Durock Piano vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Durock Piano and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular choices are the Durock Piano and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon, both of which are linear switches. The Durock Piano stands out for its proprietary material blend, making it one of the most pleasant linear switches to type on. Users describe a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature. Categorized as "Bassy", "Frictionless", and "Silky", the Durock Piano offers a unique typing experience. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon impresses with its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design, resulting in a buttery smooth typing experience. Described as "Low-pitched", "Neutral", and "Mild", these switches provide a lovely representation of what a linear switch can be. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Mystery material
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Piano and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon offer distinct differences in sound profile and aesthetic appeal. The Piano utilizes a proprietary POM blend for both its top and bottom housing, which results in a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon features a polycarbonate top housing, creating a sharper and crisper sound. The translucency of the polycarbonate also makes it ideal for use with RGB lighting. In terms of aesthetics, both switches offer a visually appealing housing, but the Sea Salt Lemon's polycarbonate housing lends itself to a more vibrant and illuminating experience.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Piano continues to utilize its proprietary POM blend, again resulting in a satisfying and deep sound profile. However, the Sea Salt Lemon takes a different approach with a nylon bottom housing. This classic switch housing material elicits a deeper and fuller sound due to its relatively softer composition. The nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, providing a duller and rounder sound experience. Therefore, the Sea Salt Lemon's nylon bottom housing offers a unique auditory experience compared to the Piano's POM blend.
In terms of the overall feel and sound when using the switches, the bottom housing material plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel. Since the Piano employs its POM blend for both top and bottom housing, the qualities of the blend will be felt throughout the keypress. However, for the Sea Salt Lemon, the impact of the bottom housing will be more pronounced on the bottom-out sound and feel. On the other hand, the top housing material will have a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. Both switches offer unique characteristics based on their housing materials, ensuring a distinct typing experience for users.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Piano linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, there are noticeable differences. The Durock Piano switch has an actuation force of unavailable grams, making it difficult to determine its exact weight. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switch has an actuation force of 45 grams, which is relatively light. In terms of bottom out force, the Piano switch requires a substantial 63.5 grams of force, while the Sea Salt Lemon switch only requires 53 grams. This means that the Piano switch has a heavier bottom out force compared to the Sea Salt Lemon switch, making it more suitable for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. However, for those who prefer a lighter touch and longer typing sessions, the Sea Salt Lemon switch's actuation and bottom out forces align to provide a responsive yet gentler typing experience. Overall, the weight of the switch plays a significant role in the typing experience, and individuals should consider their preferences and use case when selecting a switch.
Travel distance
The Durock Piano linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. When pressing down on the keys of these switches, both will provide a consistent 4 mm of travel distance, resulting in a similar tactile experience for the user. This ensures that whether you're using the Durock Piano or the KTT Sea Salt Lemon, you can expect a comparable level of key press feedback.
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 KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 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 Durock Piano linear switch offers a deep and creamy tone, characterized by a lower frequency range resembling the richness of bass tones. This gives the typing experience a pleasant and immersive sound profile that many users appreciate. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch has a low-pitched and mellow tone, with a bass-heavy quality. It also has a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for a wide range of users, whether they are beginners or advanced typists. It's important to note that the sound of these switches can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.
In terms of feel, the Durock Piano linear switch offers a gliding push feel, providing an exceptionally smooth and effortless typing experience. It can be described as frictionless and silky, minimizing any resistance or friction when pressing the keys. This contributes to a fluid travel and enhances the overall smoothness of the typing feel. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch provides a mild and gentle typing experience. It falls in a safe, middle-ground zone, offering qualities that are approachable to most users. While specific details about its feel are not provided, it can be inferred that it offers a comfortable and smooth typing experience.
Taking into account the available information, the Durock Piano linear switch stands out for its deep and creamy sound profile, as well as its frictionless and silky feel. It is a great choice for users who prioritize a pleasant and immersive typing experience. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offers a low-pitched and mellow sound, as well as a mild and gentle feel. It is a versatile option that can cater to a wide range of users. While the two switches have distinct characteristics, it is worth mentioning that if similar results are desired, using the Durock Piano linear switch would likely achieve a comparable sound and feel to the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a linear switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a pleasant typing experience, the Durock Piano switches would be a great choice. These switches are known for their proprietary material blend, which results in a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature. Additionally, the Piano switches offer a frictionless and silky typing experience, ensuring effortless key presses.
On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch with a medium-light bottom out force and a buttery smooth typing experience, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches would be a suitable option. These switches are praised for their progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design, which contribute to a smooth and enjoyable typing feel. The Sea Salt Lemon switches offer a mild typing experience, making them approachable to most users.
In terms of sound, the Piano switches provide a bassy profile with a lower frequency range, resulting in a deeper and richer sound during key presses. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switches have a low-pitched tone that is more bass-heavy and mellow compared to higher-pitched switches. The Sea Salt Lemon switches are also described as having a more neutral sound profile, making them suitable for various purposes.
Overall, if you prioritize a medium-heavy bottom out force and a deep sound profile, the Durock Piano switches would suit your preferences. However, if you prefer a medium-light bottom out force and a more mellow sound, along with a buttery smooth typing experience, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches would be a great choice. Consider your preferred typing force and sound characteristics to determine which switch best fits your needs.
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