KTT Ash Gray vs. Gateron Mountain Top
An in-depth look at the KTT Ash Gray and the Gateron Mountain Top switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing between two distinct mechanical keyboard switches, the KTT Ash Gray and the Gateron Mountain Top offer unique features to cater to different preferences. The Ash Gray, a tactile switch, is designed to provide a satisfying tactile response without being too overwhelming, offering a light touch with crisp actuation. On the other hand, the Mountain Top, a linear switch, focuses on providing a quiet typing experience suitable for office environments, maintaining a subdued sound signature while still offering a comfortable actuation. While the Ash Gray is categorized as 'Easy-to-press', 'Mild', and 'Neutral', the Mountain Top is described as 'Bouncy', 'Snappy', and 'Subtle'. Each switch has its own strengths and appeals, providing users with options depending on their typing preferences. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
38g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
53g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.40 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
18mm spring
Spring
22mm double-stage spring
Housing materials
The KTT Ash Gray and the Gateron Mountain Top both offer unique housing materials for their switches, with the Ash Gray featuring a polycarbonate top housing and a nylon bottom housing, while the Mountain Top has nylon for both the top and bottom housing. The polycarbonate top housing of the Ash Gray creates a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile due to its stiffness, making it ideal for RGB lighting setups. In contrast, the nylon housing of the Mountain Top produces a deeper and fuller sound thanks to its softer nature that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder tone.
The differences between the housing materials of the Ash Gray and the Mountain Top extend to their bottom housings as well. The nylon bottom housing of the Ash Gray provides a deeper and fuller sound profile, similar to its top housing. Meanwhile, the nylon bottom housing of the Mountain Top also contributes to the switch's overall sound profile, absorbing more sound to create a dull and round tone. Despite the variations in housing materials, both switches offer unique typing experiences that cater to different sound preferences.
Overall, the choice between the KTT Ash Gray and the Gateron Mountain Top ultimately comes down to personal preference in terms of sound profile. While the Ash Gray's polycarbonate top housing creates a crisper and more resonant sound, the nylon housing of the Mountain Top delivers a deeper and fuller tone. Whether you prioritize clarity and sharpness or depth and fullness in your typing experience, both switches offer distinct qualities that can enhance your overall typing satisfaction. Ultimately, both switches provide a satisfying typing experience, albeit with different sound profiles due to their varying housing materials.
Weight
The KTT Ash Gray tactile switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch have different actuation and bottom out forces. The Ash Gray has a lighter actuation force of 38 grams compared to the Mountain Top's 40 grams. However, the Ash Gray has a heavier bottom out force of 53 grams, while the Mountain Top has a lighter bottom out force of 50 grams. This means that the Ash Gray offers a lighter typing experience when initially pressing the key, but requires more force to fully bottom out, providing a more substantial typing feel. On the other hand, the Mountain Top is lighter overall, making it easier to type for longer periods without fatigue. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches would depend on personal preference for typing experience.
Travel distance
The Ash Gray tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, making them ideal for those seeking fast response times, such as gamers. The slight difference in travel distance between the two switches may not be noticeable to most users, as they are both relatively close. However, for those who are more sensitive to subtle changes in travel distance, the Ash Gray switch may feel slightly deeper compared to the Mountain Top switch. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance and typing feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The KTT Ash Gray has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ash Gray for $2.55.
The Gateron Mountain Top comes in at $6.00 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
In terms of sound, both the KTT Ash Gray tactile switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch fall under the descriptor of being neutral. This means that they have a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile, making them suitable for a variety of settings and users. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Ash Gray tactile switch is described as easy-to-press and mild, offering a gentle typing experience with minimal force required for activation. This makes typing effortless and comfortable, reducing finger fatigue during long typing sessions. On the other hand, the Mountain Top linear switch is described as bouncy, easy-to-press, mild, snappy, and subtle. These switches provide a spring-like feedback sensation, gentle resistance, and a responsive typing experience, making them approachable to most users.
Overall, both the KTT Ash Gray tactile switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Ash Gray provides a blend of tactile feedback that is light yet noticeable, while the Mountain Top is engineered for discretion, offering a quiet typing experience with a comfortable actuation force. Depending on your preferences and the setting in which you'll be using the keyboard, you can expect similar results from these switches in terms of sound and feel.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the KTT Ash Gray tactile switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch, consider your typing preferences and environment. If you value a tactile yet not overwhelming typing experience with a light touch and crisp actuation, the Ash Gray may be your best choice. On the other hand, if you prioritize a quiet and discreet typing experience that is suitable for professional settings, the Mountain Top switch is the way to go. Ultimately, choose the switch that best aligns with your typing style and surroundings to enhance your overall typing experience.
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