Gateron Quinn vs. Durock Sea Glass
An in-depth look at the Gateron Quinn and the Durock Sea Glass switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Gateron Quinn, a tactile switch, and the Durock Sea Glass, a linear switch. These two mechanical keyboard switches offer distinct features and characteristics that cater to different preferences and typing styles. The Gateron Quinn switch is renowned for its crisp, light tactility and deep, resonant sound profile, thanks to its specially designed nylon housings. With each keystroke, users can expect a precise, clean, and crisp tactile bump, accompanied by a rich and immersive sound that adds character to the typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass switch series stands out with its captivating selection of pastel colors and proprietary material blend. Typing on the Sea Glass switches emanates a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness, while still maintaining an uncompromised level of smoothness. Additionally, despite its 62g bottom-out force, these switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, showcasing their frictionless nature. Furthermore, the Sea Glass switches exhibit a uniquely hollow sound signature. Both switches have their own unique selling points, providing an array of sensations and sounds to enhance your typing experience. 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
59g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
P3+
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm double-stage gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Gateron Quinn and the Durock Sea Glass, one noticeable difference is in the composition of their top housings. The Quinn features a nylon top housing, known for its ability to elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Sea Glass incorporates a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in its top housing. This blend offers a pleasant sound profile that is not particularly sharp but leans towards the brighter side. While both materials have their distinctive characteristics, the nylon top housing of the Quinn creates a deeper sound, whereas the blend used in the Sea Glass emphasizes a brighter tone.
Similarly, the bottom housings of the Quinn and Sea Glass also differ in terms of their material composition. The Quinn's nylon bottom housing shares the same characteristics as its top housing, creating a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. It absorbs more sound due to its softer plastic nature, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. In contrast, the Sea Glass utilizes a blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in its bottom housing. This unique blend contributes to the switch's sound profile, offering a pleasant and slightly brighter tone. The composition of the bottom housing has a significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switch, and while both materials have their distinctions, the Quinn's nylon housing produces a deeper sound, while the Sea Glass's blend adds a touch of brightness.
In terms of similarities between the two housing materials, both the Quinn and Sea Glass achieve a desirable sound profile. While the Quinn's nylon housing creates a deeper and fuller sound, and the Sea Glass's blend leans towards a brighter side, both options offer a pleasant and enjoyable typing experience. Additionally, both housing materials are made from nylon, a classic switch housing material known for its sound-absorbing properties. This common material choice ensures that users can expect similar sound characteristics from both the Quinn and Sea Glass switches. Whether it's the deeper and fuller sound of the Quinn or the slightly brighter tone of the Sea Glass, users can rely on these switches to provide satisfying auditory feedback.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Quinn tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, there are notable differences. The Quinn has a higher actuation force of 59 grams compared to the Sea Glass's 45 grams, making the Quinn feel slightly heavier when initiating a keystroke. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Quinn requires 67 grams of force, while the Sea Glass requires 62 grams. This means that even though the actuation force of the Quinn is higher, the force required to fully press the keys is lighter compared to the Sea Glass. Overall, the Quinn provides a more substantial typing experience with its medium-heavy actuation and bottom out forces, while the Sea Glass offers a lighter touch for those who prefer longer typing sessions. Ultimately, it depends on personal preference and the desired typing experience to determine which switch would be the better choice.
Travel distance
The Gateron Quinn tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.4mm, while the Durock Sea Glass linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8mm. In comparing the two, the Sea Glass has a slightly longer travel distance than the Quinn. However, both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which have become more popular in recent times. Shorter travel distances are favored by gamers as they allow for faster response times. If you value quick responsiveness, the Quinn would be a suitable choice with its slightly shorter travel distance. On the other hand, some individuals may find shorter travel distances to feel too abrupt, and prefer a switch with more depth. In such cases, the Sea Glass, with its longer travel distance, would be a better fit. Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preference and the desired level of responsiveness or depth.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Quinn has an MSRP of $6.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Quinn for $5.50.
The Durock Sea Glass has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Glass for $4.87.
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 Gateron Quinn tactile switch is best known for its unique combination of crisp, light switch-like tactility and a deep, resonant sound profile. The specially designed nylon housings of the Quinn switches contribute to the rich and immersive sound that accompanies each keystroke, adding a touch of character to the typing experience. Expect a precise, clean, and crisp tactile bump when typing on the Quinn switches. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch is best known for its captivating selection of five pastel colors and its distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, the Sea Glass switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, indicating their frictionless nature. Typing on the Sea Glass switches reveals a uniquely hollow sound signature.
In terms of sound, the Quinn switches have a bassy, clacky, low-pitched, and resonant sound profile. The sound of the Quinn switches can be described as having a deeper and richer bass tone, sharp and snappy, mellow, and clean and sharp. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch is also dependent on other factors such as the choice of keyboard board and keycaps. On the other hand, information about the sound profile of the Sea Glass switches is not available. Based on the available information, it is expected that the Sea Glass switches will provide a different sound experience compared to the Quinn switches.
In terms of feel, the Quinn switches are described as snappy, polished, bouncy, accented, buttery, and creamy. The Quinn switches offer a super responsive typing experience with a longer or dual-staged spring, resulting in a more alive feel. They also have a smooth and refined finish, reducing friction and providing a sleek typing experience. The bouncy nature of the Quinn switches gives a spring-like or elastic feedback sensation, adding to the lively feel of the keys. Furthermore, the Quinn switches are both buttery and creamy, offering a seamless, effortless, uniform, and silky typing sensation. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switches are described as frictionless, mild, feathery, and easy-to-press. They offer an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, with minimal resistance or friction. The Sea Glass switches provide a gentle typing experience in a safe middle-ground zone, and their light actuation force reduces finger fatigue, making them comfortable for extended typing sessions.
In conclusion, the Gateron Quinn tactile switches and the Durock Sea Glass linear switches offer distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Quinn switches provide a deep, resonant sound profile with crisp, bright tactility, while the Sea Glass switches offer a dry, wispier sound signature. The typing experience on the Quinn switches is described as snappy, polished, bouncy, accented, buttery, and creamy, providing a precise and smooth feel. On the other hand, the Sea Glass switches offer a frictionless and gentle typing experience, described as mild, feathery, and easy-to-press. While some qualities of the switches are not known, it is evident that both switches have their unique characteristics that cater to different preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a keyboard switch with a unique combination of tactility and sound, the Gateron Quinn tactile switch is a great choice. With its crisp and light switch-like tactility, it provides a precise and clean typing experience. The deep and resonant sound profile adds character to every keystroke, making the typing experience rich and immersive.
On the other hand, if you prioritize a smooth and frictionless typing experience, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch is the way to go. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, these switches feel weightless and offer a distinct dryness and airiness. The smoothness remains uncompromised, and typing on the Sea Glass switches reveals a uniquely hollow sound signature.
Ultimately, your decision between the Gateron Quinn tactile switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch will depend on your preferences. If you value the tactile feedback and rich sound, go for the Quinn switch. However, if a smooth and frictionless typing experience is more important to you, the Sea Glass switch will be a better fit.
In the end, both switches have their unique qualities and excel in different areas. Consider your priorities and desired typing experience to make the best choice for your mechanical keyboard.
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