Durock Piano vs. Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile
An in-depth look at the Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, it's essential to consider the specific qualities that best suit your typing preferences and environment. Two switches that stand out in the market are the Durock Piano, a linear switch, and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile, a tactile switch. The Durock Piano is revered for its proprietary material blend, offering a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature. With its bassy and frictionless qualities, typing on the Durock Piano provides a truly pleasant experience. On the other hand, the WS Silent Tactile by Wuque strikes a delicate balance between tactility and noise reduction. Its ingenious stem railings with small cutouts ensure minimal switch sound while still delivering a satisfyingly crisp bottom-out and responsive return. This switch fosters a tranquil and tactile typing experience in the office or any work environment. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 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
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
15mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
The Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile use different materials for both their top and bottom housing. The Piano utilizes a proprietary POM blend for its top and bottom housing, while the WS Silent Tactile features nylon for both. These contrasting materials result in different sound profiles and tactile experiences.
The POM blend top housing of the Piano is described as offering a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. Although we do not know the exact details of this blend, it is evident that it provides a distinct auditory experience. In contrast, the WS Silent Tactile's nylon top housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon being a relatively softer plastic that absorbs more sound than harder plastics. Consequently, the Piano's POM blend top housing may offer a more nuanced and specific sound, while the WS Silent Tactile's nylon top housing produces a broader and rounder sound.
Similarly, the POM blend bottom housing of the Piano contributes to its satisfying and deep sound profile. This material, like the top housing, remains undisclosed, but its effect is evident. In comparison, the WS Silent Tactile's nylon bottom housing also enhances the switch's sound profile. Nylon's softer nature absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound compared to harder plastics. Therefore, both switches benefit from their respective bottom housings, creating deep and resonant sounds upon bottoming out.
When it comes to the tactile experience of these switches, the top and bottom housings play crucial roles. The bottom housing impacts the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing affects the sound when releasing a key. With the different materials used, the Durock Piano and the WS Silent Tactile offer contrasting tactile sensations. The Piano's POM blend bottom housing likely contributes to a unique and satisfying bottom-out feel, which may have a different level of impact and response compared to the WS Silent Tactile's nylon bottom housing. Similarly, the top housings influence the sound when a key is released, resulting in varied characteristics in the two switches.
In summary, while the Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile share similarities in providing a deep and satisfying sound profile, their housing materials differ, offering contrasting experiences. The proprietary POM blend housing of the Piano potentially contributes to a more refined and nuanced sound, while the WS Silent Tactile's nylon housing creates a broader and fuller sound. Additionally, the bottom and top housings of these switches affect the tactile experience differently, with the Piano and WS Silent Tactile likely offering distinct bottom-out feels and sound when releasing a key.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile tactile switch, their actuation forces are both unavailable, making it difficult to differentiate between them in terms of initial keypress sensitivity. However, in terms of bottom out force, both switches have a similar weight of 63.5 grams, suggesting a medium-heavy resistance when fully pressed down.
The weight of a switch is an important consideration for keyboard enthusiasts. Some prefer a lighter actuation force for extended typing sessions or prolonged gaming sessions. This lighter force allows for less fatigue and a smoother typing experience, making it ideal for keyboards used in work environments or during intense gaming marathons.
On the other hand, there are individuals who prefer a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel. For them, a heavier actuation force provides the desired tactile feedback and a sense of satisfaction with each keystroke. These individuals may find a keyboard with heavier options, such as the Durock Piano or the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile, more suitable for their typing preferences.
In summary, while the exact actuation force of the Durock Piano and Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile switches is unavailable, their bottom out forces are the same at 63.5 grams, which indicates a medium-heavy resistance when fully depressed. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would come down to personal preference, with the Durock Piano offering a linear experience and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile providing a tactile feedback for a more responsive typing experience.
Travel distance
In comparing the travel distance of the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile tactile switch, it is evident that there is a difference between their respective distances. The Durock Piano linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the WS Silent Tactile has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm.
The Piano's travel distance of 4 mm is considered to be more traditional, providing a well-rounded key feel. On the other hand, the WS Silent Tactile's travel distance of 3.5 mm falls on the shallower end of the spectrum, which is preferred by some gamers for faster response times.
If responsiveness is a priority for you, choosing the switch with the shorter travel distance may be the better option. However, it is important to note that some individuals may find shorter travel distances to feel too abrupt. In such cases, the switch with the longer travel distance may be more suitable for those who prefer a deeper and more substantial keypress.
In conclusion, the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile tactile switch differ in their travel distances, with the Piano having a longer distance of 4 mm and the WS Silent Tactile featuring a shorter distance of 3.5 mm. The choice between them ultimately depends on personal preferences regarding responsiveness and key depth.
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 Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile comes in at $4.20 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
The Durock Piano linear switch is best known for its pleasant typing experience, characterized by a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature. The sound of the Piano switch is described as bassy, offering a deeper and richer sound profile during key presses. This creates a typing experience that is immersive and satisfying.
On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile tactile switch strikes a delicate balance between tactility and noise reduction. These switches feature stem railings with small cutouts, effectively minimizing switch sound while delivering a satisfyingly crisp bottom-out and responsive return. Unlike conventional silent switches, the WS Silent Tactile switches do not use silicone dampeners, providing a typing experience that is devoid of the usual padded feel found in most silent switches. The sound of the WS Silent Tactile switch is described as neutral and muted, making it suitable for various purposes and minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards.
In terms of feel, the Durock Piano switch offers a frictionless and silky typing experience. These switches are extremely smooth and effortless, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys. The WS Silent Tactile switch, on the other hand, is described as accented, invigorating, and mild. It provides a prominent amount of tactility without being overwhelming, creating an immersive typing sensation. The mild characteristic of the WS Silent Tactile switch makes the typing experience approachable to most, with its qualities standing in a safe middle-ground zone.
In conclusion, the Durock Piano linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile tactile switch offer different subjective qualities. The Piano switch provides a gliding push feel, deep sound signature, and a frictionless, silky typing experience. On the other hand, the WS Silent Tactile switch offers a delicate balance between tactility and noise reduction, with a neutral and muted sound profile, and an accented, invigorating, mild feel. Depending on the desired typing experience and sound profile, both switches can provide a satisfying and enjoyable typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a pleasant linear switch with a gliding push feel and deep, creamy sound signature, the Durock Piano is an excellent choice. With its medium-heavy bottom-out force of 63.5 grams, it offers a frictionless and silky typing experience. On the other hand, if you prioritize a tactile switch that strikes a delicate balance between tactility and noise reduction, the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile is the way to go. It features stem railings with small cutouts to minimize switch sound while maintaining a satisfyingly crisp bottom-out and responsive return. With a medium bottom-out force of 63.5 grams, this switch offers an invigorating, accented feel. Additionally, the WS Silent Tactile is designed without silicone dampeners, providing a typing experience that is devoid of the usual padded feel found in most silent switches. Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Piano and the Wuque Studio WS Silent Tactile depends on whether you prefer a linear switch with a creamy sound or a tactile switch with noise reduction and a pronounced tactile feedback.
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