Everglide Aqua King (V3) vs. TTC Silent Brown
An in-depth look at the Everglide Aqua King (V3) and the TTC Silent Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that stand out are the Everglide Aqua King, a linear switch, and the TTC Silent Brown, a tactile switch. The Aqua King switch is renowned for its frictionless feel, providing a typing experience that resembles gliding on a freshly resurfaced ice skating rink. With its subdued, creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished attributes, the Aqua King switch delivers a magical typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Brown switch offers a comfortable typing experience with a light-medium level of resistance and a satisfying rounded tactile bump. Its buttery, mild, muted, and polished characteristics contribute to a pleasing typing experience, with the added benefit of a quieter sound profile. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
46g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
Nylon
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Aqua King and the TTC Silent Brown keyboards differ in their top and bottom housings. Both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffer nature of polycarbonate, resulting in a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, polycarbonate's translucency makes it ideal for RGB lighting, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the switch. Similarly, the Silent Brown switch also utilizes polycarbonate for its top housing, providing comparable sound characteristics and visually pleasing RGB effects.
However, when it comes to the bottom housing, the Aqua King employs polycarbonate, while the Silent Brown incorporates nylon. The polycarbonate bottom housing of the Aqua King continues to contribute to the sharper and crisper sound profile, enhancing the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch. On the other hand, the nylon bottom housing of the Silent Brown creates a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon's softness absorbs more sound compared to harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. This difference in bottom housing material leads to distinct typing experiences, with the Aqua King delivering a more precise and pronounced bottom-out sound, while the Silent Brown offers a deeper and more muffled sound.
Ultimately, the top and bottom housing materials of the Aqua King and Silent Brown switches bring unique characteristics to their respective keyboards. While both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, resulting in a sharp and resonant sound, their bottom housings, made of polycarbonate and nylon, respectively, contribute differently to the overall typing experience. The Aqua King's polycarbonate bottom housing provides a clearer bottom-out sound, while the Silent Brown's nylon bottom housing delivers a deeper and fuller sound. Regardless, both switches offer high-quality sound profiles and aesthetically pleasing options for RGB lighting customization.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the TTC Silent Brown tactile switch, there are slight differences in both the actuation force and bottom out force. The Aqua King has an actuation force of 46 grams, while the Silent Brown has a slightly lighter actuation force of 45 grams. This means that the Silent Brown requires a slightly lighter touch to trigger a keystroke. Additionally, the Aqua King has a bottom out force of 62 grams, whereas the Silent Brown has a slightly heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams. This indicates that the Silent Brown provides a slightly more substantial typing experience, requiring a slightly stronger push feel when pressing the keys. Overall, both switches fall under the medium to medium-heavy range, with the Silent Brown being slightly lighter in actuation force but slightly heavier in bottom out force compared to the Aqua King. Depending on personal preferences, those who prefer a lighter switch may lean towards the Silent Brown for longer typing sessions or gaming, while individuals who prefer a stronger push feel may opt for the Aqua King for a more substantial typing experience.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Everglide Aqua King linear switch and the TTC Silent Brown tactile switch, it is evident that the Aqua King has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm compared to the 3.8 mm of the Silent Brown. The Aqua King falls within the more traditional range of travel distance, offering a standard depth of key press. On the other hand, the Silent Brown provides a slightly shallower travel distance, which may appeal to gamers seeking faster response times. While both options offer a satisfactory travel distance, individuals who prefer a more responsive feel may lean towards the Aqua King, while those who enjoy a deeper press would find the Silent Brown more suitable. Ultimately, the choice between the two hinges on personal preference and the specific demands of the user.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Aqua King (V3) has an MSRP of $7.18 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Aqua King (V3) for $5.44.
The TTC Silent Brown has an MSRP of $5.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Brown for $3.68.
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
In terms of sound, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch can be described as subdued. This means that it produces a dampened sound when pressed, offering a more subtle sound signature compared to most switches. While it is not completely silent, it provides a quieter typing experience. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Brown tactile switch is described as muted. This switch produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular or clacky switches. With muted switches, the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards is minimized. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the choice of board and keycaps.
Moving on to the feel, users often describe the Everglide Aqua King linear switch with terms like creamy, frictionless, silky, and polished. The switch offers a smooth and buttery typing experience, similar to gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. The keys melt into each keystroke, resulting in a silky sensation. This can be attributed to lubricant applied at the factory or specific materials used in the switch. Moreover, the Aqua King provides an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction. The switch offers fluid travel and a refined finish, reducing friction for a sleek typing experience.
On the other hand, the TTC Silent Brown tactile switch is described as buttery, mild, and polished when it comes to feel. It offers a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, providing a seamless, effortless, and uniform typing sensation. The switch falls into a safe, middle-ground zone, with a gentle typing experience that most users will find approachable. Similar to the Aqua King, the Silent Brown switch also has a polished finish resulting in a sleek typing experience, thanks to the materials used and/or factory lubing. It offers reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Overall, both the Everglide Aqua King and the TTC Silent Brown switches offer desirable qualities. The Aqua King provides a frictionless and magical typing experience with a subdued sound profile. On the other hand, the Silent Brown offers a comfortable typing experience with a satisfying tactile bump and a muted sound profile. While they differ in terms of sound and feel, they both provide a smooth and polished typing experience with reduced friction. Depending on the user's preferences and requirements, either switch can be a great choice.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a switch with a medium bottom out force and a frictionless typing experience, the Everglide Aqua King linear switch is the way to go. These switches offer a magical typing experience, as your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys. Additionally, the Aqua King has a subdued sound profile, producing a dampened sound when pressed.
On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a light-medium level of resistance and a satisfying tactile bump, the TTC Silent Brown tactile switch is a great choice. The Silent Brown switches offer a comfortable typing experience with a rounded tactile bump. Moreover, these switches have a muted sound profile, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards.
Overall, the Aqua King is best for those who prioritize a frictionless typing feel and a more subtle sound signature, while the Silent Brown is ideal for those who prefer a tactile typing experience with a quieter sound. Ultimately, the decision between these two switches will depend on your personal preferences and typing style.
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