Durock Light Tactile Review - The Best MX Brown

Supplemental raw sound tests here: • Raw sound tests for Du...
I like light tactility, but Browns could use some work. I think this is exactly that.
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Specs
01:37 Inspection and Disassembly
03:48 Stock Performance
06:54 De-lubing
08:08 Against Gateron Brown
09:32 Against Cherry MX Brown
10:22 After Lubing
12:46 Against Filmed MX Brown
14:09 Conclusion
I'll upload raw recordings for all of these later
Recording details
- Mic: Behringer ECM8000
- Interface: Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 Gen3
- Untreated room
- 3 layers of deskmat material
- Mic 4 inches from G key
- Sound tests recorded in one sitting
- Used GMK

[@JYMV]

Trivia - the keystrokes on the intro animation is mx browns

[@rks5457]

Fun fact u mean

[@sweetgherkinz]

I heard they're scratchy from another youtuber, and I say yes they are.

[@projectzero6403]

Man... JYMV is the one of the only few people who can make a switch review 14 minutes full of no bs, no ads, and just straight up information. Good job as always!

[@AnzelLmao]

Most KZbinrs: "Here's my $400 mic plugged into a $300 interface that I use for sound tests!" JYMV: : "$30 take it or leave it"

[@zuuzu5206]

lol

[@leannezzers]

Where you at, remaining four people B) This is a great review! Very thorough and I love the various comparisons

[@TheManicGeek]

"To all four of you I'm still speaking to" x-D

[@hubi8628]

we did it, jymv lubed a switch for real though, nice video your content is always top notch

[@kal8377]

Great comparison video! You really put a lot work into this and this was just what I was looking for!

[@olivertrees]

been waiting so long for someone to take notice of these. Thank you.

[@katarinafoda3699]

Great review! I'm particularly a fan of MX Browns and I'm thinking of getting these, as it's very tiring to tune mx browns to my liking. I'm torn between these and Sp-star meteor oranges. Also, I really gotta say, I appreciate a lot the 3 second warning of the voiceovers. It''s really nice and I wish more people would do it. Keep up the great work!

[@keebros8169]

Top notch review!

[@jammies701]

Nice vid mate

[@ubberJakerz]

I got some durock light tactiles a couple months ago. Swapped the stems for Polias (basically glorious panda stems) and GOD DAMN. What an absolute beast of a housing for a long stem. You have to try it.

[@InvidiousIgnoramus]

So uh, you made Durock T1s?

[@ubberJakerz]

@@InvidiousIgnoramus I very well could have, but I believe that the T1s aren't long stems.

[@gunjja13]

I am one of the 4 I guess.? Nice detailed review! I really have to try them out.

[@fgsdfognmkf]

hey, sp star meteor orange switches are also a light tactile switch that are still being manufactured and that can be both filmed and lubed, so i'd say the durocks aren't the only "mx brown replacement" switches rn

[@lonestaar5710]

Great review! i would like to ask about how long the springs are, since i am considering these but would like to springswap them for a lighter spring. Is the spring 14/15/16 mm?

[@ephraimsb2277]

I doubt these will be discontinued. They have been available for awhile but where previously only purchasable from Durock on Ali Express so even if Divinikey stops stocking them they will probably remain available there. These also aren't the first premium light tactile switch to hit the market. The JWK Pewters are a much more limited switch created with the goal of being a much improved MX Brown alternative, but those have a very distinct sound profile due to their UMWHPE housing (somewhat like a tangerine but tactile). I recommend watching Shoobs's review for more info on those. There are also a couple switches that don't advertise themselves as an MX Brown alternative but seem quite similar in terms of tactility. The TTC Watermelon Milkshakes which I just got but have yet to try in a board seem pretty similar and I've also heard that the SP-Star Meteor Oranges (tactile variant of the meteor switches) have a similar tactility profile but those also have a very distinct sound profile (quite clacky).

[@lw8882]

Wow ok way to up the ante on sound tests and show us not just your setup so we can get an idea of why it sounds a certain way, but also make sure it's consistent between switches boards and plates. Leading the way!

[@toufusoup]

Extremely thorough and in-depth review, well done. I reviewed/tried these myself and I came to the same conclusions as you did--lubing didn't make much of a difference, the stock lube job was kinda nuts (I actually had 1-2 switches that were "squishy" from some of the pooled-up lube) but the good springs and tight top housings are actually pretty good! I could totally see someone wanting a cleaner MX brown experience and grabbing these for their next board when they found out something like Holy Pandas were definitely not for them. Will you be covering the Medium Tactiles?

[@ephraimsb2277]

There so many premium medium or MX Clear like tactile switches on the market right now that I don't think those are as important to talk about. I would definitely recommend trying something like the Kinetic Labs Penguin switches or the JWK Cerulean switches on CannonKeys as oppose to something like plain Durocks.

