Durock Piano vs. Wuque Studio WS Red

Overview

When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Red, both of which are linear switches. The Durock Piano is highly regarded for its proprietary material blend, providing a typing experience that feels like a gliding push with a deep, creamy sound signature. Categorized as "Bassy," "Frictionless," and "Silky," these switches offer a pleasant and satisfying feel for typing enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Red boasts a 22mm double-stage spring, resulting in a bouncy and responsive typing experience. While it also offers a familiar sound signature due to its classic material blend, these switches have a heavier actuation force that adds a touch of weight to each keystroke, delivering a satisfying and substantial typing feel. Both switches have their unique strengths and advantages, but let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences and typing style.

By the numbers

Durock Piano Linear

Wuque Studio WS Red Linear

$6.70

$5.57 per 10

$3.50 per 10

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Housing materials

The Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Red differ in terms of their housing materials. The Piano utilizes a proprietary POM blend for both its top and bottom housing. Although specific details about this blend are not disclosed, it promises a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. In contrast, the WS Red features nylon as its housing material for both the top and bottom. Nylon is known for producing a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its relatively softer plastic composition that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound.

While both the Piano and the WS Red have distinct housing materials, they share similarities in terms of the sound profiles they create. The POM blend in the Piano's housing and the nylon in the WS Red's housing both contribute to a deeper and fuller sound when typing on the switches. This similarity can be attributed to the fact that both materials have properties that absorb sound, resulting in a more rounded and less sharp sound experience.

In terms of functionality, the top and bottom housings of the switches play different roles. When pressing down on a switch, the qualities of the bottom housing, whether it's the POM blend in the Piano or the nylon in the WS Red, have a significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel. On the other hand, the top housing, regardless of the material used, influences the sound produced when releasing a key. This means that both the Piano and the WS Red will deliver similar results in terms of sound upon release, while their bottom housings may offer slightly different experiences during key presses.

In conclusion, the housing materials of the Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Red contribute to their distinct sound profiles. The Piano's proprietary POM blend and the WS Red's nylon both offer a deeper and fuller sound experience, although achieved through slightly different means. Additionally, the roles of the top and bottom housings in these switches differ, with the bottom housing affecting the bottom-out sound and feel, and the top housing influencing the sound upon key release. Despite their differences, both switches can deliver similar results and provide users with an enjoyable typing experience.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch, we find that the weight of the switches is worth considering. The Durock Piano has an actuation force of unavailable grams, while the actuation force of the Wuque Studio WS Red is also unavailable. In terms of bottom out force, the Durock Piano requires 63.5 grams of pressure, making it medium-heavy. Similarly, the WS Red has a bottom out force of 67 grams, which is also considered medium-heavy. In terms of weight, both switches offer a relatively substantial typing experience, making them suitable for those who prefer a stronger push feel. While the specific actuation forces are unknown, it can be assumed that the overall typing experience would be comparable between the two switches, as they both fall within the medium-heavy range for bottom out force. So, whether you choose the Durock Piano or the WS Red, you can expect a satisfying typing experience with a noticeable level of resistance.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch, it is clear that the Piano has a longer travel distance of 4 mm, while the WS Red has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm. The Piano's 4.0 mm travel distance falls into the more traditional range, while the WS Red's 3.8 mm is on the shallower side. However, with the increasing popularity of shorter travel distances, the WS Red offers a faster response time preferred by gamers. On the other hand, some individuals might find the shorter travel distance too abrupt and may prefer the Piano's longer travel distance for a more satisfying depth. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and desired responsiveness.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The Durock Piano linear switch is known for its pleasant and smooth typing experience. It offers a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature. The proprietary material blend used in these switches contributes to their overall enjoyable typing experience. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch features a 22mm double-stage spring that provides a bouncy and responsive typing experience. It also retains a familiar sound signature due to its classic material blend. The WS Red switch offers a heavier actuation force, which adds a touch of weight to each keystroke, resulting in a satisfying and substantial typing feel.

When it comes to sound, the Piano switch is described as having a bassy sound profile. This means that the sound during key presses is deeper and richer, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. On the other hand, there is no specific information available about the sound profile of the WS Red switch. However, it's worth noting that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

In terms of feel, the Piano switch is known for its frictionless and silky characteristics. A frictionless switch offers an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys. Additionally, a silky switch refers to a switch that provides an exceptionally smooth typing experience, enhancing the overall smoothness of the typing feel and reducing resistance when pressing and releasing keys. On the other hand, there is no specific information available about the feel of the WS Red switch.

Overall, the Durock Piano linear switch and Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of both sound and feel. The Piano switch provides a gliding push feel, a deep and creamy sound signature, and a frictionless and silky typing experience. In contrast, the WS Red switch offers a bouncy and responsive typing experience, a classic sound signature, and a heavier actuation force that adds weight to each keystroke. It's important to note that individual preferences may vary, and it is advisable to test both switches to determine which one suits your preferences best. However, based on the available information, if you are looking for a similar smooth typing experience, both switches are likely to deliver satisfying results.

Conclusion

In closing, when deciding between the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Red linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your personal preferences for typing experience. If you value a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature, the Durock Piano is the switch for you. Its proprietary material blend offers a frictionless and silky typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys. On the other hand, if you prefer a bouncy and responsive typing experience with a heavier actuation force, the Wuque Studio WS Red switch is the way to go. Its double-stage spring and classic material blend deliver a satisfying and substantial typing feel. While we have limited information on the sound profile of the WS Red, the Durock Piano is known for its bassy sound, offering a deeper and richer sound profile during key presses. Overall, it's important to consider both the feel and sound characteristics of each switch to make the best choice for your mechanical keyboard setup.

Mentioned in this article

Durock Piano Linear

$6.70

$5.57 per 10

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Wuque Studio WS Red Linear

$3.50 per 10

Learn more