BSUN Ragdoll: Review by Vere

Volume	Above average volume for a long pole, a tier underneath the heavy-hitters.
Pitch	Medium to Medium-High pitch, the tone is still slightly strong due to the fiberglass but it is not as subdued as the Roche Limit. I would guess that the Nylon used is probably not PA66 but is closer to one of the softer Nylons as it is thinner than the Usagi.
Sound Profile	The overall sound profile is clean and compressed, reminding me very much of HMX's earlier release in the Macchiato. The top-out is barely audible, and the bottom-out is slightly thin but crisp. Since the pitch is closer to the medium end, you can alter the sound more depending on your config.
Stock	Similar to the BSUN Roche Limit, the Ragdolls have a slight spring noise but it is well hidden by the overall sound of the switch itself. The smoothness is fantastic thanks to the Y3 material and pre-lubricant, and these springs feel wonderful stock despite being double-stage. Always glad to see spring weights above 40g from BSUN.
Design	Almost identical design with the BSUN Usagi, except utilizing an undisclosed Nylon instead of PC and PA66. The tone is slightly lower, with a less firm bottom-out and feel.
Other	Another design from PH Studio who continues to bring us new BSUN linears with many improvements.

 

Stock Experience:

The BSUN Ragdolls utilize BSUN's new pre-lubrication method which is a lighter overall application on all fronts. They use a mix of Krytox 205 + GPL 105 on the bottom housing railings and lightly on the stem rails. The stem legs and leaf legs are coated with a dry-film lube, which is also coated over the spring.

 

(Light coat over the stem rails and faces)

(Dry-film on legs with streak marks from top housing)

Upon opening up the housing, we are greeted with a double-stage spring similar to the Roche Limit which feels quite nice at 52g bottom-out. I mentioned above, but these springs are nickel-coated just like BSUN's other recent releases.

 

(Another "double-stage" spring from BSUN despite being told they are single-stage)

The BSUN Ragdolls have great wobble control but still slightly wobble in vertical directions. It is nearly equivalent to the BSUN Usagi's wobble control. It is not noticeable enough during typing unless you are particularly sensitive to it.

 

(Slightly more lubricant than the Roche Limits, perhaps that's why the leaf noise is weaker here)

Would I re-lube them? Like the Roche Limit, I would only add extra lubricant to the leaf or spring if you happen to have a few noisy outliers. Otherwise there's nothing else I find dissatisfactory.

 

Modified Nylon with Fiberglass:

Since these have specified as "nylon" instead of PA66, it is likely a different blend or something a bit far from PA66. 

Since I have been playing around with the new BSUN switches, I can confidently say that these switches are very similar to the other fiberglass releases but they all have slightly different traits.

My assumption is that the nylon used here is closer to PA12 or PA6 which would result in a less firm feel and slightly thinner sound profile. Though not as dull as the Roche Limit due to the absence of LY and PTFE, it is less full and less resonant than the BSUN Usagi.

Is this a bad thing? Not at all, unless you specifically prefer firmer and sharper sounds, the average human being will feel more comfortable when audibly listening to sound frequencies in the medium to low pitches.

Though the BSUN Usagi have my preference for sound, I prefer the Ragdolls in the overall combination of sound and feel.

Small reminder on BSUN's Y3(X) material:

This portion is for those who haven't read any of my other reviews or are new to the hobby and are generally confused on what the materials even do.

Y3 is a proprietary(custom & secret) material created by BSUN utilizing UPE as the main base. UPE on its own is a dense and soft material with very good smoothness, however due to the softness and malleability, it could be prone to easily deforming or sounding dull. The Y3 material is a heavily reinforced blend of UPE which shores up the weaknesses and allows it to sound less muted without compromising on smoothness.

The previous concerns of Y3 would be the stem wobble due to the softness and malleability, as well as the rare case of stem deformation. Thankfully these issues have not appeared in any of the new Y3 switches I have tested since the Jade Rosales.

