United States: Free shipping on orders over $49

KTT Cream Yellow vs. KTT Wine Red

An in-depth look at the KTT Cream Yellow and the KTT Wine Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the KTT Cream Yellow and the KTT Wine Red offer distinct features that cater to different typing preferences. The Cream Yellow is renowned for its distinctive clacky sound, thanks to its shortened bottom-out distance and long-pole stem that provide resonant audio feedback. Additionally, its lengthened spring enhances its uniquely bouncy typing feel. On the other hand, the Wine Red switches are cherished for their intoxicating typing experience, characterized by a pillowy light type feel and a satisfyingly deep and rich sound profile. While the Cream Yellow falls under the category of 'Bouncy' and 'Clacky,' the Wine Red is classified as 'Bassy' and 'Low-pitched.' However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities, so you can make an informed decision on the best switch for your typing needs.

By the numbers

Technical specifications

Actuation force

50g

Actuation force

44g

Bottom-out force

58g

Bottom-out force

55g

Pre-travel

1.90 mm

Pre-travel

2.00 mm

Total travel

3.50 mm

Total travel

4.00 mm

Factory lubed

Yes

Factory lubed

No

Stem construction

Standard

Stem construction

Standard

Stem material

POM

Stem material

POM

Top housing material

Polycarbonate

Top housing material

Polycarbonate

Bottom housing material

Nylon

Bottom housing material

Polycarbonate

Mount type

Plate (3-pin)

Mount type

Plate (3-pin)

Spring

18mm spring

Spring

Progressive spring

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the KTT Cream Yellow and the KTT Wine Red, both switches utilize polycarbonate for the top housing. This choice of material results in a similar sound profile for both switches. The use of polycarbonate creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting. Thus, whether it is the Cream Yellow or the Wine Red, users can expect a clear and resonant sound when pressing down on the keys.

However, the bottom housing materials differ between the Cream Yellow and the Wine Red. The Cream Yellow utilizes nylon for its bottom housing, while the Wine Red features polycarbonate. Typing on switches with a nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon being a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the use of polycarbonate in the Wine Red's bottom housing contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. The bottom housing mainly affects the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the keys.

In summary, both the Cream Yellow and the Wine Red switches share the qualities of a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound due to the polycarbonate top housing. However, they differ in terms of the bottom housing material. The Cream Yellow's nylon bottom housing produces a deeper and fuller sound, while the Wine Red's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a clearer and more resonant sound. Whether you prefer a rounder sound or a crisper sound, the choice between the two switches would depend on your personal preference.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Cream Yellow linear switch and the KTT Wine Red linear switch, there are notable similarities and differences. In terms of actuation force, the Cream Yellow requires 50 grams while the Wine Red requires 44 grams. Both fall within the medium force range, providing a satisfying level of resistance for typists. However, when examining the bottom out force, the Cream Yellow requires 58 grams, slightly heavier than the Wine Red at 55 grams, which is considered medium-light.

Considering weight preferences, those who prefer a lighter typing experience would likely gravitate towards the Wine Red switch, as its overall force requirement is lower. This would be beneficial for prolonged typing sessions or gaming marathons, allowing for more comfortable and fatigue-free keystrokes. On the other hand, individuals desiring a stronger tactile feedback and a more substantial typing feel may opt for the Cream Yellow with its slightly heavier bottom out force. This would provide a more satisfying push during keystrokes, lending a sense of solidity to the typing experience.

In summary, the Cream Yellow linear switch offers a medium actuation force and a slightly heavier bottom out force, while the Wine Red linear switch provides a lighter actuation and bottom out force. Ultimately, personal preference and the desired typing experience will determine which switch is the better fit for each individual.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distance of the KTT Cream Yellow linear switch and the KTT Wine Red linear switch, there is a noticeable difference. The Cream Yellow has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Wine Red has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. In terms of traditional keyboard switches, both fall within the acceptable range. However, the Cream Yellow offers a slightly shallower travel distance, which may be preferred by gamers looking for faster response times. On the other hand, the Wine Red provides a bit more depth, which could be appealing to those who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing down on a key. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on personal preference and the desired level of responsiveness and depth.

Price comparison

Which switch is more bang for your buck?

The KTT Cream Yellow has an MSRP of $2.75 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Cream Yellow for $2.55.

The KTT Wine Red comes in at $2.71 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

The Cream Yellow switch is best known for its distinctively clacky sound. When pressed, it produces a sharp, snappy, and percussive sound that can be described as crisp and bright. This is achieved through the switch's shortened bottom-out distance and long-pole stem, which provide resonant audio feedback. Additionally, the lengthened spring in the Cream Yellow switch contributes to a uniquely bouncy typing feel. When typing on these switches, users can expect a lively and elastic feedback sensation, with a noticeable rebound upon pressing the keys.

On the other hand, the Wine Red switch is known for its satisfyingly deep and rich sound profile. Classified as bassy, the Wine Red switch offers a deeper and lower-pitched sound during key presses. This sound resembles the depth and richness associated with bass tones. However, as specific information about the feel of the Wine Red switch is not provided, it is unknown how it would compare to the bouncy feel of the Cream Yellow switch.

Taking all available information into account, the Cream Yellow switch excels in producing a clacky sound and providing a bouncy typing feel. If you prefer a switch that delivers a sharp and snappy sound with a lively feedback sensation, the Cream Yellow would be an excellent choice. On the other hand, the Wine Red switch is described as offering a deep and rich sound profile with a pillowy light type feel, but specific details about its feel are not provided. Therefore, it is difficult to make a direct comparison between the two switches in terms of feel. However, both switches are linear switches and share similarities in terms of their linear operation. As a result, while the specific qualities may differ, overall, users can expect a similar linear feel when typing on both the Cream Yellow and Wine Red switches.

Conclusion

To wrap up, when deciding between the KTT Cream Yellow and Wine Red linear switches, it comes down to your personal preferences. If you value a distinctively clacky sound and a uniquely bouncy typing feel, the Cream Yellow switch is the way to go. Its shortened bottom-out distance, long-pole stem, and lengthened spring contribute to a resonant audio feedback and a lively typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a pillowy light type feel with a satisfyingly deep and rich sound profile, the Wine Red switch is the better choice. Its lower bottom out force and absence of specific descriptors for feel make it ideal for those seeking a lighter and more smooth typing experience. Ultimately, the decision rests on whether you prioritize a clacky and bouncy feel or a pillowy and rich sound profile in your mechanical keyboard.

Mentioned in this article