Durock Mamba vs. Outemu Ocean
An in-depth look at the Durock Mamba and the Outemu Ocean switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Durock Mamba and Outemu Ocean offer two distinct experiences for users. The Durock Mamba, a linear switch, is praised for its smooth typing experience and satisfying sound profile. It provides a gliding sensation while typing and produces a rich and creamy auditory experience. On the other hand, the Outemu Ocean is a tactile switch that offers a different typing feel compared to the linear Mamba. While the Ocean doesn't have a notable reputation like the Mamba, it offers a unique tactile bump that provides feedback to the user when typing. Each switch has its own strengths and reasons why you may want to choose them. 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
N/A
Actuation force
55g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Extended long spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Durock Mamba utilizes a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE for its top housing, providing a pleasant and bright sound profile. In contrast, the Outemu Ocean features a polycarbonate top housing, resulting in a sharper and crisper sound profile. The Mamba's POM bottom housing creates a deeper and more muted sound, while the Ocean's nylon bottom housing elicits a fuller and rounder sound. Despite these differences, both switches offer distinct sound profiles that cater to different preferences.
The use of polycarbonate in the top housing of the Outemu Ocean lends itself to a more transparent and visually appealing design, especially when paired with RGB lighting. On the other hand, the blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the Durock Mamba's top housing focuses more on the overall sound quality rather than aesthetics. The softer nature of nylon in the Ocean's bottom housing creates a duller sound, while the POM material in the Mamba's bottom housing contributes to a unique and pleasing sound experience.
While the top and bottom housing materials may vary between the Durock Mamba and Outemu Ocean, both switches offer a balanced blend of qualities that impact the overall sound profile and typing experience. The bottom housing material influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key, while the top housing material plays a more significant role in the sound when releasing the key. Whether you prefer a brighter and sharper sound profile or a deeper and more muted sound, both switches provide unique characteristics that cater to different preferences in mechanical keyboards.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Outemu Ocean tactile switch, it is evident that the Mamba has a bottom out force of 60 grams, while the Ocean has an actuation force of 55 grams. Both switches have different weight distributions, with the Mamba being on the heavier side due to its higher bottom out force. The Mamba offers a more substantial typing experience, perfect for those who prefer a stronger push feel, while the Ocean provides a lighter actuation force for those looking for a smoother typing experience. Despite the variations in force, both switches offer a similar overall typing experience, with the Mamba being the heavier option and the Ocean being the lighter option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would depend on personal preference regarding actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Durock Mamba linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, making it a shorter option compared to the Outemu Ocean tactile switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that the Mamba requires a slightly shallower press to actuate compared to the Ocean. Gamers who prefer quicker response times may lean towards the Mamba due to its shorter travel distance, while those who enjoy a more pronounced key press may opt for the Ocean with its longer travel distance. Both switches offer different typing experiences based on their travel distances, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference when choosing between the two.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Mamba has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Mamba for $5.17.
The Outemu Ocean comes in at $3.10 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 Durock Mamba linear switch offers a neutral and thocky typing experience, with a moderate sound profile that is suitable for all levels of typists. On the other hand, there is no specific sound description available for the Outemu Ocean tactile switch. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard structure and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Durock Mamba is known for providing a mild and polished typing experience, which offers a gentle and refined feel during typing sessions. This translates into smooth key travel and reduced friction while typing. Unfortunately, there is no information available regarding the specific feel of the Outemu Ocean tactile switch.
In conclusion, if you prefer a linear switch with a gliding typing sensation and a rich sound profile, the Durock Mamba switch would be a great choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a tactile switch with unknown sound and feel qualities, the Outemu Ocean switch may offer a different typing experience. Ultimately, both switches may provide satisfying results depending on your personal preferences and typing style.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Outemu Ocean tactile switch, consider the following guidelines. You would want to choose the Mamba if you prefer a linear switch with a medium bottom out force of 60 grams, offering a gliding typing sensation and a rich auditory experience. The Mamba is also known for its neutral and thocky sound profiles, suitable for various typing needs. On the other hand, you would opt for the Ocean if you are looking for a tactile switch with an undefined bottom out force. While the Ocean's characteristics are not specified, if you prefer a switch with a different feel than the Mamba, this may be the choice for you. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences for typing experience, sound profile, and switch type.
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