 

Overall Design:

The overall design here is quite simple like the BSUN Usagi, utilizing fiberglass to create a brighter and slightly glassy sound profile to generate a strong sound.

The main difference between the sound of the BSUN Ragdoll and Usagi when compared against the Roche Limit would be the firmness of Y3 vs LY. Although the combination of soft material and firm material is good at creating a decent balance between both ends of the spectrum, it isn't always easy.

Previously in the past, a common pairing from BSUN was LY or UPE stems on POM housings, which resulted in a slightly deep and harsh sound profile. As LY and UPE were the smoothest materials options available at the time, they combined that with another smooth material to create an excellent stock experience. This combination also resulted in a strong sound thanks to the POM working well to cover up the weaknesses of LY.

I feel like we're seeing a similar trend with Y3 on fiberglass modified housings and there's only one concern that I have regarding the future: repetition.

Similarly to HMX's previous lack of innovation, BSUN also once had a period of time where all of their releases were extremely similar to one another due to their usage of LY stems in a vast majority of releases. Although the Y3 material performs differently compared to the former, it is also something to consider that while the Y3 material is effective and unique, it will lose that uniqueness when every new switch contains it.

Rambling aside, I truly do appreciate all the new releases with the Y3 material as most of them so far have been comfortable to use and have pleasing sound profiles without being too overwhelming. This switch will be a good option for those who are looking for a brighter switch that won't sound overly piercing to the ear.

 

Smoothness (Phenomenal):

With the Y3 material, new molds, and modifications to the bottom housing, these switches are undoubtedly smooth. Like the other releases, the switches are almost at their peak smoothness despite the light application of lubricant.

In my opinion, you won't exactly get better smoothness by applying more lubricant, but your mileage may vary.

 

Sound Profile:

Now, as these switches are extremely similar to the BSUN Usagi and somewhat similar to the Roche Limit, it is difficult to describe these as "different" when they are fundamentally very alike due to their materials.

The minor differences would lie in the pitch and impact of the bottom-out.

As the BSUN Usagi has a slightly brighter and more resonant tone, and the Roche Limit has a slightly more subdued tone, you could say the Ragdolls sit right in the middle-ground between them. These small differences only exist due to the compositions having minor changes as well as travel distance.

The BSUN Ragdolls retain the crispness of the Usagi thanks to the Y3 stem being firm enough, and they also still keep the overall clean sound profile of BSUN in general with the lack of excess noise and quieter top-out sounds. However, I should mention that these switches seem slightly weaker on the impact of the bottom-out and that is likely due to the increased travel and different nylon blend.

When compared against the Roche Limit, the Ragdoll isn't subdued at all, but I think that it is still within the range of being balanced amongst fiberglass switches. 

The BSUN Ragdolls are a strong long-pole linear with a medium to medium-high pitch that barely fits within the brackets of being "rounded". It has a crisp and defined bottom-out that isn't as strong as some other contenders out there, but it shouldn't disappoint most users.

Rounded refers to having a balanced sound profile that isn't too quiet or loud, nor deep or sharp.

Clean refers to a sound profile that is mostly one-note or consolidated, lacking excess noise from factors like scratch, or having a top-out that is much quieter than the bottom-out.

Crisp refers to having a solid bottom-out that is clear and easy to hear, doesn't necessarily mean loud and bright.

Please keep in mind that sound is always subjective and hard to describe, as I mentioned above, these switches are already very similar to the BSUN Usagi, so your mileage may vary depending on your build. I would recommend trying to test one of the three and make your decision from there.

 

Direct Comparisons to other linears:

BSUN Usagi (Mod. PC/Mod. PA66/Y3 Stem) 3.6mm Travel

• These switches share the same mold, manufacturer, and almost the same composition.
• The Usagi is slightly louder.
• They share similar stock experiences. (Very minor transient noise)
• The Ragdoll is barely higher-pitched. (Very minor difference)
• They share similar wobble control. (Excellent)
• They share similar smoothness stock.
• The Usagi is slightly fuller in sound.
• The Usagi has a slightly firmer bottom-out.