[@nihalprakash8883]

super underrated switch, i grabbed some a while ago and liked the small but noticeable tactility, which i prefer compared to the finger breaking experience of using a zealios switch. however, i passed on these for a full build and opted to go with the naevies instead, which i now regret since the naevies are pretty scratchy even after lubing.

[@nihalprakash8883]

@@ephraimsb2277 weird, i didn't get any leaf ping after lubing with 205g0, but i've tried other light tactiles like the gat browns and outemu light purples that have plenty of leaf ping even after lubing. i think there's something about the small bump that makes these kinds of tactiles prone to it.

[@CaptainYesz]

fingerbreaking LOLLLLL I feel that as a new user testing the "tactile" market as I'm used to normal browns.

[@epxdhaha]

as an owner of a set of durock light tactiles on a pom plate it is the most poppy switch I have ever tried

[@rawrens]

What board are you using it on?

[@jordanfish]

Simply the best!

[@therealponsoy2843]

Great video very in-depth. I mean I personally am okay with browns I don't really get all the memes when people probably started with browns. But IMO I feel that the MX Browns have a nicer sound just pretty much due to the cherry housing all clear housings don't really do it in terms of sound IMO.

[@tianlamian]

this^^^

[@dans2423]

Which switches are you using in the intro soundtrack?

[@qasimjamil1007]

where can i buy those?

[@toubatsu]

Wake up babe, New JYMV video.

[@miladesn]

I hope you get to test SP-Star Orange too and see how it stacks up. It's a bit cheaper.

[@MangoTangoFox]

Try Outemu Milk Tea. IMO they are absolutely incredible for a brown-like switch, and are the deepest sounding switch I have ever tested in over 80 different samples. The pre-lube is just fine, and they are unfathomably cheap in sales, as low as 15cents each. The downsides for me are that I like the speed I get from 3.5mm or shorter switches, and milk teas are standard 4.0mm on top of a bit of a heavier spring, and something about the stem makes them actually even lower, so you get cherry interference on row 3 in BOTH north and south orientations, so you either need clearance washers, or to just use taller caps (I've been using MSA)... I type faster on something like Akko Cream Blue Pro, light and very short... but there is something so special and unique about the milk teas, their sound is like nothing else.

[@MCTAP]

even though i also enjoy really tactile switches, ive also grown to like the pewters and the light tactile durocks. its much less intense and more relaxing in a way

[@AresWasTaken]

I personally quite like kailh box browns for light tactile switches.

[@kananchan7995]

Personally I prefer round tactile switch like most of the dome with slider switch or sharper one like buckling spring and alps clicky switch. The durok one do sound pretty good tho

[@linchtrade]

I hope you can also check out Gateron CAP brown switches, which also falls into the same categories. The v2 cap brown that I got seems to have a deeper sound signature than both cherry brown and durock light tactile in my tests. Nice video! I actually think at some point, these switches will become popular. Too bad too many people buy into the brown meme..

[@CaptainYesz]

FWIW, as someone who used cherry mx keyboard from non-custom brands for 12 years... I got a Keychron Q6 after getting my wife a C2 and hearing my keys were LOUD and felt WOBBLY. (so I got myself a nice replacement) Now I'm trying to one and done the switches, I refuse to go end game, but I have tried and I actually dislike strong tactile bumps I think... friend gave me Aqua Zilents and I am getting used to it but I think normal browns will be better... He linked me this video. FWIW, I'm someone who hasn't gotten sucked into the brown meme. Thank you for fighting the unpopular fight hahaha

[@linchtrade]

@@CaptainYesz I enjoy light tactile and linear switches. Strong tactile is fun but it is tiring. Cherry black and cherry brown are always classic.

[@CaptainYesz]

@@linchtrade FWIW, I bought the Cap V2 browns after seeing how good the reviews are (particularly people like the yellows as an Ink killer). Let's see how these go! You were referring to the v2, in your original comment, right?

[@linchtrade]

@@CaptainYesz Yes, I had the v2 cap. I think you will like them. Great value!

[@kgaanwwehweaweageu4583]

music?

[@mena4108]

Light tactiles so lit

[@UncommonS3nse]

are these the same stems/housing as pewters? i've been using pewters for a few weeks now and for some reason they feel quite scratchy even though there is TONNES of factory lube (thin)

[@JYMV]

I don't have experience with pewter, but I'm told they are a different material. For the time I've been testing the Durocks, I haven't experienced it going scratchy

[@tianlamian]

From what I researched these are essentially the same mold as pewters but different housing and stem materials. Pewters have some leaf ping but I lube the leaf contact points and it's smooth to me.

[@kevin9120]

Listening to those default tests I think I actually like the mx brown more. I can hear the lube on the durocks and it just doesn't sound great.

[@ephraimsb2277]

I have to agree but for a different reason. Cherry switches have a nylon blend top housing that creates a less plasticky more full but also muted sounding top out as oppose to most JWKs. If you can get your hands on some retooled or hyperglide MX Switches, do the necessary mods (good lube job, spring swap, film) they can feel just as premium as JWK switches with a more disirable sound profile in my opinion.

