Dareu Snow vs. Jwick Splash Brothers
An in-depth look at the Dareu Snow and the Jwick Splash Brothers switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Dareu Snow and Jwick Splash Brothers both offer unique qualities worth exploring. The Snow switch stands out for its innovative use of POK material in the top housing and stem, providing a deeper sound signature and a smooth linear feel. Categorized as 'Thocky', 'Neutral', 'Low-pitched', and 'Bouncy', the Snow switch offers a distinct typing experience. On the other hand, the Jwick Splash Brothers are likened to the dynamic duo of Steph and Klay, offering a special linear "speed" switch with shorter activation and a great typing feel due to its long pole stem. These switches emit a creamy sound signature and are categorized as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Snappy', 'Bouncy', 'Subtle', and 'Polished'. While both switches have their own strengths and characteristics, diving deeper beyond these generalities will help you decide on the best switch for your specific preferences and needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
50g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
48g
Pre-travel
1.30 mm
Pre-travel
1.00 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POK
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Extended long spring
Housing materials
The Dareu Snow and Jwick Splash Brothers both feature unique housing materials that contribute to the overall feel and sound of the switches. The Snow's POK top housing is known for its smoothness and durability, offering a clacky feel that is hard-wearing. In contrast, the Splash Brothers's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound profile, thanks to its stiffness and clear translucency. While the Snow focuses on smoothness and durability, the Splash Brothers prioritizes sound clarity and aesthetics with its polycarbonate material.
In terms of the bottom housing, both the Snow and Splash Brothers opt for nylon, a classic switch housing material known for producing a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. This choice of material adds a unique tactile feel and sound signature to both switches, enhancing the overall typing experience. Despite using the same material for the bottom housing, each switch manages to create a distinct sound profile due to other factors like the top housing material and design.
While the Dareu Snow and Jwick Splash Brothers differ in their choice of top housing material, they both showcase the importance of housing materials in switch design. The combination of POK and nylon in the Snow results in smoothness, durability, and a clacky feel. On the other hand, the polycarbonate and nylon used in the Splash Brothers create a sharp, clear sound profile with added aesthetics. By understanding how each housing material contributes to the overall typing experience, switch enthusiasts can choose the switch that best suits their preferences in terms of sound, feel, and durability.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Dareu Snow linear switch and the Jwick Splash Brothers linear switch, it is clear that the Snow has a slightly heavier actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Splash Brothers, which has an unknown actuation force. However, the bottom out force of the Snow is also heavier at 60 grams compared to the Splash Brothers' lighter 48 grams. This means that the Snow switch offers a more substantial typing experience with a slightly heavier feel, while the Splash Brothers provides a lighter touch that may be preferred for longer typing sessions or gaming. Both switches offer a different typing experience due to their varying actuation and bottom out forces, so users should consider their preferences for weight and feel when choosing between the two.
Travel distance
The Dareu Snow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.3 mm, while the Jwick Splash Brothers linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm. In this case, the Snow has a slightly shorter travel distance compared to the Splash Brothers. Both switches have shorter travel distances compared to the traditional 4.0 mm distance. Gamers may prefer the Snow for its faster response time due to the shorter travel distance, while those looking for a more substantial keypress may lean towards the Splash Brothers with its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance and keypress feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Dareu Snow has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Snow for $5.76.
The Jwick Splash Brothers comes in at $2.49 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
When it comes to sound, the Dareu Snow linear switch offers a thocky and low-pitched profile, resulting in a deep and satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Jwick Splash Brothers linear switch provides a creamy and neutral sound, suitable for various environments. Both switches offer a pleasant sound signature, but the Snow may appeal more to those who enjoy a deeper and bass-heavy tone.
In terms of feel, the Dareu Snow switch is described as bouncy, providing a spring-like feedback that gives keys a lively feel. On the contrary, the Jwick Splash Brothers switch offers a mild and snappy typing experience with a subtle and polished finish. While both switches offer different tactile sensations, the Snow switch may be preferred by those who enjoy a more elastic and rebounding feel, while the Splash Brothers switch caters to those looking for a smoother and refined typing experience.
Overall, both the Dareu Snow and Jwick Splash Brothers linear switches offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Snow switch excels in providing a deeper and bouncier typing experience, the Splash Brothers switch stands out with its creamy and snappy profile. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, newcomers to mechanical keyboards may find either switch to be a suitable option for their typing needs. Ultimately, both switches offer a high-quality and enjoyable typing experience, ensuring that users will get similar satisfactory results regardless of their choice.
Conclusion
To sum up, when considering whether to choose the Dareu Snow linear switch or the Jwick Splash Brothers linear switch, it ultimately comes down to your preference in bottom out force, sound profile, and typing feel. If you prefer a medium bottom out force and a deeper, thocky sound signature with a bouncy typing feel, then the Snow switch may be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force, a creamy sound signature, and a mild, snappy typing feel, then the Splash Brothers switch might be more suitable. Both switches offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, so it's important to consider what aspects are most important to you in a mechanical keyboard switch before making a decision. Ultimately, the choice between the Snow and Splash Brothers switches will depend on your individual typing style and preferences.
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