Jerrzi Coral vs. KTT Darling
An in-depth look at the Jerrzi Coral and the KTT Darling switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Jerrzi Coral and the KTT Darling are both linear mechanical keyboard switches, each offering a unique typing experience. The Coral is praised for its crisp typing feel and lower-pitched resonance, striking a balance between sophistication and performance. On the other hand, the Darling provides a chewy and substantial typing sensation with pronounced bounciness and a high-pitched, resonant sound. While the Coral is best for those seeking a nuanced and silky typing experience, the Darling caters to individuals looking for a bouncy, clacky switch with engaging tactile and auditory feedback. 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
40g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Jerrzi Coral and the KTT Darling, both switches feature polycarbonate top housings that create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the relatively stiff nature of polycarbonate, which leads to a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches that plan to use RGB lighting. However, the difference lies in the bottom housing material, with the Coral utilizing a nylon bottom housing that elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a duller and rounder sound compared to the Darling's polycarbonate bottom housing.
Despite sharing the same polycarbonate top housing material, the Jerrzi Coral and KTT Darling switches offer different sound profiles due to their variations in bottom housing materials. The Coral's nylon bottom housing absorbs more sound than the Darling's polycarbonate bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound when typing. This showcases how the choice of bottom housing material can greatly impact the overall sound and feel of a switch, demonstrating the importance of considering both top and bottom housing materials in switch design.
Overall, the Jerrzi Coral and KTT Darling switches demonstrate how the combination of polycarbonate and nylon housing materials can impact the overall sound and feel of a switch. While both switches feature polycarbonate top housings for a sharper sound profile, the difference in bottom housing materials results in distinct typing experiences. Whether opting for a deeper and fuller sound with nylon bottom housing like the Coral, or a crisper and resonant sound with polycarbonate bottom housing like the Darling, each switch offers a unique typing experience based on the choice of housing materials.
Weight
The Jerrzi Coral linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams compared to the KTT Darling linear switch, which has an actuation force of 45 grams. However, the bottom out force of the Coral is unknown, while the Darling has a bottom out force of 53 grams, making it slightly heavier. This means that typing on the Coral switch may feel lighter and more effortless, while the Darling switch may provide a more substantial and tactile typing experience due to the slightly higher bottom out force. The difference in actuation and bottom out forces between the two switches caters to different preferences, with the Coral being ideal for those who prefer a lighter typing experience, and the Darling being suitable for those who enjoy a slightly heavier push feel. Overall, the actuation and bottom out forces of these switches offer options for users with varying preferences in terms of typing feel and force requirement.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the Jerrzi Coral linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch, it is clear that the Coral has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.7 mm compared to the Darling's 3.5 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances that are becoming more popular, especially among gamers seeking faster response times. While the Coral may provide a slightly deeper key press experience, the Darling offers a slightly shorter travel distance for those who prefer a quicker and more responsive feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference regarding key press depth and responsiveness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Jerrzi Coral has an MSRP of $2.79 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Coral for $2.30.
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 comparing the sound of the Jerrzi Coral linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch, the Coral offers a low-pitched resonance, providing a more bass-heavy and mellow tone, while the Darling produces a clacky and high-pitched sound upon bottoming out, offering a more sharp and crisp auditory experience. Both switches deliver engaging auditory feedback, but the Coral leans towards a mellower tone, while the Darling provides a sharper and more pronounced sound profile, catering to individual preferences for sound during typing sessions.
Moving on to the feel aspect, the Coral switch is described as silky, promising an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimized resistance when pressing and releasing keys. On the other hand, the Darling switch offers a bouncy sensation, providing a spring-like feedback and a lively feel with keypress rebound. While both switches focus on enhancing the overall typing feel, the Coral leans towards a smoother and silkier experience, whereas the Darling emphasizes a bouncy and elastic feedback sensation, catering to different tactile preferences of users.
In conclusion, the Jerrzi Coral linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch each bring unique subjective qualities to the table in terms of sound and feel. The Coral excels in offering a lower-pitched resonance and a silky typing experience, while the Darling stands out with its clacky, high-pitched sound and bouncy feedback. Depending on personal preferences for sound tones and typing sensations, users can choose between the nuanced sophistication of the Coral or the chewy satisfaction of the Darling, ensuring a delightful typing experience tailored to individual tastes.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Jerrzi Coral linear switch and the KTT Darling linear switch, consider the following guidelines. If you prefer a switch with low bottom out force and a crisp typing feel with lower-pitched resonance, the Coral switch may be the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy a medium-light bottom out force and a typing sensation that is chewy, substantial, and bouncy with a pronounced high-pitched sound, the Darling switch could be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you prioritize a nuanced sophistication with a silky typing feel (Coral) or a satisfying bounciness with a clacky and resonant typing experience (Darling). Choose the switch that aligns best with your typing preferences and enjoy a delightful keyboarding experience.
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