Durock Piano vs. Dareu Snow
An in-depth look at the Durock Piano and the Dareu Snow switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to compare are the Durock Piano and the Dareu Snow, both of which are linear switches. The Durock Piano is renowned for its proprietary material blend, offering a smooth and pleasant typing experience with a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature. Classified as bassy, frictionless, silky, the Piano switch appeals to those who appreciate a more subtle and refined typing experience. On the other hand, the Dareu Snow switch sets itself apart with its innovative use of POK material in both the top housing and stem, resulting in a deeper sound signature while typing. Categorized as thocky, neutral, low-pitched, bouncy, the Snow switch caters to users seeking a slightly more tactile and bouncy feel. Each switch has its unique characteristics and appeal, but diving deeper into their specific qualities will help you decide on the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
60g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
Mystery material
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Top housing material
POK
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Durock Piano and the Dareu Snow both offer unique housing materials for their switches, with the Piano featuring a proprietary POM blend top and bottom housing, while the Snow utilizes a POK top housing and nylon bottom housing. The POM blend in the Piano is known for providing a deep and satisfying sound profile, whereas the POK material in the Snow is praised for its smoothness, durability, and clacky feel. While both housing materials contribute to the overall sound and feel of the switches, they bring different strengths to the table.
In terms of durability, the Dareu Snow's POK top housing boasts wear resistance 14 times stronger than POM, surpassing Nylon by 2.3 times and POM by 1.4 times in shock resistance. This makes the Snow switches a top choice for users looking for long-lasting and reliable switches. On the other hand, the Durock Piano's POM blend top housing focuses more on delivering a uniquely satisfying sound profile, emphasizing a deep and rich sound when typing. Both switches offer contrasting strengths in terms of durability and sound quality, providing users with options based on their preferences.
When it comes to the bottom housing, the Durock Piano and the Dareu Snow take different approaches with the Piano sticking to its proprietary POM blend for the bottom housing while the Snow opts for a nylon material. Nylon is known for creating a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer nature that absorbs more sound, while the POM blend in the Piano continues to enhance the overall sound experience. While the bottom housing may not have as much direct impact on the sound when compared to the top housing, it still plays a significant role in shaping the overall typing experience for users of both switches.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Piano linear switch and the Dareu Snow linear switch, it is clear that the Piano has a lighter actuation force of None grams compared to the Snow's 50 grams. However, the Piano has a heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams, while the Snow's is slightly lighter at 60 grams. This means that the Piano switch requires less force to trigger a keystroke but more force to fully press the key down, providing a medium-heavy typing experience. On the other hand, the Snow switch offers a medium actuation force and bottom out force, giving a more balanced typing feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference, with the Piano being lighter overall and the Snow offering a more moderate typing experience.
Travel distance
The Durock Piano linear switch has a travel distance of 4mm, making it slightly longer than the Dareu Snow linear switch with a travel distance of 3.3mm. In terms of comparison, the Piano switch provides a more traditional key press feel with its longer travel distance, while the Snow switch offers a shorter travel distance for a quicker response time, which is preferred by gamers. Both switches cater to different preferences, with the shorter distance of the Snow switch giving a more responsive feel, and the longer distance of the Piano switch offering a more substantial key press. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance and key press responsiveness.
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 Dareu Snow has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Snow for $5.76.
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 is best described as having a deep and creamy bassy sound profile, providing a pleasant auditory experience during typing sessions. On the other hand, the Dareu Snow linear switch offers a thocky sound with a neutral and low-pitched tone, creating a deep and satisfying sound when pressing the keys. Both switches provide a different sound experience, with the Piano offering a bassy sound while the Snow presents a thocky and low-pitched tone.
Moving on to feel, the Durock Piano switch is known for its frictionless and silky typing experience, providing a smooth and effortless feel with minimal resistance when pressing the keys. In contrast, the Dareu Snow switch offers a bouncy feedback sensation, giving the keys a spring-like and lively feel with rebound when pressed. While the Piano switch focuses on a smooth and fluid typing experience, the Snow switch emphasizes a bouncy and responsive feel, catering to different preferences in tactile feedback.
Overall, the Durock Piano linear switch and the Dareu Snow linear switch present unique qualities in both sound and feel, catering to different preferences among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. Those who prefer a deep and bassy sound with a frictionless and silky typing experience may opt for the Durock Piano switch, while individuals who enjoy a thocky and bouncy sound with a lively feedback sensation may lean towards the Dareu Snow switch. Ultimately, both switches offer distinct characteristics that can enhance the typing experience based on individual preferences.
Conclusion
In closing, when considering whether to choose the Durock Piano linear switch or the Dareu Snow linear switch, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style. If you prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force with a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound profile, the Durock Piano switch would be the ideal choice for you. However, if you prefer a medium bottom out force with an innovative use of POK material for a smoother typing experience and a deep, rich sound signature, then the Dareu Snow switch would be more suited to your preferences. Both switches offer unique characteristics in terms of sound and feel, so it's important to consider what qualities you prioritize in a keyboard switch before making a decision.
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