SP-Star Duck Review

TL;DR:

  • Does a solid job of mimicking the Cherry Brown bump;
  • Falls short in terms of smoothness;
  • Not a strong contender in the small tactile switch market.

SP-Star is a name gaining ground in the switch scene, though it’s backed by the renowned board maker, Leopold. Their switches have built a solid reputation for quality, especially in Asia, but availability remains limited in some areas like Australia. Still, they’ve earned recognition for their top-tier housing tolerances and build quality.

When I stumbled across the Ducks switch at Swagkeys, which promised a tactile experience similar to Cherry Brown and came in a color scheme I liked, I was intrigued. I added it to my cart and quickly tested it to see if it could capture the coveted Cherry Brown feel.

The Technical Details

The Ducks feature a polycarbonate housing with a yellow top, black bottom, a POM stem, and a 58g spring—a departure from SP-Star’s usual nylon-heavy materials. This makes for a fresh experience.

The Tactile Experience

The Ducks do a great job at replicating the Cherry Brown-style bump, with a bit more prominence. The bump is subtle, placed lower in the switch’s travel, resulting in a relaxed typing experience. For those looking for a smaller tactile bump, the Ducks hit the mark. However, they lack the smoothness seen in some other switches on the market. While smoother than Cherry Brown Hyperglides, they don’t quite match up to other light tactiles available.

With extended use, I noticed some improvement in smoothness, particularly in the alphas, which got more use than the modifier keys. The friction, however, was more of a general resistance rather than outright scratchiness, likely stemming from the interaction between the stem and the leaf.

Sound and Build Quality

The Ducks produce a typical polycarbonate sound—thin and high-pitched. This may not appeal to those who prefer deeper, thockier sounds. SP-Star’s usual high build quality holds up here, with tight housing tolerances and minimal wobble. The spring performs well, with little crunch or ping, though the friction during actuation takes away from the overall satisfaction.

Tweaking the Switch

To improve the Ducks, I applied a heavier coat of 205G0 lube, focusing on the stem and housing rails, and added oil to the stem legs and leaf. This helped reduce the friction and made the switches smoother, though they still lag behind JWK’s offerings.

Conclusion

For those nostalgic for Cherry Browns, the Ducks are a competent clone with some improvements. But the smoothness and sound won’t win everyone over, especially with smoother options from JWK readily available. While the Ducks may appeal to a niche audience, they’re not a must-have for most.

About the author

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Jacob Hebert

Jacob is a big fan of computer peripherals. He enjoys writing about mechanical keyboards (keycaps, switches, stabilizers, etc), audio, as well as computer mice. When he's not writing for APTrio, you can find him browsing r/MechanicalKeyboards.