Dareu Sky POM vs. Wuque Studio WS Dash
An in-depth look at the Dareu Sky POM and the Wuque Studio WS Dash switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the Dareu Sky POM and Wuque Studio WS Dash offer unique experiences tailored to different typing preferences. The Dareu Sky POM switch is celebrated for its premium quality and affordability, made entirely from POM material, and delivers a buttery and creamy feel that many users appreciate. Its clacky sound and gentle actuation force make it an ideal choice for those who enjoy a tactile and responsive typing experience. On the other hand, the Wuque Studio WS Dash, a Hall Effect switch, brings a refined aesthetic and smooth keystroke to the table, featuring a bright, clacky sound signature that pairs beautifully with its visually striking design. While the Sky POM focuses on affordability and accessibility, the WS Dash emphasizes innovative technology and sleek refinement. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches can depend on your personal preferences for sound, feel, and overall typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
40g
Actuation force
30g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
N/A
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Dareu Sky POM and the Wuque Studio WS Dash keyboards, a notable difference emerges in their top housings. The Dareu Sky POM features a POM top housing, which is known for its ability to produce a sound profile that leans towards the deeper side and has a relatively muted quality. This characteristic results from POM's unique acoustic properties, which contribute to a pleasing auditory experience that favors less sharpness. In contrast, the WS Dash utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, showcasing a much sharper and higher-pitched sound profile. The stiffness of polycarbonate enables it to create clearer resonances, making the sound more crisp. Additionally, the transparency of polycarbonate allows light to pass through more effectively, enhancing RGB lighting effects, a feature that may appeal to gamers and enthusiasts alike.
Despite the differences in their top housing materials, both the Dareu Sky POM and the Wuque Studio WS Dash share nylon as the bottom housing material. Nylon is a classic choice among switch builders for its sound-absorbing qualities, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. Its softness allows it to muffle and diminish ringing sounds, resulting in a more muted and rounded auditory experience. This similarity in bottom housing ensures that while the overall sound profile of the two keyboards may differ when pressed, the actual bottoming out sensation feels rich and consistent, attributing to the nylon material’s absorption capabilities. Thus, even though their top housings yield varied auditory experiences, the sound signature retains a familiar and satisfying depth due to the bottom housing.
Overall, the interplay between the different top and bottom materials in the Dareu Sky POM and the Wuque Studio WS Dash reflects how each contributes uniquely to the user’s typing experience. The characteristics of the top housing are influential during key release, while the bottom housing significantly affects the key press sensation. With the Sky POM’s muted and deeper sound from the POM top, paired with nylon’s full sound, contrasts with the WS Dash’s crispness from polycarbonate, yet both utilize nylon to ensure a rich typing experience. Each keyboard thus creates a distinct acoustic signature, showcasing how housing materials can interplay to create diverse yet satisfying sound experiences for users.
Weight
Comparing the actuation and bottom out forces of the Dareu Sky POM linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Dash hall effect switch reveals notable differences in their characteristics. The Sky POM requires an actuation force of 40 grams, while the WS Dash has a lighter actuation force of 30 grams, making the WS Dash the lighter option for users who prefer less resistance during typing. However, while the Sky POM has an unknown bottom out force, the WS Dash features a bottom out force of 55 grams, indicating that it provides a more substantial typing experience upon pressing down fully. This larger bottom out force can appeal to those who favor a firmer feel when typing. Consequently, if users seek a lighter switch for prolonged use, the WS Dash is the better choice, while those desiring a heftier response may gravitate towards the Sky POM, especially considering the unknown bottom out force that could influence their preference.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Dareu Sky POM linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Dash hall effect switch, it’s clear that the Sky POM offers a longer travel distance of 3.8 mm, while the WS Dash has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. This indicates that the Sky POM may provide a more pronounced tactile experience, which some users might favor for its deeper feedback. Conversely, the WS Dash, with its shorter travel distance, could appeal to gamers or those seeking quicker response times, as the reduced distance allows for faster actuation. Ultimately, if you prioritize a more responsive feel, the WS Dash would be the better choice, while the Sky POM may suit those who appreciate a more substantial depth in their keystrokes.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Sky POM has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sky POM for $4.98.
The Wuque Studio WS Dash has an MSRP of $8.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the WS Dash for $7.49.
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 Dareu Sky POM switch stands out with a low-pitched, clacky sound profile. This sound characteristic provides a bass-heavy and mellow tone, which can create a satisfying auditory feedback during typing or gaming sessions. The specific tonal quality, however, will also depend on the keyboard's construction and the keycaps chosen. The WS Dash switch also exhibits a bright and clacky sound signature. While both switches share a clacky quality, the variation in pitch could create different acoustic experiences, making them suitable for users who either prefer the deeper tones of the Sky POM or the more vibrant tones of the WS Dash.
When it comes to feel, the Dareu Sky POM switch excels with attributes such as buttery, creamy, and silky sensations. These descriptors indicate a very smooth keystroke experience, where users will find that their fingers glide effortlessly across the keys, resulting in minimal resistance and a highly satisfying typing experience. The WS Dash's feel characteristics are less defined and require further exploration, but it is designed to offer an equally pleasant keystroke experience. Therefore, while the tactile experience of the WS Dash may still merit a further look, the Sky POM seems to lead in providing an exceptionally smooth and luxurious typing sensation.
In conclusion, both the Dareu Sky POM and Wuque Studio WS Dash switches cater to a crowd that appreciates clacky sounds, but each offers a unique auditory experience influenced by their design materials. The Sky POM provides a low-pitched auditory feedback paired with a notably smooth feel, earning points for its user-friendly experience. Meanwhile, the WS Dash promises a bright sound profile that beckons for further tactile testing. Ultimately, those seeking similar auditory results can find pleasing qualities in both switches, while the Sky POM clearly has the edge in terms of feel.
Conclusion
To conclude, your choice between the Dareu Sky POM linear switch and the Wuque Studio WS Dash hall effect switch ultimately depends on your personal preferences and typing needs. If you prioritize a smooth and effortless typing experience, the Sky POM would be an excellent fit, thanks to its buttery, creamy, and silky feel that is complemented by a low-pitched, clacky sound profile. This switch is ideal for those who enjoy a premium typing experience without breaking the bank, making it great for both casual typing and gaming. On the other hand, if you are looking for a switch with a bit more resistance and a pronounced tactile feedback, the WS Dash, with its 55-gram bottom out force, offers a delightful middle-ground feel. Its bright and clacky sound signature enhances the auditory experience, making it particularly appealing for those who appreciate a lively keystroke. Additionally, if you happen to be using a Wooting Hall Effect keyboard, the WS Dash leverages advanced technology to deliver superior performance. Ultimately, your selection should reflect your specific use-case scenarios, from typing and gaming to pure enjoyment of tactile and auditory feedback.