Durock Sea Glass vs. Gazzew U4Tx
An in-depth look at the Durock Sea Glass and the Gazzew U4Tx switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
If you're in the market for a new mechanical keyboard switch, the Durock Sea Glass and Gazzew U4Tx switches are two options worth considering. The Sea Glass switch series by Durock offers a visually captivating selection of pastel colors, making it a favorite among many. The proprietary material blend of the Sea Glass switches creates a unique typing experience, characterized by dryness, wispiness, and airiness, while maintaining a smooth feel. Despite a 62g bottom-out force, these switches feel weightless, defying expectations with their frictionless nature. Additionally, the Sea Glass switches produce a distinct hollow sound when typing. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4Tx switches combine the best of both worlds, providing a refined sound profile. With each press, users can enjoy the deep, resonant "thock" when bottoming out, along with the whisper-quiet topping out sound. The U4Tx switches offer a sharp, satisfying tactile bump, ensuring a luxurious and acoustically pleasing typing experience. However, to determine the best switch for you, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
62.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
N/A
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.60 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
Proprietary Gazzew blend
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Proprietary Gazzew blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel Korean spring
Housing materials
The Durock Sea Glass and the Gazzew U4Tx both feature unique housing materials that contribute to their respective sound profiles. While the Sea Glass utilizes a Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend for both its top and bottom housing, the U4Tx incorporates a proprietary Gazzew blend for both components. Despite these differences in materials, both switches offer a pleasant sound profile.
The Sea Glass's Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing creates a sound profile that is bright without being overly sharp. This blend provides a unique combination of materials that offers a distinct sound when a key is released. On the other hand, the U4Tx's proprietary Gazzew blend top housing is designed to deliver a rich and deep sound profile, adding a sense of depth and richness to the switch's key release.
In terms of the bottom housing, the Sea Glass again utilizes its Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend to create a sound profile that is bright and pleasant. The bottom housing has more of an impact on the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, providing a satisfying feedback when pressed. Similarly, the U4Tx's proprietary Gazzew blend bottom housing, also known as "boba plastic," enhances the switch's sound profile with its softness, resulting in a deeper, more resonant sound upon pressing the key.
While the housing materials differ between the Durock Sea Glass and the Gazzew U4Tx, they both offer unique sound profiles that are enjoyable to use. In both switches, the qualities of the top housing influence the sound when a key is released, while the bottom housing contributes to the bottom-out sound and feel. Whether you prefer the Sea Glass's brighter sound or the U4Tx's deeper tones, both switches provide a satisfying experience when typing or gaming.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch, we find some similarities and differences. The actuation force of the Sea Glass switch is 45 grams, while the actuation force of the U4Tx switch is unavailable. Despite this, the actuation forces of both switches can be considered medium. On the other hand, the bottom out force of the Sea Glass switch is 62 grams, making it lighter than the bottom out force of the U4Tx switch, which is 65 grams (medium-heavy).
Considering the weight aspect, the Sea Glass switch would be preferred by those who enjoy a lighter typing experience as it allows for longer periods of typing without fatigue. This lighter actuation and bottom out force make it suitable for keyboards used during work or extended gaming sessions. In contrast, those seeking a more substantial typing feel might lean towards the U4Tx switch, with its heavier bottom out force. The heavier force provides a stronger push feel, resulting in a more tactile typing experience.
While the actuation force of the U4Tx switch is unknown, it is likely to be similar to the Sea Glass switch or even slightly heavier considering the medium-heavy bottom out force. In conclusion, the Durock Sea Glass switch can be seen as the lighter option, while the Gazzew U4Tx switch offers a heavier force for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch, we can see that the Sea Glass has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.8 mm, while the U4Tx has a travel distance of 3.6 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, which have become quite popular in recent times. Gamers, in particular, prefer shorter travel distances as they offer faster response times. So, if you prioritize quick and responsive keystrokes, the U4Tx with its slightly shorter travel distance may be the better choice for you. However, some individuals may find shorter travel distances to be too abrupt, and if you prefer a more substantial keypress, the Sea Glass with its longer travel distance may be more suitable. Ultimately, it depends on individual preference and the desired typing experience.
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 Gazzew U4Tx comes in at $6.50 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
In terms of sound, the Durock Sea Glass switches have a distinct hollow sound signature, emanating a dry, wispiness, and airiness. On the other hand, the Gazzew U4Tx switches offer a refined sound profile, combining the deep, resonant "thock" when bottoming out with the whisper-quiet topping out. The U4Tx switches provide a bassy sound with a muted quality, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. 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 Durock Sea Glass switches are described as frictionless, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience. They provide a mild and approachable tactile feel, falling in a safe middle-ground zone. These switches can also be considered feathery, requiring little exertion from the fingers. They are easy-to-press switches, offering gentle resistance during key presses and minimizing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions.
On the other hand, the Gazzew U4Tx switches provide a sharp tactile feel. They are known for their high feedback intensity, with a strong and crisp tactile bump that can be distinctly felt with each keypress. The U4Tx switches offer a luxurious typing experience, ensuring a satisfying tactile bump and an acoustically pleasing sound.
Considering the available information, the Durock Sea Glass and Gazzew U4Tx switches offer contrasting qualities. The Sea Glass provides a weightless, hollow sound signature with a frictionless and approachable typing feel. On the other hand, the U4Tx switches offer a cleaner, refined sound profile with a sharp tactile bump. Both switches aim to enhance the typing experience but in different ways. Depending on individual preferences, one can choose the Sea Glass for a distinct and smooth typing experience, or the U4Tx for a tactile and refined feel. Whichever switch is chosen, users can expect a high-quality typing experience with unique features tailored to their preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a unique and captivating switch with a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness in its typing experience, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch is a great choice. Despite its medium bottom-out force of 62g, the Sea Glass switches feel weightless and offer a frictionless typing experience. Additionally, the hollow sound signature adds to the overall appeal of these switches.
On the other hand, if you prefer a cleaner and refined sound profile, the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch is the way to go. With a medium-heavy bottom-out force of 65g, these switches deliver a satisfying tactile bump accompanied by a deep, resonant "thock" when bottoming out. The U4Tx switches offer a luxurious typing experience that is both acoustically pleasing and tactile.
In terms of sound, the Sea Glass switches have their own unique characteristics that are not described in the provided information. However, the U4Tx switches are described as "bassy" and "muted." If you prefer a deeper and richer sound profile with lower frequencies resembling bass tones, the U4Tx switches will be a good fit. But if you prefer a softer and quieter sound, the muted characteristics of the U4Tx switches will be more appealing.
In terms of feel, the Sea Glass switches offer a frictionless and mild typing experience that falls in a safe middle-ground zone. They are also described as feathery and easy-to-press, providing a light and effortless typing experience. On the other hand, the U4Tx switches are described as sharp tactile switches, offering a high feedback intensity with a strong and crisp tactile bump.
Ultimately, the choice between the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Gazzew U4Tx tactile switch depends on your preferences for sound and feel. If you prioritize a unique and captivating typing experience with a distinct sound signature, the Sea Glass switches are a great option. But if you prefer a cleaner and refined sound profile coupled with a satisfying tactile feedback, the U4Tx switches will be more to your liking.
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