Everglide Crystal Violet vs. TTC Gold Brown
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Brown are both tactile switches that offer unique features and benefits for keyboard enthusiasts. The Crystal Violet is renowned for its light operating force of 45g, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. This switch provides a gentle and comfortable feel, accompanied by a pleasantly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. The use of ABS in its housing contributes to this non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the Gold Brown switches are described as balanced, offering a slight and satisfying bump during keystrokes. These switches have a moderate weightiness to them, resulting in a buttery and polished typing experience. Their rounded sound profile adds to their overall softness without being completely silent. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your keyboard needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
55g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
63g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 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
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Brown differ significantly in terms of their housing materials. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic to be used in switch housings. This results in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. On the other hand, the Gold Brown boasts a polycarbonate top housing. Polycarbonate is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to its stiffness. Additionally, the polycarbonate top housing is advantageous for those who enjoy RGB lighting due to its translucency.
In terms of the bottom housing, the Crystal Violet also utilizes ABS, resulting in a similar low-pitched sound profile as its top housing. Conversely, the Gold Brown utilizes a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is a classic switch housing material known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound.
It's important to note that when the top and bottom housings differ in a switch, each housing material brings its own unique qualities to the overall experience. When pressing down on the switch, the qualities of the bottom housing, such as the material's impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, become apparent. On the other hand, the top housing material has more influence on the sound when you release a key. Therefore, while the Everglide Crystal Violet and TTC Gold Brown feature different housing materials, they both offer distinct auditory experiences when typing.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the TTC Gold Brown tactile switch, there are notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Crystal Violet has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, while the Gold Brown requires 55 grams to trigger a keystroke. Similarly, the Crystal Violet has a bottom out force of 55 grams, while the Gold Brown requires a slightly heavier 63 grams to fully press down.
For those who prefer a lighter feel, the Crystal Violet would be a suitable choice with its medium-light actuation and bottom out forces. This lighter touch can be beneficial for typing for extended periods or engaging in marathon gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Gold Brown provides a more substantial typing experience with its slightly higher actuation and bottom out forces. Some users prefer this stronger push feel for a more satisfying and tactile typing experience.
Although the actuation and bottom out forces differ between the two switches, it is important to note that both fall within the medium range. Therefore, while they may provide distinct sensations, they can deliver similar results in terms of overall typing performance and responsiveness.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the TTC Gold Brown tactile switch both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel the same 4 mm distance as the switch travels from the top to the bottom. Both switches offer a consistent tactile experience with the same amount of travel, allowing for precise and comfortable typing or gaming. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, you can expect similar results with either the Crystal Violet or the Gold Brown switch.
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 TTC Gold Brown has an MSRP of $5.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Gold Brown for $3.28.
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 switch is known for its low-pitched profile, offering a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users, whether you're using it at home or work. Similarly, the TTC Gold Brown switch also has a neutral sound profile with a moderate actuation force requirement. It provides a rounded sound that is generally softer than most switches without being completely silent. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the choice of keyboard board and keycaps. In terms of sound, both the Crystal Violet and Gold Brown switches offer similar results with their neutral profiles.
When it comes to feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switch is described as having a creamy and mild typing experience. It offers a smooth and buttery sensation, as if gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. With its stepped tactile feedback, you can feel some pre-travel and/or post-travel, providing a more subtle tactile experience compared to hypersensitive switches. On the other hand, the TTC Gold Brown switch offers a mild and approachable typing experience. It is described as being accented, meaning it provides a prominent amount of tactility without being overpowering. The Gold Brown switch also has a buttery and polished feel, providing a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction. Overall, both switches offer a gentle and comfortable typing feel, with the Crystal Violet being more creamy and stepped, while the Gold Brown is more accented, buttery, and polished.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and TTC Gold Brown switches both have their own unique qualities that contribute to an enjoyable typing experience. In terms of sound, they both offer a neutral profile, with the Crystal Violet being low-pitched and the Gold Brown providing a rounded and softer sound. When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet offers a creamy and mild experience with stepped tactile feedback, while the Gold Brown provides an accented, buttery, and polished feel. Overall, both switches aim to provide a relaxed and comfortable typing experience, and whether you choose the Crystal Violet or Gold Brown switch, you can expect similar results in terms of sound and feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a medium-light bottom out force, the Everglide Crystal Violet switch is an excellent choice. With its light operating force of 45g and creamy, mild, and stepped feel, this switch offers a smooth and gentle typing experience. The Crystal Violet switches also have a pleasantly mellow and low-pitched sound profile, making them non-intrusive and ideal for a quiet environment. On the other hand, if you prefer a balanced switch with a slightly heavier bottom out force, the TTC Gold Brown switch is the way to go. With its moderate weightiness, mild, buttery, and accented feel, this switch provides a satisfying typing experience that is approachable to most users. The Gold Brown switches also have a softer and neutral sound profile, making them suitable for various purposes. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Brown switches depends on your preference for operating force, feel, and sound.
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