Durock Lupine vs. Cherry MX Brown
An in-depth look at the Durock Lupine and the Cherry MX Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The world of mechanical keyboards is filled with a diverse array of switches, each offering its own unique typing experience. Two switches that stand out among the crowd are the Durock Lupine, a linear switch, and the Cherry MX Brown, a tactile switch. Choosing the right switch for your keyboard can greatly enhance your typing experience, and it ultimately depends on your personal preferences. The Lupine is best known for its two-stage long springs, providing a consistent weight distribution during key presses and a powerful upward movement on the rebound. Additionally, it offers a classic clacky sound profile, which can be pleasing to the ears. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Brown is characterized by its subtlety. With a relatively light typing experience, gentle tactility, and subdued audio feedback, these switches offer a more understated typing sensation. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Two-stage long spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Lupine and the Cherry MX Brown switches offer distinct characteristics and sound profiles. The Lupine features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Its translucency is particularly advantageous for those planning to use RGB lighting. In contrast, the MX Brown utilizes a nylon top housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon, being a relatively softer plastic, absorbs more sound and produces a duller and rounder sound. While different in material, both the Lupine's polycarbonate and the MX Brown's nylon top housing contribute to the overall sound when releasing a key.
Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Lupine and the MX Brown employ nylon as their housing material. Consequently, both switches offer a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon, known as a classic switch housing material, absorbs sound more effectively due to its softness. This absorption creates a duller and rounder sound. Therefore, whether it is the Lupine's nylon bottom housing or the MX Brown's, the impact on the sound and feel when typing is similar. The bottom housing largely influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key.
Although the top and bottom housings differ for the Durock Lupine and the Cherry MX Brown, resulting in various sound profiles, the overall impact of each housing material is split between the top and bottom of the switch. When pressing down on either switch, one is likely to feel the qualities of the bottom housing, which affects the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, the top housing has a more significant impact on the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, despite the variation in housing materials, the sound experience of these switches can be similar depending on the specific housing used.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Lupine linear switch and the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch, there are notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. Starting with the actuation force, the Durock Lupine does not provide specific information on this metric, while the Cherry MX Brown requires 45 grams of force to trigger a keystroke. As for the bottom out force, the Durock Lupine requires 62 grams, which can be considered medium in terms of heaviness. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Brown has a lighter bottom out force of 55 grams, categorized as medium-light.
Considering the weight aspect, those who prefer a lighter typing experience may lean towards the Cherry MX Brown with its lower actuation and bottom out forces. This lighter touch can result in more comfortable and prolonged typing sessions, making it ideal for those who use their keyboards extensively for work or extended gaming periods. Conversely, individuals who prefer a more substantial and pronounced keystroke feel may opt for the Durock Lupine. Although specific actuation force details are unavailable, its higher bottom out force suggests a heavier push feel, providing a more robust typing experience.
In conclusion, the Durock Lupine and Cherry MX Brown switches offer different characteristics in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. The Lupine, while lacking information on actuation force, has a heavier bottom out force compared to the Cherry MX Brown. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preferences for typing sensation, with the Lupine providing a more substantial feel and the MX Brown offering a lighter touch.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Durock Lupine linear switch and the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch, it is clear that the Lupine has a shorter travel distance of 3.7 mm, while the MX Brown has a longer travel distance of 4 mm. The Lupine falls into the category of shorter travel distances, which are preferred by gamers for faster response times. On the other hand, the MX Brown offers a more hearty depth due to its longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on personal preference. Those seeking a more responsive typing experience may opt for the Lupine, while those who prefer a deeper key press may lean towards the MX Brown. Whichever option you choose, you can expect similar results in terms of the travel distance, as both fall within the traditional range of switch travel distances.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Lupine has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Lupine for $4.25.
The Cherry MX Brown comes in at $4.00 per 10 switches.
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
When it comes to sound, the Lupine and MX Brown switches offer different profiles. The Lupine switch produces a classic clacky sound, which is characterized by a neutral sound profile with a moderate actuation force requirement. On the other hand, the MX Brown switch offers a subtler audio feedback with a deeper, richer, and more bass-heavy sound profile. This makes the Lupine switch suitable for those who prefer a sharper and crisper sound, while the MX Brown switch is more appealing to individuals who enjoy a mellower and richer tone during typing. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps being used.
In terms of feel, the Lupine switch provides a mild and approachable typing experience. It has a consistent weight distribution when pressed and offers a more powerful upward movement on the rebound. Additionally, the Lupine switch is polished, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, the MX Brown switch offers a relatively light typing experience with gentle tactility. While it doesn't explicitly mention a polished finish or reduced friction, it is known for providing a smoother, friction-free typing experience for some users.
Considering the available information, the Lupine linear switch and the MX Brown tactile switch offer distinct characteristics in terms of sound and feel. The Lupine switch offers a classic clacky sound profile with a neutral and moderate actuation force requirement. It provides a mild and polished typing experience, suitable for most users. On the other hand, the MX Brown switch offers a subtler audio feedback with a deeper, richer, and more bass-heavy sound profile. It provides a relatively light typing experience with gentle tactility. Ultimately, your preference for sound and feel will guide your choice between these two switches. However, both switches assure a pleasant typing experience, and if you desire similar results, you can achieve them with either option based on your personal preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a linear switch with a medium bottom out force, the Durock Lupine would be a great choice. These switches provide a consistent weight distribution while typing and offer a more powerful upward movement on the rebound. Additionally, the Lupine switches produce a classic clacky sound profile, which some users may find satisfying. On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile switch with a slightly lighter bottom out force, the Cherry MX Brown would suit your needs. These switches offer a light typing experience with gentle tactility and subdued audio feedback. The MX Brown switches are known for their subtlety. In terms of sound, the Lupine produces a neutral or high-pitched sound, while the MX Brown offers a bassy or low-pitched sound. When it comes to feel, the Lupine provides a mild and polished experience, with a safe middle-ground feel and reduced friction. The MX Brown, on the other hand, is slightly textured, offering a typing experience with noticeable friction. Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Lupine linear switch and the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch will depend on your preference for linear or tactile switches, your desired sound profile, and your preference for a smoother or textured feel.
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