Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT Glimp
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Glimp switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, there are a variety of options available to suit different typing preferences. Two popular switches to consider are the Everglide Crystal Violet, a tactile switch, and the KTT Glimp, a linear switch.
The Crystal Violet is highly regarded for its light operating force of 45g, making it ideal for those who prefer a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a gentle and comfortable feel, this switch provides a pleasant and mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. The use of ABS in its housings contributes to the switch's unique auditory experience. Categorized as 'Creamy', 'Low-pitched', 'Mild', 'Neutral', and 'Stepped', the Crystal Violet offers a distinct and subtle typing sensation.
On the other hand, the Glimp switch introduces a medium-light switch that strikes a balance between a substantial typing experience and manageable resistance. With tactile feedback and a comfortable actuation force, it delivers a satisfying and responsive typing feel. Additionally, the Glimp switch provides a fairly clacky sound profile, adding an enjoyable auditory element to your typing sessions. Categorized as 'Clacky', 'Creamy', 'Mild', and 'Neutral', it offers a versatile option for those who desire a tactile switch without sacrificing comfortable typing.
However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the most suitable switch for your typing preferences and needs.
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
4.00 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
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
18mm spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Glimp differ in their housing materials, resulting in distinct sound profiles and aesthetic features. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic to be used in switch housings. This ABS top housing contributes to a low-pitched sound profile when typing, offering a pleasant and quieter typing experience. On the other hand, the Glimp's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic, enhancing the clarity and resonance of the typing sound. Furthermore, the polycarbonate top housing's translucency makes it especially ideal for incorporating RGB lighting, adding to the overall aesthetic appeal.
In terms of the bottom housings, the Crystal Violet and the Glimp also differ. The Crystal Violet utilizes ABS as its bottom housing, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile that complements the top housing. Similarly, the Glimp features a nylon bottom housing, which produces a deeper and fuller sound. The nylon's softer composition absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound profile. When using these switches, the bottom housing material influences the bottom-out sound and feel upon pressing the keys, while the top housing material plays a significant role in the sound produced when releasing a key.
While the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Glimp have noteworthy differences in their housing materials, they do share some similarities. Both switches utilize ABS in their top housing, which provides a comfortable typing experience with a relatively low-pitched sound profile. Additionally, they both prioritize the quality of sound produced when releasing a key, with the top housing material having a greater impact in this regard. However, the Glimp's polycarbonate top housing stands out for its stiffer composition, resulting in a sharper and crisper sound profile. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet's nylon bottom housing offers a deeper and fuller sound compared to the Glimp's ABS bottom housing. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference for sound characteristics and aesthetic considerations.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Glimp linear switch, it is evident that both switches fall under the medium-light category in terms of their actuation and bottom out forces. The Crystal Violet has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, while the Glimp has an actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams.
In terms of actuation force, the Glimp requires a slightly lighter touch, with an actuation force 2 grams lower than the Crystal Violet. This means that the Glimp will trigger keystrokes with a slightly gentler push. However, the difference is quite minimal and would likely go unnoticed by most users.
When it comes to the bottom out force, both switches are again quite similar, with the Crystal Violet requiring 2 grams more force to fully press down compared to the Glimp. This indicates that the Crystal Violet offers a slightly more substantial typing experience in terms of the push feel, but again, the difference is relatively small.
Overall, both switches provide a similar typing experience in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. They can be considered medium-light switches, suitable for users who prefer a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. While the Glimp offers a slightly lighter actuation force and bottom out force compared to the Crystal Violet, the variation is minor and may not significantly impact the typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Glimp linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. Both switches provide a consistent and comfortable typing experience with a similar amount of key travel. Whether you choose the Crystal Violet or the Glimp, you can expect to feel a 4 mm distance when pressing down on a key. This ensures that your typing experience will be uniform and predictable, regardless of the switch you choose.
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 Glimp has an MSRP of $3.84 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Glimp for $3.45.
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 the sound of the switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet offers a low-pitched tone that leans towards the bass-heavy and mellow side. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the KTT Glimp switches have a clacky sound profile, producing a sharp and snappy sound when pressed. The sound of the Glimp switches can be described as crisp, bright, and percussive. It is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, both the Crystal Violet and Glimp switches offer a creamy typing experience. This means that they provide a smooth and buttery sensation, akin to gliding your fingers across the keys effortlessly. This creaminess can be attributed to lubrication applied in the factory or specific materials used. Additionally, both switches offer a mild typing experience, which is gentle and approachable to most users. The qualities of these switches fall within a safe middle-ground zone, providing a comfortable and satisfying typing feel.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Glimp linear switch have different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switch offers a low-pitched sound profile, creating a subtle and mellow auditory experience, while the Glimp switch produces a clacky sound that is crisp and bright. Both switches provide a creamy typing experience, giving a smooth and buttery sensation to each keystroke. Additionally, they offer a mild typing experience, which is gentle and comfortable for most users. Overall, while the sound and feel of these switches differ, they both aim to provide an enjoyable and responsive typing experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when considering the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Glimp linear switch, there are a few factors to guide your decision-making process.
If you prioritize a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet is the switch for you. With its light operating force of 45g and mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, it offers a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. The Crystal Violet also features the rare use of ABS in its housings, adding to its uniqueness and overall appeal.
On the other hand, if you seek a substantial typing experience without overwhelming resistance and enjoy a satisfying and responsive feel, the KTT Glimp linear switch is a great choice. With a medium-light bottom out force of 53g, it strikes a balance between tactile feedback and comfortable actuation force. Additionally, the Glimp switch offers a clacky sound profile, providing a crisp, bright, and percussive auditory element to your typing sessions.
Both switches have a neutral sound profile and offer a creamy and mild typing experience, making them suitable for various typing intents and purposes. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and the specific characteristics you value in a mechanical keyboard switch. Whether you lean towards the relaxed and stepped tactile experience of the Crystal Violet or the substantial and clacky feel of the Glimp, both switches offer unique advantages to enhance your typing journey.
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