Outemu Crystal Brown vs. Dareu Snow
An in-depth look at the Outemu Crystal Brown and the Dareu Snow switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Crystal Brown and the Dareu Snow offer unique typing experiences. The Crystal Brown is a tactile switch, known for its None. On the other hand, the Snow is a linear switch that stands out for its innovative use of POK material for both the top housing and stem, providing a smooth typing experience with a deeper sound signature. While the Crystal Brown offers a tactile feedback, the Snow is praised for its thocky, neutral, low-pitched, and bouncy feel. If you prefer a tactile typing experience, the Crystal Brown may be the switch for you. However, if you are looking for a smooth and quiet linear switch, the Dareu Snow might be the better option. 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
45g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POK
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Crystal Brown and the Dareu Snow, both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing. Polycarbonate is known for creating a sharper and crisper sound profile due to its stiffness, making it ideal for switches if you plan to use RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Snow features a POK top housing, which is praised for its smoothness and durability. While both materials have their unique qualities, they both excel in providing a satisfying typing experience, albeit in slightly different ways.
Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Crystal Brown and the Snow use nylon. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing on switches. This material choice adds a different dimension to the overall sound experience of the switches, contributing to a more rounded and duller tone. With both switches utilizing nylon for their bottom housing, users can expect a similar typing experience in terms of sound profile and feel, despite the differences in their top housings.
Overall, the Outemu Crystal Brown and the Dareu Snow offer a blend of unique qualities with their housing materials. While the Crystal Brown's polycarbonate top housing provides a sharper sound profile and the Snow's POK top housing offers smoothness and durability, both switches share the use of nylon for their bottom housing, providing a deeper and fuller sound experience. Whether you prefer the sharper tones of polycarbonate or the smoothness of POK, the housing materials of these switches contribute to their distinct typing experiences and overall performance.
Weight
The Outemu Crystal Brown tactile switch has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Dareu Snow linear switch which has an actuation force of 50 grams. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Crystal Brown requires 55 grams while the Snow needs 60 grams. This means that the Crystal Brown provides a slightly lighter typing experience overall, while the Snow offers a slightly heavier feel. Both switches fall into the medium-light to medium category in terms of actuation and bottom out force, making them suitable for individuals who prefer a moderate typing experience. Those who enjoy a lighter touch may lean towards the Crystal Brown, while those who prefer a bit more resistance might prefer the Snow. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and typing style.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Outemu Crystal Brown tactile switch is 4 mm, while the Dareu Snow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.3 mm. The Crystal Brown offers a slightly longer travel distance, which could provide a more substantial feeling when typing or gaming. On the other hand, the Snow switch has a slightly shorter travel distance, making it ideal for those who prefer a quicker response time. Gamers may lean towards the Snow switch for its faster actuation, while those who enjoy a more pronounced keypress may prefer the Crystal Brown. Overall, both switches offer variations in travel distance that cater to different preferences, providing users with options based on their specific needs.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Snow has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Snow for $5.76.
The Outemu Crystal Brown 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
The Outemu Crystal Brown tactile switch does not have a specific sound descriptor provided, while the Dareu Snow linear switch is known for its thocky sound profile. This means that the Snow switch will produce a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when typing, resembling a deep "thud" or a soft "knock" with each key press and release. Keep in mind that the overall sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors like the keyboard chassis and keycap material used.
When it comes to the feel, the Crystal Brown switch does not have a specific feel descriptor provided, while the Dareu Snow linear switch is known for its bouncy sensation. Bouncy switches offer a spring-like feedback, giving the keys a lively and rebounding feel when pressed. This bouncy feel can enhance typing experience by providing a responsive and tactile feedback for each keystroke.
In conclusion, the Outemu Crystal Brown tactile switch and the Dareu Snow linear switch offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Brown switch's qualities are unspecified, while the Snow switch is distinguished for its thocky sound profile and bouncy feel. Depending on personal preferences for sound and typing experience, choosing between these two switches will result in different overall keyboarding experiences. Similar results may be achieved in both switches if the user prioritizes either the lack of specificity in sound and feel or prefers a switch with a thocky sound and bouncy feel. Ultimately, testing out both switches on a keyboard with suitable keycaps will provide a clearer understanding of which switch aligns better with individual preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a tactile switch with a slightly lighter bottom out force, the Outemu Crystal Brown may be the way to go. It offers a medium-light 55g bottom out force and provides a tactile bump for feedback while typing. However, if you prefer a linear switch with a medium 60g bottom out force, the Dareu Snow switch could be your choice. The Snow switch stands out with its innovative use of POK material for both the top housing and stem, resulting in a smoother typing experience and a deeper sound signature. Ultimately, your decision between the two switches will depend on whether you prefer a tactile or linear switch, as well as the specific characteristics of sound and feel that align with your typing preferences.
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