Durock Mamba vs. Gazzew U4
An in-depth look at the Durock Mamba and the Gazzew U4 switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Mamba and Gazzew U4 are two popular mechanical keyboard switches, each offering a unique typing experience. The Mamba is a linear switch, known for its smooth and effortless keystrokes. Typing on the Mamba provides a gliding sensation, complemented by a rich and creamy sound. Categorized as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Thocky', and 'Polished', the Mamba switch offers a balanced and satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4 is a tactile switch, offering a completely different feel. With a sharp and exhilarating tactile bump, typing on the U4 provides a distinct feedback that many tactile switch enthusiasts appreciate. Along with the tactile bump, the U4 offers a plush, felt-like bottom-out sensation, adding a luxurious touch to the typing experience. Its sound profile is described as whisper quiet, making it suitable for those who prefer a more muted and low-pitched typing sound. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your personal typing preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
N/A
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Proprietary Gazzew blend
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Proprietary Gazzew blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Extended long spring
Spring
Stainless steel 14mm Korean spring
Housing materials
The housing materials used in the Durock Mamba and the Gazzew U4 offer distinct characteristics, resulting in different sound profiles. The Mamba utilizes a Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing, which provides a bright and pleasant sound. The U4, on the other hand, features a proprietary Gazzew blend top housing, also known as "boba plastic," which delivers a rich and deep sound profile due to its softness. While the Mamba leans towards a brighter tone, the U4 focuses on creating a deeper and more resonant sound.
In terms of bottom housing, the Mamba incorporates a POM material that contributes to a unique and muted sound profile. On the contrary, the Gazzew U4 employs its proprietary blend bottom housing, similar to its top housing. This "boba plastic" blend adds to the switch's overall richness and depth of sound, enhancing the bottom-out experience. Thus, the bottom housing heavily influences the sound and feel when pressing down on the switch, while the top housing affects the sound upon key release.
Although the top and bottom housings of the Durock Mamba and the Gazzew U4 have different materials, they both aim to provide pleasing sound profiles. While the Mamba emphasizes a brighter tone with its unique Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing, the U4 focuses on delivering a deeper and more resonant sound with its proprietary Gazzew blend top housing. Similarly, their bottom housings contribute to the overall sound experience, with the Mamba showcasing a muted sound through its POM material and the U4's "boba plastic" blend enhancing richness and depth. Despite their differences, both switches prioritize offering enjoyable sound profiles to enhance the typing or gaming experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Gazzew U4 tactile switch, there are a few notable differences. Firstly, in terms of weight, the Mamba's actuation force is unavailable in grams, while the U4 has an actuation force of 43 grams. For those who prefer a lighter feel, the U4 may be the better choice as it requires less force to trigger a keystroke. On the other hand, both switches have a medium bottom out force, with the Mamba requiring 60 grams and the U4 requiring 62 grams. Therefore, in terms of bottoming out, both switches provide a similar typing experience with a slightly heavier touch. Overall, if weight is a significant factor, the U4 offers a lighter actuation force while still providing a medium bottom out force.
Travel distance
The Durock Mamba linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Gazzew U4 tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. Both switches have relatively short travel distances compared to the traditional 4.0 mm distance. These shorter travel distances are becoming increasingly popular, especially among gamers who value quick response times. If you prefer a more responsive typing experience, the shorter travel distance of the Mamba switch may be more suitable for you. On the other hand, some individuals find shorter travel distances to feel too abrupt and prefer a switch with a longer travel distance. In this case, the U4 tactile switch with its slightly longer 3.6 mm travel distance might be the better option. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on personal preference regarding the desired depth and responsiveness of the typing experience.
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 Gazzew U4 comes in at $6.50 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 has a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users, as well as for use in various settings such as home or work. The Mamba produces a deep and satisfying "thocky" sound, akin to a deep "thud" or a soft "knock" when the key is pressed and released. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4 tactile switch has a muted sound profile, providing a softer and quieter experience compared to regular or clacky switches. The U4 has a low-pitched sound, which gives it a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. Keep in mind that the sound produced by these switches can also be affected by factors like the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.
In terms of feel, the Durock Mamba linear switch offers a mild typing experience, providing a gentle feel that is approachable to most users. It falls within a safe middle-ground zone with its qualities. Additionally, the Mamba switch is polished, meaning it has a smooth and refined finish, resulting in a sleek typing experience. This can be attributed to the materials used and/or factory lubing, which reduce friction and enable smooth key travel. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4 tactile switch offers a sharp and intense tactile bump that is distinctly felt with every keypress. The U4 switch delivers a sharp tactile feedback that provides an exhilarating typing experience.
Taking all the available information into account, the Durock Mamba linear switch and Gazzew U4 tactile switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Mamba produces a thocky sound with a gliding typing sensation, while the U4 offers a muted sound profile with a sharp tactile bump and an unexpectedly plush, felt-like bottom-out sensation. Both switches have their own unique characteristics, allowing users to choose based on their preferences for sound and feel. If you enjoy a deep and satisfying sound with a polished typing experience, the Durock Mamba would be a great option. Conversely, if you prefer a quieter sound with a sharp and intense tactile feedback, the Gazzew U4 would be a fantastic choice. Overall, it is important to consider personal preferences and factors like the chosen keyboard board and keycaps to ensure an optimal typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a smooth linear switch with a moderate bottom out force, the Durock Mamba would be a great choice. It offers a gliding typing sensation and a rich auditory experience, making typing a pleasure. The Mamba also has a neutral sound profile, providing a satisfying "thocky" sound when pressed.
On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile switch with a slightly higher bottom out force, the Gazzew U4 would be the way to go. It offers a sharp and exhilarating tactile bump, giving you a distinct feedback with every keypress. The U4 also provides a plush, felt-like bottom-out sensation and has a muted, low-pitched sound profile, making it whisper quiet.
Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Mamba and the Gazzew U4 depends on your personal preference. If you enjoy a smooth linear switch with a moderate feel and a rich sound, go for the Mamba. If you prefer a tactile switch with a sharp feedback and a quiet sound, the U4 would be the better option. Both switches offer unique qualities and can enhance your typing experience in their own ways. It's all about finding the switch that suits your typing style and preferences the most. In the end, the choice is yours to make.
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