Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT F2
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT F2 switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT F2 mechanical keyboard switches, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style. The Crystal Violet offers a light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel. Its mellow, low-pitched sound profile adds to the overall typing experience, making it ideal for those who prefer a subtle and non-intrusive auditory feedback. On the other hand, the KTT F2 switches stand out with their distinct hollow sound signature and medium-light weightiness, offering a comfortable typing experience with a lightly textured feel. Both switches are categorized as mild and neutral, but the Crystal Violet leans towards a creamy and stepped tactile feel, while the F2 provides a feathery and subtly tactile experience. 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
45g
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
ABS
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT F2, we see that they both offer unique characteristics for sound profile and aesthetics. The Crystal Violet features ABS for both the top and bottom housing, providing a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. On the other hand, the F2 utilizes polycarbonate for both the top and bottom housing, resulting in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This shows a clear contrast in sound quality between the two switches based on their housing materials.
In terms of aesthetics, the Crystal Violet's ABS housing may not offer the same visual appeal as the F2's polycarbonate housing. Polycarbonate's translucency makes it ideal for switches with RGB lighting, giving a more visually pleasing look. Both switches have their own unique aesthetic appeal, with the Crystal Violet offering a more traditional look with its opaque ABS housing, while the F2 provides a modern and stylish appearance with its clear polycarbonate housing. This difference in housing materials highlights the importance of considering not only sound quality but also visual design when choosing a switch.
While the housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT F2 differ in terms of sound profile and aesthetics, they ultimately provide similar results in terms of typing experience. Both switches aim to enhance the overall performance and feel of typing, with the ABS and polycarbonate housing materials playing a significant role in achieving this. Whether you prefer a softer, low-pitched sound profile with ABS housing or a crisper, higher-pitched sound with polycarbonate housing, both switches offer a satisfying typing experience that caters to individual preferences.
Weight
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT F2 linear switch both have relatively light actuation and bottom out forces, making them suitable options for those who prefer a lighter typing experience. The Crystal Violet has a slightly heavier actuation force and bottom out force of 45 grams and 55 grams respectively, compared to the F2's 43 grams and 53 grams. While the difference in force between the two switches is minimal, some users may find the Crystal Violet to be slightly heavier overall. For those who appreciate a lighter touch, both switches provide a similar typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference and whether a slightly heavier actuation and bottom out force is preferred.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the KTT F2 linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm. The Crystal Violet offers a slightly longer travel distance, providing a bit more depth when typing or gaming compared to the F2. Gamers might prefer the faster response time of the shorter travel distance offered by the F2, while those who prefer a more substantial feel when pressing down on a key may opt for the Crystal Violet. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and typing style.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Crystal Violet has an MSRP of $7.08 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crystal Violet for $4.19.
The KTT F2 comes in at $3.90 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 Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is known for its low-pitched and neutral profile, offering a mellow and unobtrusive typing experience. On the other hand, the KTT F2 linear switch stands out with its distinct hollow sound signature, providing a unique auditory feedback that sets it apart in the mechanical keyboard world. Both switches offer a moderate sound profile, making them suitable for various environments and users.
In terms of feel, the Crystal Violet switch is described as creamy, mild, and stepped, giving users a smooth and gentle typing experience with a slight tactile feel. Meanwhile, the F2 switch is characterized as feathery, mild, and subtle, offering a light and comfortable typing experience with a subtle tactile response. While the Crystal Violet switch provides a more pronounced tactile sensation with its stepped design, the F2 switch focuses on a lighter and more subtle typing experience.
Overall, both the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT F2 linear switch offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switch provides a mellow sound profile and a creamy, stepped typing experience, while the F2 switch offers a distinct hollow sound and a feathery, subtle typing feel. Depending on your preference for sound and typing feedback, either switch can provide a satisfying typing experience. Ultimately, choosing between the two would come down to personal preference for sound and feel in a mechanical keyboard switch.
Conclusion
To wrap up, when deciding between the Everglide Crystal Violet tacticle switch and the KTT F2 linear switch, consider your preference for typing experience. If you value a creamy and stepped tactile typing experience with a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, then the Crystal Violet may be the perfect fit for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a feathery and subtle linear typing experience with a neutral and subdued sound profile, then the F2 could be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, choose the switch that aligns with your typing style and desired auditory experience for a keyboard that enhances your overall typing satisfaction.
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