavy switch. For those who prefer a more substantial typing experience, the Piano would be the better choice due to its heavier bottom out force. However, if lighter switches are preferred for longer typing sessions or gaming, the Kiki Red would be the ideal option. Despite the differences in force, both switches offer similar results in terms of keystroke activation and bottoming out.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Bsun Kiki Red linear switch is 3.6 mm, while the Durock Piano linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which are preferred by gamers for faster response times. Those who value a more responsive feel may gravitate towards the Kiki Red, with its slightly shorter travel distance. On the other hand, individuals who enjoy a deeper key press sensation may find the Piano switch more satisfying due to its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, both switches offer a similar experience in terms of travel distance, with the Piano providing just a touch more depth compared to the Kiki Red.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Bsun Kiki Red has an MSRP of $4.70 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Kiki Red for $3.83.
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 Bsun Kiki Red linear switch offers a high-pitched, clacky nuance that is crisp, bright, and percussive when pressed. On the other hand, the Durock Piano linear switch provides a deep, creamy sound signature that is rich and bassy. The Kiki Red switch leans towards a sharper, snappier sound, while the Piano switch delves into a smoother, more resonant tone. Both switches offer unique auditory experiences, with the Kiki Red catering to those who enjoy a more pronounced and lively sound profile, while the Piano appeals to individuals who prefer a mellower and more luxurious typing sound.
Turning to the tactile feel, the Bsun Kiki Red switch is praised for its smooth and creamy typing experience, featuring all-POM housings and Ly stems that contribute to exceptional smoothness during actuation. The switch offers a silky, frictionless, and polished typing feel, providing a fluid and easy-to-press experience that minimizes resistance and enhances overall comfort. Conversely, the Durock Piano switch is also described as smooth and frictionless with a silky sensation that allows for effortless key presses. Both switches excel in providing a refined and polished typing experience, focusing on smoothness and ease of use for typists seeking comfort and efficiency in their keystrokes.
Overall, while the Bsun Kiki Red and Durock Piano linear switches differ in sound and feel characteristics, they both offer premium qualities that cater to specific preferences in the mechanical keyboard community. The Kiki Red switch emphasizes a clacky and lively sound profile with a creamy and polished feel, ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate a balanced auditory feedback and smooth typing experience. On the other hand, the Piano switch delivers a deep and resonant sound with a silky and frictionless feel, appealing to users looking for a luxurious and effortless typing sensation. Choosing between these switches ultimately depends on individual preferences for sound, feel, and overall typing experience, ensuring that both options provide satisfying results for newcomers to the world of mechanical keyboard switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Bsun Kiki Red linear switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, consider the following factors. If you prefer a lighter typing experience with a comfortably high-pitched and clacky sound, along with medium-light weighting for subtlety in auditory feedback and finesse in performance, then the Kiki Red switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a linear switch with a gliding push feel, deep and creamy sound signature, and a blend of smoothness and effortless key presses, the Durock Piano switch would be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preference for typing experience, sound profile, and tactile feel.
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