Durock Sea Glass vs. TTC Silent Bluish White (V2)
An in-depth look at the Durock Sea Glass and the TTC Silent Bluish White (V2) switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Durock Sea Glass and the TTC Silent Bluish White, two mechanical keyboard switches that offer distinct experiences for users. The Sea Glass switch series by Durock is renowned for its captivating pastel colors and unique typing experience. These linear switches possess a proprietary material blend that imparts a dry, wispy, and airy feel while maintaining smoothness. Surprisingly, despite its 62g bottom-out force, the Sea Glass switches feel weightless, defying expectations with their frictionless nature. Additionally, typing on these switches results in a hollow sound signature that adds to the overall experience. On the other hand, the Silent Bluish White switches from TTC offer a medium tactile feel, providing a satisfying level of resistance when pressed. This makes for precise and comfortable typing. Unlike their counterparts, these switches prioritize quiet operation, making them ideal for office or shared living space use. With their buttery and mild tactility, they offer a polished and subtle typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the most suitable switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
42g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
P3+
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and the TTC Silent Bluish White switches have a few key differences. The Sea Glass features a unique Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing, while the Silent Bluish White utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. In terms of sound profile, the Sea Glass offers a pleasant and bright tone, whereas the Silent Bluish White creates a sharper and crisper sound due to the stiffness of polycarbonate. Additionally, the translucency of the polycarbonate top housing allows for compatibility with RGB lighting, adding an aesthetic advantage.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Sea Glass incorporates the same Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend as the top housing, resulting in a similar sound profile to the top. In contrast, the Silent Bluish White utilizes a nylon bottom housing, known for producing a deeper and fuller sound. This disparity in housing materials creates a variation in sound between the two switches. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, giving the Silent Bluish White a duller and rounder sound compared to the Sea Glass.
It's important to note that when a switch has different top and bottom housings, the qualities of each housing material are divided. When pressing down on a switch, the bottom housing has a greater impact on the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, the top housing plays a bigger role in the sound produced when releasing a key. Therefore, while the Sea Glass and Silent Bluish White switches may differ in their housing materials, they both offer unique and desirable characteristics depending on individual preferences and requirements.
Weight
When comparing the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the TTC Silent Bluish White tactile switch, there are notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Durock Sea Glass has a slightly higher actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Silent Bluish White's 42 grams, making it slightly heavier to trigger a keystroke. Similarly, the Sea Glass has a higher bottom out force of 62 grams compared to the Silent Bluish White's 50 grams, indicating a more substantial typing experience with the Sea Glass. However, both switches fall within the medium weight range for actuation force and bottom out force. If you prefer a lighter touch for extended typing sessions or gaming, the Silent Bluish White may be the ideal choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a stronger push feel for a more satisfying typing experience, the Sea Glass with its slightly heavier forces may be the better option.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the TTC Silent Bluish White tactile switch, it is evident that the Sea Glass has a slightly longer travel distance at 3.8 mm compared to the Silent Bluish White's 3.5 mm. The Sea Glass falls on the more traditional side of travel distances, offering a slightly deeper key press, while the Silent Bluish White falls closer to the shallower end. Gamers, who prioritize faster response times, may prefer the shorter travel distance of the Silent Bluish White switch. It provides a more immediate and responsive feel when pressing down on the keys. On the other hand, individuals who appreciate a more substantial and pronounced key press may lean towards the Sea Glass with its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, the preference between the two switches depends on personal preference and the desired level of responsiveness or depth.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
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.
The TTC Silent Bluish White (V2) has an MSRP of $6.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Bluish White (V2) for $4.63.
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
In terms of sound, the Sea Glass linear switch from Durock offers a uniquely hollow sound signature. This means that when typing on these switches, you can expect a sound that is distinct and different from other switches. On the other hand, the sound of the TTC Silent Bluish White tactile switch is described as muted. This means that it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular mechanical switches. Both switches aim to minimize the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards, making them suitable for use in office or shared living spaces. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Sea Glass linear switch is described as frictionless, mild, feathery, and easy-to-press. These switches offer an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction when pressing the keys. They are exceptionally light to press and require little exertion from your fingers, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Bluish White tactile switch is described as buttery, mild, stepped, subtle, and polished. These switches provide a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, with a gentle resistance that is suitable for most typists. They offer a more mild tactile feel compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics and have a polished finish resulting in smooth key travel.
In conclusion, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the TTC Silent Bluish White tactile switch have different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Sea Glass linear switch provides a uniquely hollow sound signature and offers a frictionless and feathery typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Bluish White tactile switch produces a muted sound and offers a buttery and polished key feel. Depending on the individual's preference for sound and feel, either switch can provide a pleasant and comfortable typing experience. Additionally, it's important to consider other factors such as personal typing style, the keyboard board, and keycaps used, as they can also have an impact on the overall typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a unique and captivating typing experience with a distinct dryness and airiness, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch would be an excellent choice for you. These switches offer a weightlessness that defies expectations, despite their medium bottom-out force of 62 grams. Additionally, the Sea Glass switches produce a uniquely hollow sound signature that adds to their overall appeal. On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile switch that provides a satisfying level of resistance without being loud, the TTC Silent Bluish White switch is the way to go. With a light bottom-out force of 50 grams, these switches offer a precise and comfortable typing experience. They are specifically designed to be as quiet as possible, making them ideal for office or shared living space use. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preference for linear or tactile switches, as well as the specific sound and feel characteristics that resonate with you.
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