HMX Cheese vs. KTT Darling
An in-depth look at the HMX Cheese and the KTT Darling switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the HMX Cheese and KTT Darling mechanical keyboard switches, both linear switches offer unique features that cater to different preferences. The HMX Cheese is renowned for its unparalleled smoothness and pristine typing experience, accompanied by a satisfying clacky, poppy, and crispy sound signature. In contrast, the KTT Darling offers a typing sensation that is chewy and substantial, with a pronounced bounciness that adds a springy responsiveness to each keystroke. While the HMX Cheese is lighter than 90% of all switches, the Darling provides a resonant, high-pitched sound upon bottoming out, blending tactile and auditory feedback seamlessly. 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
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
46g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
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
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The housing materials of the HMX Cheese and KTT Darling switches provide interesting points of comparison. The Cheese's nylon top housing creates a deeper and duller sound profile due to its softer plastic composition, offering a unique typing experience. In contrast, the Darling's polycarbonate top housing produces a sharper and clearer sound profile, enhancing the overall typing feel. While both materials have their distinct qualities, the Cheese's nylon bottom housing and the Darling's nylon bottom housing share similar characteristics in creating a deeper and fuller sound profile, emphasizing the importance of the bottom housing in contributing to the overall typing experience.
Despite the differences in top housing materials, both the HMX Cheese and KTT Darling switches utilize nylon for their bottom housing. This shared material ensures that typing on both switches elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to nylon's softer plastic composition that absorbs more sound. The similarities in bottom housing materials highlight the importance of this component in shaping the overall typing experience on both switches. However, the different top housing materials of the Cheese and Darling switches contribute distinct sound profiles when pressing and releasing keys, showcasing the impact of housing material on typing sounds and feels.
Overall, the choice of housing materials in switches like the HMX Cheese and KTT Darling plays a crucial role in determining the typing experience. While both switches utilize nylon for the bottom housing, the distinction in top housing materials - nylon for the Cheese and polycarbonate for the Darling - results in different sound profiles. The Cheese offers a deeper and rounder sound due to nylon's softer composition, while the Darling provides a sharper and clearer sound attributed to polycarbonate's stiffer nature. Understanding how each housing material influences the typing experience can help enthusiasts choose switches that best suit their preferences in sound and feel.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the HMX Cheese linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch, it is evident that the Cheese switch is lighter in terms of both actuation and bottom out forces. With an actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 46 grams, the Cheese switch is ideal for those who prefer a lighter typing experience. On the other hand, the Darling switch has slightly heavier forces, with an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams, making it a medium-light option. Both switches provide a satisfying typing experience, with the Cheese offering a lighter touch for longer typing sessions, while the Darling provides a more substantial keypress feel. In situations where weight is a crucial factor, users can select either switch based on their preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the HMX Cheese linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch have the same travel distance of 3.5 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either switch, you will experience the same amount of travel distance from the top to the bottom. This similarity ensures that users will get consistent results in terms of key feel and feedback. With the travel distance being equal for both switches, it can be concluded that there is no difference in this aspect between the two. Therefore, whether you choose the HMX Cheese or the KTT Darling, you can expect a comparable typing experience in terms of travel distance.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The HMX Cheese has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Cheese for $3.79.
The KTT Darling has an MSRP of $4.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Darling for $3.90.
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 HMX Cheese linear switch offers a satisfyingly clacky, poppy, and crispy sound signature, creating an engaging auditory experience with each keystroke. On the other hand, the KTT Darling linear switch produces a resonant, high-pitched sound upon bottoming out, adding a unique and immersive quality to the typing experience. Both switches provide distinct sound profiles, catering to different preferences in sound feedback, whether you prefer a more sharp and percussive sound like the Cheese or a resonant and high-pitched sound like the Darling.
In terms of feel, the HMX Cheese linear switch is known for its unparalleled smoothness and pristine typing experience, allowing for a satisfying typing sensation with each key press. Conversely, the KTT Darling linear switch offers a unique bounciness, providing a spring-like and elastic feedback sensation that adds a lively feel to typing. While the Cheese focuses on smoothness and precision, the Darling emphasizes a bouncy and substantial typing experience, catering to different preferences in tactile feedback.
Overall, the HMX Cheese and KTT Darling linear switches both offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel, providing distinct typing experiences for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. Whether you prefer the clacky and crispy sound of the Cheese or the high-pitched resonant sound of the Darling, both switches deliver on their promise of a satisfying typing experience. Similarly, whether you enjoy the smooth and pristine feel of the Cheese or the bouncy and springy sensation of the Darling, you can expect a high level of performance and tactile feedback from either switch. Ultimately, the choice between the HMX Cheese and KTT Darling linear switches will come down to personal preference in sound and feel, but rest assured that both switches offer top-tier performance in their respective categories.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the HMX Cheese linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch, consider the following guidelines. If you prioritize a lighter actuation force and a smooth typing experience with a satisfying clacky sound, then the HMX Cheese switch would be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier actuation force with a chewy and substantial typing sensation, along with a bouncy and springy responsiveness, then the KTT Darling switch would be more suitable for your preferences. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you value a lighter feel and sound profile (Cheese) or a more substantial and bouncy feel and sound profile (Darling) in your mechanical keyboard switch.
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