Outemu Silent Grey vs. Durock Piano
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Grey and the Durock Piano switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing between mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Outemu Silent Grey and the Durock Piano. The Outemu Silent Grey switch is a tactile switch known for providing a quiet and highly tactile typing experience. With a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, these switches are perfect for those who enjoy a satisfying and silent typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Piano switch is a linear switch that stands out for its proprietary material blend, offering a pleasant typing experience with a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature. While the Silent Grey switch is ideal for those who prioritize tactility and silence, the Durock Piano switch appeals to users who prefer a smooth and frictionless typing experience with a unique sound profile. 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
50g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
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
The Outemu Silent Grey features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile compared to the Durock Piano's POM blend top housing, which offers a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. Both housing materials have their own distinct qualities, with polycarbonate providing clarity and resonance, while POM blend offers a deeper tone. In terms of aesthetics, polycarbonate's translucency makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, whereas the specific blend of POM used in the Piano's housing remains a mystery but is known to provide a pleasing sound profile.
On the bottom housing side, the Silent Grey uses a nylon material, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic that absorbs more sound. The Durock Piano's POM blend bottom housing also offers a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile, showcasing the different characteristics of these two materials. While the exact details of the POM blend in the Piano remain unknown, it still delivers a quality sound experience similar to the nylon bottom housing in the Silent Grey.
Overall, the differences in housing materials between the Outemu Silent Grey and the Durock Piano allow for different sound profiles and tactile experiences. The split between top and bottom housings in a switch affects the overall feel and sound, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing influences the sound upon releasing a key. While both switches offer unique qualities based on their housing materials, they ultimately provide similar results in terms of sound profile and user experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, it is evident that there are notable differences between the two. The Silent Grey has a higher actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Piano, whose actuation force is unknown. However, both switches have a similar bottom out force, with the Silent Grey requiring 65 grams and the Piano 63.5 grams. In terms of weight, the Silent Grey is on the heavier side, making it ideal for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. On the other hand, the Piano is lighter in comparison, which may be preferable for those who need to type for extended periods of time without fatigue. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for typing experience and desired force feedback.
Travel distance
Both the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch have an equal travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you can expect a consistent and familiar tactile feedback as the switch travels from the top to the bottom. This similarity in travel distance ensures that users will experience a similar typing experience in terms of keypress depth, regardless of which switch they choose. Overall, both switches offer a comfortable typing experience with a moderate travel distance that strikes a balance between responsiveness and keypress comfort.
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 Silent Grey 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 Outemu Silent Grey switch is known for providing a quiet typing experience, making it a great option for those who value a noise-free environment. In contrast, the Durock Piano linear switch offers a deep and creamy sound profile due to its proprietary material blend, giving typists a more satisfying auditory experience. Both switches have unique sound signatures that cater to different preferences, so choosing between them ultimately depends on personal preference and the overall setup of your keyboard.
Moving on to feel, the Outemu Silent Grey switch offers a highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke. On the other hand, the Durock Piano linear switch provides a gliding push feel that is described as frictionless and silky. These characteristics make the Piano switch an enjoyable option for those who prefer a smoother typing experience. Ultimately, the feel of a switch is crucial to the overall typing experience, so it's important to consider how each switch feels to you personally.
In conclusion, the Outemu Silent Grey and Durock Piano switches offer distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Silent Grey switch provides a quiet and tactile typing experience, while the Durock Piano switch offers a deep and creamy sound profile with a smooth and frictionless feel. Depending on your preferences for sound and feel, either switch could be a great option for your mechanical keyboard setup. If you enjoy a satisfying and silent typing experience, the Silent Grey may be the better choice, while those who prefer a smooth and frictionless typing feel may lean towards the Durock Piano switch. Ultimately, it's important to test out both switches to see which one aligns best with your typing style and preferences.
Conclusion
To conclude, when choosing between the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference for typing experience. If you prioritize a quiet and highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump, the Outemu Silent Grey switch may be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth and effortless typing experience with a deep, creamy sound signature, the Durock Piano linear switch would be more suitable. Consider what type of typing feedback and sound profile you prefer, as well as how much bottom out force you are comfortable with, to make the best decision for your mechanical keyboard setup.
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