SP-Star Ayara vs. Outemu Silent Grey
An in-depth look at the SP-Star Ayara and the Outemu Silent Grey switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the SP-Star Ayara and the Outemu Silent Grey offer unique typing experiences. The Ayara is a linear switch known for its medium heftiness, making it ideal for those who prefer a hearty typing experience. It provides a soft bottom-out feel and a clacky sound profile, categorized as 'Neutral', 'High-pitched', and 'Polished'. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey is a tactile switch that offers a quiet and highly tactile typing experience. It features a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, perfect for those looking for a satisfying and silent typing experience. While both switches have their own strengths and advantages, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style. 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
N/A
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 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
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Two-stage
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the SP-Star Ayara and the Outemu Silent Grey both have unique characteristics that contribute to the overall sound profile of the switches. The Ayara's nylon top housing produces a deeper and fuller sound due to its softer plastic composition, which absorbs more sound and creates a duller tone. In contrast, the Silent Grey's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and crisper sound profile, thanks to its stiffer plastic composition that allows for a more resonant sound. While both materials have their own distinct qualities, the Ayara's nylon bottom housing and the Silent Grey's nylon bottom housing both contribute to a deeper and fuller sound profile due to their softer plastic composition.
Despite having different top housing materials, the housing materials of the SP-Star Ayara and the Outemu Silent Grey share similar characteristics when it comes to the bottom housing. Both switches use nylon for their bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, creating a duller and rounder sound for both switches. This similarity in bottom housing material ensures that users will experience a consistent typing experience in terms of sound and feel, regardless of the differences in their top housing materials.
When comparing the impact of top and bottom housing materials on the overall sound profile of a switch, it is clear that each component plays a crucial role. The bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a switch, while the top housing has a more significant impact on the sound produced when releasing a key. Therefore, the differences in housing materials between the SP-Star Ayara and the Outemu Silent Grey will affect how the switches sound and feel during typing. Whether it's the nylon bottom housing of the Ayara or the polycarbonate top housing of the Silent Grey, each material brings its own unique qualities to the switches, resulting in distinct sound profiles for users to enjoy.
Weight
Comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the SP-Star Ayara linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch, it is clear that the Silent Grey is the lighter of the two with an actuation force of 50 grams compared to the Ayara's None grams. Both switches have a medium bottom out force, with the Ayara requiring 62 grams and the Silent Grey needing 65 grams. The Ayara provides a smoother typing experience with no initial actuation force, while the Silent Grey offers a slight tactile bump at 50 grams. Those who prefer a lighter touch may lean towards the Silent Grey for longer typing sessions or gaming, while those seeking a more substantial typing feel may opt for the Ayara with its heavier bottom out force. In either case, users can expect a similar overall typing experience due to the relatively close actuation and bottom out forces of these two switches.
Travel distance
Both the SP-Star Ayara linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equal in this aspect. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, you will experience the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. This similarity in travel distance between the two switches allows for consistent typing experiences regardless of which one is chosen. Overall, the travel distance of these switches contributes to their overall performance and feel when typing.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The SP-Star Ayara has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Ayara for $5.40.
The Outemu Silent Grey comes in at $3.10 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 it comes to sound, the SP-Star Ayara linear switch has a neutral sound profile with a moderate actuation force requirement, making it suitable for a wide range of users and environments. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch is known for its quiet operation, perfect for those who prefer a more silent typing experience. Both switches offer distinct sound profiles that cater to different preferences, with the Ayara providing a clacky sound and the Silent Grey offering a quieter typing experience.
In terms of feel, the Ayara linear switch is described as polished, providing a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, information on the feel of the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch is not available. However, based on the description of the Silent Grey as highly tactile, it can be inferred that the switch provides a pronounced bump and satisfying key press.
Overall, the SP-Star Ayara linear switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch offer unique sound and feel profiles for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. While the Ayara provides a hearty typing experience with a clacky sound and polished feel, the Silent Grey offers a quiet and highly tactile typing experience. Both switches cater to different preferences, so choosing between the two ultimately depends on whether you prefer a more audible and polished typing experience or a quieter and tactile one.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prefer a hearty typing experience with a clacky sound profile, we recommend choosing the SP-Star Ayara linear switch due to its medium bottom out force of 62 grams. On the other hand, if you are seeking a quiet and highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke, the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch with a slightly heavier bottom out force of 65 grams would be the better choice. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preference for sound, feel, and typing experience.
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