Outemu Silent Grey vs. SP-Star Duck
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Grey and the SP-Star Duck switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Silent Grey and the SP-Star Duck are both popular choices among tactile switch enthusiasts. The Outemu Silent Grey switch offers a quiet and highly tactile typing experience, with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke. This switch is perfect for those seeking something satisfying and silent. On the other hand, the SP-Star Duck switch provides a more subtle tactile typing experience, with a gentle tactility and a clean, crispy sound profile. While the Silent Grey is categorized as "silent", the Duck is categorized as "neutral, mild, buttery, polished". Each switch offers unique characteristics that cater to different preferences. 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
58g
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
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold plated
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Silent Grey and SP-Star Duck switches, it is clear that both utilize polycarbonate in their top housings. This choice results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile for both switches. Additionally, the use of polycarbonate allows for RGB lighting to shine through, providing an aesthetically pleasing feature. However, the Silent Grey features a nylon bottom housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer plastic composition. On the other hand, the Duck utilizes a polycarbonate bottom housing, matching the top housing material and maintaining consistency in sound quality and aesthetics.
The difference in bottom housing materials between the Silent Grey and the Duck switches may impact the overall sound and feel of typing on these switches. While the Duck maintains a uniform polycarbonate housing throughout, the Silent Grey splits the qualities of the housing materials between the top and bottom. The nylon bottom housing of the Silent Grey contributes to a duller and rounder sound, particularly when bottoming out a key. In contrast, the polycarbonate bottom housing of the Duck aligns with the top housing, enhancing the sharp and clear sound profile of the switch.
Overall, the choice of housing materials in mechanical switches plays a significant role in determining the sound and feel of typing. Both the Outemu Silent Grey and SP-Star Duck switches benefit from the use of polycarbonate in their top housings, creating a distinctive sound profile that is sharp and resonant. While the Silent Grey further enhances its sound with a nylon bottom housing, resulting in a deeper sound when typing, the Duck maintains consistency with a polycarbonate bottom housing. Whether the housing materials are the same or different, each switch offers a unique typing experience based on the qualities of the materials used.
Weight
When comparing the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the SP-Star Duck tactile switch, it is evident that they both offer a medium actuation force. The Silent Grey requires 50 grams of force to actuate, while the Duck's actuation force is unknown. However, the bottom out force of the Silent Grey is slightly heavier at 65 grams compared to the Duck's 58 grams. This means that the Silent Grey switch will provide a slightly heavier typing experience compared to the Duck switch. The difference in bottom out force may not be significant, but for those who prefer a lighter typing feel, the Duck switch would be the better option. Overall, both switches offer a medium actuation force, making them suitable for a wide range of preferences.
Travel distance
The travel distance of the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the SP-Star Duck tactile switch is the same at 4 mm. Both switches require the same amount of distance to be pressed down from the top to the bottom, providing a similar tactile feedback to the user. This means that in terms of the travel distance, users can expect to get comparable results when using either switch. Overall, the travel distance of these switches is ideal for those who prefer a tactile typing experience without needing to press the keys down too far.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The SP-Star Duck has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Duck for $5.40.
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 Silent Grey and Duck switches offer different experiences. The Outemu Silent Grey switch is known for providing a quiet typing experience, making it ideal for those who prefer a silent environment. On the other hand, the SP-Star Duck switch is described as having a neutral sound profile, suitable for various settings and users. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your preference for noise level and the other components of your setup that can affect sound.
In terms of feel, the Silent Grey switch provides a highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystrokes. This switch is perfect for those who enjoy a satisfying tactile feedback while typing. On the other hand, the Duck switch offers a more subtle tactile sensation, providing a gentle tactility that is approachable to most users. Additionally, the Duck switch is described as buttery and polished, ensuring a smooth and refined typing experience. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on whether you prefer a more pronounced tactile feedback or a gentler typing sensation.
Overall, both the Outemu Silent Grey and SP-Star Duck switches offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences. While the Silent Grey switch excels in providing a quiet and highly tactile typing experience, the Duck switch offers a more subtle tactile feedback with a clean and crispy sound profile. Depending on your sound and feel preferences, you can achieve a satisfactory typing experience with either switch.Ultimately, the best choice will come down to personal preference, typing style, and desired noise level.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch and the SP-Star Duck tactile switch, consider the factors of bottom out force, sound profile, and feel. If you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force and a highly tactile typing experience that is quiet, then the Silent Grey switch would be the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium bottom out force and a more subtle tactile typing experience with a clean and crispy sound profile, then the Duck switch would be more ideal. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preference for typing feel and sound profile. Both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, so choose the one that aligns best with your typing style and needs.
Mentioned in this article