HMX Macchiato (PA12/Mod. Nylon/POK Stem) 3.8mm Travel

• These switches share a slight similarity in fiberglass usage, travel, and sound profile.
• The Macchiato is slightly louder.
• They share similar stock experiences. (Very minor transient noise)
• The Macchiato is higher pitched.
• The Ragdoll has slightly more vertical wobble.
• They share similar smoothness stock.
• The Ragdoll is slightly fuller in sound.
• The Macchiato has a slightly firmer bottom-out.

Keygeek Purple Dawn (PA66/PBT(GF30)/L4(POM) Stem) 3.6mm Travel

• These switches share a slight similarity in fiberglass usage and travel.
• The Purple Dawn is louder.
• They share similar stock experiences. (Very minor transient noise)
• The Ragdoll is slightly higher pitched.
• The Ragdoll has slightly more vertical wobble.
• They share similar smoothness stock.
• The Purple Dawn has a fuller sound.
• The Purple Dawn has a firmer bottom-out.

 

Flaws:

Thankfully no major flaws here besides the possible spring noise which should be able to be adjusted with a little bit of lube. Though I will mention that these switches have barely any spring noise compared to the others.

I wish that BSUN, HMX, and other manufacturers would rely on the tried and true method of using oil lubricant or even greases on the springs, but I suppose its harder to be more precise in that regard. (It may possibly increase the price too)

Overall, I find these to still be very strong in terms of stock experience.

 

PERSONAL BUILD RECOMMENDATIONS: (PREFERENCE/OPINION BASED)

Since these were more lively compared to the Roche Limits, I decided to place them into a Polypropylene plate.

As expected of BSUN, the poppy sound was quite pleasant to hear when typing at high speeds. Overall they felt quite soothing on a very soft plate, though they aren't as soft as options with more UPE or switches with rounded stem poles.

To be honest, although these switches would probably work well with foam, I would simply use the Roche Limits or a different switch with a properly deep sound profile for that type of build. These are in a great middle ground where they aren't sharp, but they aren't near "deep" either if that makes sense.

Depending on your preference, you can stick with brighter plates to empower the sound profile and tune it towards a clackier end via Aluminum, Polypropylene, or Carbon Fiber, however there's also nothing wrong with taming the sound slightly with POM or PC.

The great thing about these types of switches is that they have an easy time fitting into most builds.

 

Closing Summary:

The third fiberglass switch from BSUN so far and thankfully it slightly differentiates itself from the others.

For $0.35 per switch, PH Studios brings us another banger from BSUN, a strong yet balanced option for those who want an all-rounder.

Following the other releases, the BSUN Ragdoll carries a clean and crisp sound profile with no noticeable issues. It is more rounded compared to the others but that is when you take the fiberglass into consideration. When you consider something like the Jade Rosales, it may be more "balanced" in terms of pitch and tone but it won't be as strong as the Ragdoll's volume.

The minor leaf tick again returns, but I think that it is simply an issue of BSUN that they will need to resolve on their own. Just as HMX has taken an effort to step back to adjust their method to fix their own problems, I'm sure that BSUN can find a solution in the future. Though honestly speaking, the leaf tick is already a lot less noticeable compared to releases from around half a year ago.

All in all, I believe that PH Studios has brought us yet another staple option from BSUN, a very solid and consistent linear that can set itself apart from other options in the market and not be considered "just another release". It is likely to become my go-to recommendation for anyone looking to try a BSUN switch thanks to its overall positive qualities.

If you're in the market for a set of consistent and flexible long-pole linear switches that can fit into various builds, then look no further than the BSUN Ragdolls. 

 

FINAL SCORING: 8.6/10