[@noahhyun3172]

U gotta take a look at those good good broken in/butter mx browns from rndkbd

[@Chukonu5]

This or pewters?

[@brocky]

What method did you use to de-lube? Just q-tip wipe? DId you use any chemicals or wash them at all?

[@JYMV]

Yup just q tip under bright light to see what I'm doing

[@jimmybaker5164]

Have you tried Gateron Cap Brown (V2)? They seem potentially interesting vs the Durocks.

[@ramgnadrol]

or maybe the new Gateron Crystal Browns, I'm interested in these comparisons as well.

[@CaptainYesz]

I just bought these, have you heard or tried them?

[@wagonet]

So good

[@TheDredgenProject]

I am waiting for Glarses.

[@akshatdev3596]

how tactile are these? Im planning to buy but I'm not sure that this is less tactile or too tactile.

[@JYMV]

They're about the same level of tactility as an mx brown

[@JesusXina]

Would you say it’s worth the time to lube the switches?

[@JYMV]

Yup I would say so

[@Flogal]

Pewters: Am I a joke to you?

[@sebastianchong2215]

jymv lubing switches, what's going on here

[@oatmilk9918]

mx browns are hated on way too much. they aren't amazing, but they arent bad. they are just ok and completely usuable. that said, durock linears are a noticable improvement and a joy to type on, mx tactiles will always be bland and mx clickies (including box etc) are the best for tactility

[@chrinaldi]

Someone that types a lot for a living (me) need something as light as Cherry MX Brown. Pewter switch works the best for me because it offers strong tactility for its actuation weight. A big plus that it is already smooth out-of-the-box, so I don't lube it. As far as typing goes, the switch is my literal endgame.

[@oatmilk9918]

@@chrinaldi nice! im glad you have found the best switch for you! its not easy with someone variants out these days

[@coldsaucetech1393]

that mic adds alot to the sound test

[@Aggrofool]

67g is imo too heavy for a light tactile. Yes I understand that "Light" here refers to the tactility, but still...

[@mintlata]

Someone on the product page tried putting 45g springs onto these and he said they fit better in his opinion. When I get these switches I'll probably gonna swap the springs as well.

[@grandeteddy]

are these the same as pewters?

[@_fatalruin]

Should be the same stem.

[@olivertrees]

Yes, recolors.

[@analogbox]

@@olivertrees They're not. The housing is different. There's also less leaf ping in pewters. I have both.

[@chrinaldi]

Tactile switches that are nearly as light as Cherry MX Brown yet so smooth (for tactile switches) that you don't need to lube? Sign me in. Shame that I came across this review months after receiving my Pewter switches. Of all things Durock (outside of recolors), I find their quality to be premium without breaking the bank like "premium" switches that charge a literal dollar for one switch.

[@Mxttixs]

poggers, im one out of the four

[@tinypickle]

How do these compare to pewters?

[@analogbox]

Pewters are ever so slightly smoother and has less leaf-ping.

[@Tao-dh9yz]

@@analogbox and is 75 cents..

[@analogbox]

@@Tao-dh9yz I paid 70 cents but that’s because I got the 90. In the realm of premium switches, it’s right up there with the others, but, you’re right. It could be cheaper.

[@Tao-dh9yz]

@@analogbox most jwk’s are far from “premium”

[@analogbox]

​@@Tao-dh9yz Many popular Durock/JWK switches are priced between 60-70 cents. Whatever falls into this category, I consider as "premium".

[@lw8882]

"Dozens of other people" - actually the biggest jab at cherry mx browns. The implication that of all the millions of people who've used them, only a few dozen enjoyed them LOL

[@hinol6936]

what

[@lw8882]

@@hinol6936 He said that dozens of people like cherry browns. Out of millions that have used them.

[@Instinct0425]

the best mx brown is mx brown. also, inb4 shoobs and glarses comments

[@excitableboy7031]

Hell no, the stem is practically chewed up thanks to cherry's tooling. Best brown is box brown

[@lasagnaphill6286]

Nah, best mx brown is the epomaker chocolate browns

[@olivertrees]

nah, best browns are durock light tactiles. just fix the crunch and spring, as with scratchiness.

[@Tao-dh9yz]

I agree, just break them in. Literally the best housing in the market for sound

[@twig0o505]

I honestly don’t mind using Mx browns. But for people who really love that big bump, I can see how they find it annoying. Part of linear gang, I do not mind but it is SCRATCHY

[@ethanoux10]

There are a lot cheaper sources for MX browns

[@guizarbayardoemmanuelisaia1718]

You are on denial

[@cosmo_s2348]

haha MX browns bad your in denial

[@fluid318]

MX BROWNS ARE BAD, you are in denial

[@zachrelk]

MX Browns are bad, you're in denial

[@Nedd1s]

yoo browns are bad

[@townofdudleysixth]

mx browns are bad, you're in denial Sorry, just couldn't help myself.......

[@lemonadefor50cents61]

MX browns are bad, you are in denial. @Glarses there I said it.