Durock Anubis vs. Everglide Crystal Violet
An in-depth look at the Durock Anubis and the Everglide Crystal Violet switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Durock Anubis and the Everglide Crystal Violet. The Anubis is known for its deep and resonant sound profile, providing a satisfying and assertive tactile feedback with each keystroke. The pronounced bump of the Anubis offers a sharp tactility that brings a new level of intensity to typing. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet offers a more relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a light operating force of 45g, these switches provide a gentle and comfortable feel. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
N/A
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
65g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
ABS
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Durock Anubis and the Everglide Crystal Violet differ in their choice of housing materials for both the top and bottom of the switch. The Anubis features a nylon top housing, while the Crystal Violet utilizes an ABS top housing. Nylon is a well-known and commonly used switch housing material, known for producing a deeper and fuller sound profile. In contrast, ABS is a less common material in switch housings, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile. Therefore, when typing on switches with the Anubis, users can expect a duller and rounder sound, while the Crystal Violet will offer a lower-pitched sound.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Anubis continues with its nylon material while the Crystal Violet opts for an ABS bottom housing. Similar to the top housing, the nylon material in the Anubis offers a deeper and fuller sound profile. As nylon is a relatively softer plastic, it absorbs more sound than harder plastics. On the other hand, ABS is less frequently used in switch housings but is commonly found in keycaps. When typing on switches featuring ABS, users can anticipate a relatively low-pitched sound overall.
It's important to note that when the top and bottom housings of a switch differ, the characteristics of each housing material will be split between the top and the bottom of the switch. The bottom housing material is more significant in influencing the bottom-out sound and feel when the switch is pressed, while the top housing material plays a greater role in the sound produced when a key is released. Therefore, the Durock Anubis and the Everglide Crystal Violet may produce similar results in terms of the sound profile when typing, but the specific qualities of each housing material will differ and contribute to the overall experience of using the switches.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch, there are distinct differences to consider. The Anubis has an actuation force that is unfortunately unavailable, while the Crystal Violet has an actuation force of 45 grams. This means that the Crystal Violet requires a lighter touch to trigger a keystroke compared to the Anubis, making it potentially more suitable for longer typing sessions or gaming.
Moving on to the bottom out force, the Anubis requires 65 grams of force to fully press down, placing it in the medium-heavy category. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet requires 55 grams, placing it in the medium-light category. This means that the Anubis provides a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, while the Crystal Violet has a slightly lighter bottoming out force.
Considering the importance of weight, these differences in actuation and bottom out forces can significantly impact typing comfort and user preference. Those who prefer a lighter switch for extended typing sessions or gaming may find the Crystal Violet more appealing, as the lower actuation force allows for easier keystrokes. On the contrary, individuals seeking a more substantial typing experience may opt for the Anubis, as its heavier actuation and bottom out forces offer a satisfying push feel.
In conclusion, the Durock Anubis and the Everglide Crystal Violet switches have noticeable disparities in actuation and bottom out forces. While the Anubis remains unavailable for its actuation force, its bottom out force is heavier compared to the medium-light force of the Crystal Violet. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preferences, with some favoring lighter switches for extended use and others opting for heavier switches for a more tactile typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. When pressing down on a key with either of these switches, you will experience a consistent 4 mm of travel distance. This means that regardless of whether you choose the Anubis or the Crystal Violet, you can expect similar results in terms of the distance the switch travels from the top to the bottom. Both switches provide a satisfying amount of travel distance, ensuring a comfortable typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Crystal Violet has an MSRP of $7.08 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crystal Violet for $4.19.
The Durock Anubis comes in at $8.00 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 comparing the sound of the Durock Anubis tactile switch and the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch, the Anubis offers a deep and resonant sound profile. It provides a satisfying and assertive tactile feedback with each keystroke, thanks to its pronounced bump. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet switches have a pleasantly mellow sound profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. While the Anubis switch offers a sharper and more intense sound, the Crystal Violet switch provides a more relaxed and gentle sound.
In terms of feel, the Anubis switch is considered accented and polished. It provides a medium amount of tactility without being overwhelming and has a smooth and refined finish resulting in a sleek typing experience. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet switch is described as creamy and mild. It offers a smooth and buttery typing experience, almost like gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. Additionally, it provides a more gentle typing experience compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. It is worth noting that the Crystal Violet switch is also described as stepped, meaning it has a mild tactile response that can be felt during both pre-travel and post-travel.
Considering all the available information, the Durock Anubis tactile switch is known for its deep and resonant sound profile and sharp tactility, making it suitable for those who prefer a more intense typing experience. On the other hand, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch offers a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a pleasantly mellow sound. Both switches have subjective qualities that cater to different preferences. If you enjoy a sharp tactility and assertive sound, the Anubis is the way to go. If you prefer a more gentle and stepped tactile experience with a mellow sound, the Crystal Violet switch is a great choice. It is important to consider personal preferences and factors such as the choice of board and keycaps, as they can also influence the overall sound and feel of the switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're looking for a tactile switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a sharp tactility, then the Durock Anubis is the right choice for you. These switches offer a deep and resonant sound profile, adding intensity to each keystroke. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter operating force and a relaxed typing experience, the Everglide Crystal Violet is the way to go. These switches have a medium-light bottom out force and provide a gentle and comfortable feel. Their mellow sound profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Ultimately, your decision between the Durock Anubis and Everglide Crystal Violet will depend on your preference for bottom out force, tactility, sound profile, and typing feel.
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