Durock Piano vs. Bsun Ragdoll

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Durock Piano and the Bsun Ragdoll stand out as exceptional choices for those who prefer linear switches. The Durock Piano is celebrated for its unique proprietary material blend, offering a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature that many typists find incredibly pleasant. Its characteristics—bassy, frictionless, and silky—make it an ideal option for users seeking a smooth and satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Bsun Ragdoll showcases its Y3 stem design, which enhances smooth travel and delivers a clacky sound thanks to its nylon-fiberglass bottom housing. While both switches provide a linear feel, the Ragdoll appeals to those who might enjoy a more pronounced auditory feedback during their typing sessions. With these general insights, however, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

Durock Piano Linear

Bsun Ragdoll Linear

$6.70

$5.57 per 10

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

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Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the Durock Piano and Bsun Ragdoll switches, both exhibit unique properties that contribute to their respective sound profiles. The Durock Piano features a proprietary POM blend for its top and bottom housings, which is touted for delivering a satisfying and deep sound profile. Although the specific characteristics of the POM blend are not fully disclosed, it can be inferred that its composition supports a desirable resonance that enhances the acoustic experience. In contrast, the Bsun Ragdoll utilizes nylon for both its top and bottom housings, a material renowned for its classic sound properties. Nylon's relatively softer nature allows it to absorb sound more effectively than harder plastics, resulting in a deeper, fuller sound that is described as both dull and rounded. While both switches aim to create a rich auditory experience, their distinct materials inherently influence how sound quality is perceived during use.

Despite the differences in materials, both the Piano’s POM blend and the Ragdoll’s nylon serve a synergistic function in crafting an enjoyable typing experience. The POM housing in the Piano switch is expected to enhance the tactile feedback and bottom-out noises while providing strong sound dampening qualities, similar to the nylon of the Ragdoll, which excels in absorbing impact sounds. The result is that both switches can ultimately achieve a similarly satisfying auditory experience, albeit through different means. The Piano's blend likely replicates some of the warmth and depth found in the Ragdoll through its sound-absorbing capabilities, indicating that even with a distinct material makeup, they may lead to comparable sound results under operational conditions.

Analyzing the interaction of the materials further illustrates how users experience switches. The Piano's proprietary POM blend may deliver enhanced tonal clarity during release due to its specific sound profile, influencing the sound of the key lift, as noted for the top housing. This could stand in contrast to the Ragdoll's nylon that is cohesive in generating fullness throughout the typing event. However, both switches' bottom housings play a critical role during actuation, with the POM blend from the Piano still providing a rich, deep sound feel combined with a smooth tactile interaction akin to that of the Ragdoll’s nylon. Therefore, while they draw from different material inspirations, the comparative functionalities lead to an enriching typing experience that can cater to varying user preferences.

Weight

When comparing the Durock Piano linear switch and the Bsun Ragdoll linear switch, notable differences arise in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Durock Piano switch has an unspecified actuation force, but it features a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, which indicates a medium-heavy requirement for consistent key presses. In contrast, the Bsun Ragdoll switch has a more defined actuation force of 45 grams and a lighter bottom out force of 52 grams, categorizing it as medium-light. Consequently, the Ragdoll's lighter actuation force makes it more suitable for users who prefer extended typing sessions or gaming marathons, as it requires less effort to activate. In terms of overall weight and feel, the Ragdoll offers a softer keystroke experience, while the Piano provides a firmer tactile feedback due to its heavier bottom out force, making it appealing to those who favor a more substantial typing sensation. Thus, users should choose based on their preference for lighter or heavier keypresses, with the Ragdoll being the lighter option and the Piano being the heavier.

Travel distance

The Durock Piano linear switch features a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Bsun Ragdoll linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm. This makes the Piano switch the longer option, providing a more pronounced depth that can enhance the tactile feedback experienced when pressing a key. In contrast, the Ragdoll, with its 3.8 mm travel distance, offers a quicker response time, which is often favored by gamers and those who prefer a more immediate actuation. While both switches provide smooth keystrokes characteristic of linear switches, the more profound travel of the Piano could be better suited for users who enjoy a hearty feel, whereas the Ragdoll may appeal to those who appreciate a more responsive typing experience. The differences in travel distances highlight the personal preference users must consider when selecting a switch that meets their typing or gaming needs.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Durock Piano linear switch delivers a deep and creamy audio profile that can be characterized as bassy. This rich sound signature enhances the typing experience, providing a pleasing auditory feedback that resonates with users who appreciate a lower frequency range. On the other hand, the Bsun Ragdoll linear switch features a nylon-fiberglass bottom housing which contributes to a clackier sound. While the specific qualities of this sound are less detailed, users can expect a different auditory character that may feel sharper compared to the smooth bass of the Piano, though sound delivery will ultimately depend on the keyboard and keycaps used.

In terms of feel, the Piano excels with its frictionless and silky typing experience, offering a remarkably smooth and effortless journey with each key press. The gliding push feel of the Piano further enhances this smoothness, resulting in an experience that minimizes any sense of resistance during typing. In contrast, there’s currently no detailed description of the feel for the Ragdoll switch. This unknown quality leaves a gap in direct comparison, as the subjective tactile experience could vary significantly, affecting how users perceive the switch while typing.

Overall, the Durock Piano linear switch stands out with its rich sound and extraordinarily smooth feel, perfect for those seeking a refined typing experience. Meanwhile, the Bsun Ragdoll promises a different auditory character that could suit those who prefer a clackier sound, but its feel remains unspecified, leading to some uncertainty about its typing experience. Ultimately, both switches cater to different preferences, and users may find satisfaction depending on their individual tastes, whether they lean towards the deep, creamy sound and smooth action of the Piano or the potentially sharper sound of the Ragdoll.

Conclusion

In summary, choosing between the Durock Piano linear switch and the Bsun Ragdoll linear switch ultimately depends on your preferences for typing feel and sound profile. If you appreciate a heavier switch that provides a more robust typing experience, the Durock Piano, with its medium-heavy bottom out force of 63.5 grams, will likely resonate with you. Its gliding push feel, silky smoothness, and deep, bassy sound signature create an immersive and pleasurable typing experience, which is ideal for both avid typists and gamers who enjoy the tactile feedback of a sturdier switch. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter switch that offers enhanced speed and agility, the Bsun Ragdoll with its medium-light bottom out force of 52 grams might be your go-to. Its smooth travel feel caters well to rapid key presses, making it an excellent option for fast-paced gaming or typing environments where quick response times are essential. Ultimately, your choice should align with your personal tactile preferences and the specific auditory experience you seek, ensuring that your mechanical keyboard offers both comfort and enjoyment in your daily usage.

Mentioned in this article

Durock Piano Linear

$6.70

$5.57 per 10

Learn more

Bsun Ragdoll Linear

$3.50

$3.29 per 10

Learn more