Outemu Milk Peach vs. Durock Piano
An in-depth look at the Outemu Milk Peach and the Durock Piano switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Outemu Milk Peach and the Durock Piano are two popular options to consider. The Milk Peach is known for its unique characteristics, while the Piano stands out for its smooth and pleasant typing experience. The Milk Peach is a linear switch without any specific standout feature, while the Piano is lauded for its proprietary material blend that provides a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature. The Milk Peach is categorized as a linear switch, while the Piano is categorized as bassy, frictionless, and silky. If you're looking for a switch with a different feel, sound, and typing experience, these two switches offer distinct options. However, let's dive a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the right switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Mystery material
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
Both the Outemu Milk Peach and the Durock Piano feature unique materials in their housing construction, with the Milk Peach utilizing polycarbonate for its top housing and nylon for its bottom housing. The polycarbonate top housing of the Milk Peach creates a sharper and crisper sound profile, ideal for those looking for a more resonant typing experience. In comparison, the proprietary POM blend top housing of the Durock Piano offers a deep and satisfying sound profile, providing a different auditory experience for users. While both switches offer distinct sound profiles due to their differing materials, they each cater to users with specific preferences in sound and typing feel.
On the other hand, both switches share a similar approach in their choice of materials for the bottom housing. The Milk Peach's nylon bottom housing and the Piano's proprietary POM blend bottom housing both aim to elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile during typing. While the exact details of the POM blend used in the Piano are undisclosed, both switches prioritize creating a rounded and dull sound by utilizing softer plastics that absorb more sound vibrations. This shared characteristic ensures that users can expect a similar typing experience in terms of sound resonance when using either switch, despite their differing top housing materials.
When considering the impact of the top and bottom housing materials on the overall typing experience, it's important to note how these materials influence the sound and feel of the switches. The bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel, affecting the overall typing experience when pressing down on a key. In contrast, the top housing's influence is more pronounced when releasing a key, contributing to the sound profile after key activation. By understanding how the properties of the top and bottom housings interact, users can make informed choices based on their preferences for sound, feel, and overall typing experience when selecting between the Outemu Milk Peach and the Durock Piano.
Weight
The Outemu Milk Peach linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Durock Piano linear switch, whose actuation force is unknown. However, the Durock Piano switch has a heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams, providing a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel. For users who enjoy a lighter typing experience, the Outemu Milk Peach switch would be the better choice. Both switches offer a different typing experience due to their varying actuation and bottom out forces, allowing users to choose based on their personal preferences. Ultimately, the actuation force and bottom out force of each switch play a significant role in determining the overall typing experience and comfort level for the user.
Travel distance
The Outemu Milk Peach linear switch has a travel distance of 3.3 mm, while the Durock Piano linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm. In this case, the Milk Peach has a shorter travel distance compared to the Piano. Typically, a shorter travel distance is favored by gamers for faster response times, while a longer travel distance provides a more satisfying depth when typing or gaming. Both switches offer different experiences based on the travel distance, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you enjoy a shorter travel distance for quicker responses, the Milk Peach may be the better option for you. However, if you prefer a more substantial feel when pressing down on the keys, the Piano with its longer travel distance may be more suitable. Ultimately, both switches offer unique qualities depending on the desired typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
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.
The Outemu Milk Peach 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 comparing the sound of the Outemu Milk Peach linear switch to the Durock Piano linear switch, the Milk Peach is known for its lack of distinct sound characteristics, while the Piano is renowned for its deep and creamy bassy sound profile. This difference can greatly impact the overall typing experience, with the Milk Peach offering a more neutral sound and the Piano providing a richer auditory feedback during key presses.
Moving on to feel, the Milk Peach switch's tactile qualities are not specifically highlighted, while the Durock Piano switch is praised for its frictionless and silky smooth typing experience. The frictionless nature of the Piano switch allows for effortless key presses and a fluid travel, enhancing the overall typing feel. On the other hand, the silky smoothness of the Piano switch minimizes resistance during key presses and releases, further improving the typing experience.
Considering all the available information, it is clear that the Outemu Milk Peach and Durock Piano linear switches offer distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Milk Peach may lack specific characteristics in sound and feel, the Durock Piano excels in providing a deep, bassy sound signature and a smooth, frictionless typing experience. Depending on personal preference and typing style, users may prefer one switch over the other for their unique qualities. Ultimately, both switches can provide a satisfying typing experience, whether you prefer a neutral sound profile like the Milk Peach or a rich bassy sound like the Durock Piano.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between Outemu Milk Peach linear switches and Durock Piano linear switches, consider the bottom out force and the typing experience you prefer. If you enjoy a lighter touch with no discernible bottom out force, the Milk Peach may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force and value a smooth, frictionless typing experience with a deep, creamy sound profile, the Durock Piano switches may be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your personal typing preferences and desired sound and feel during use.
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