Everglide Crystal Violet vs. TTC Gold Silver
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Silver offer unique experiences for discerning typists. The Crystal Violet boasts a tactile typing experience with a light operating force of 45g, perfect for those who enjoy a relaxed and gentle feel while typing. Its mellow sound profile and use of ABS in the housing create a pleasant auditory experience, making it ideal for users looking for a creamy and low-pitched typing sound. On the other hand, the TTC Gold Silver is known for its rapid responsiveness and shortened travel, providing a solid and decisive bottom-out with each keystroke. The smooth journey from press to bottoming out enhances the switch's polished and thocky sound signature, appealing to users seeking speed and fluidity in their typing experience. Both switches have their own strengths and characteristics, making them suitable for different preferences. 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
45g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.40 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
NPI
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
18mm spring
Housing materials
In comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Silver, the housing materials play a significant role in their overall performance. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, resulting in a low-pitched sound profile when typing. On the other hand, the Gold Silver's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound, ideal for those who prefer a crisper typing experience. The use of polycarbonate in the Gold Silver's top housing also allows for enhanced RGB lighting effects due to its translucency, giving it an edge in terms of aesthetics.
When it comes to the bottom housing, the Crystal Violet's ABS material provides a similar low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the Gold Silver's nylon bottom housing offers a deeper and fuller sound, thanks to its softer composition that absorbs more sound. This difference in sound profile between the two switches can cater to different preferences, with the Crystal Violet offering a more subtle sound and the Gold Silver providing a more robust and resonant typing experience.
Overall, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the TTC Gold Silver will largely depend on personal preferences regarding sound profile and typing feel. While both switches feature unique housing materials that contribute to their distinct characteristics, users can expect similar results in terms of sound profile from the top and bottom housing of each switch. Whether you prefer the low-pitched sound of ABS in the Crystal Violet or the sharper sound of polycarbonate in the Gold Silver, both switches offer a unique typing experience that caters to different preferences.
Weight
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the TTC Gold Silver linear switch both have an actuation force of 45 grams, making them equally light in terms of the force required to trigger a keystroke. However, the Crystal Violet has a bottom out force of 55 grams, which is slightly heavier than the Gold Silver, whose bottom out force is unknown. This means that the Crystal Violet provides a slightly more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel. When it comes to weight, the Crystal Violet may be better suited for longer typing sessions or gaming marathons due to its medium-light weight, while the Gold Silver's weight is currently indefinite. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
In comparing the travel distance of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the TTC Gold Silver linear switch, the Crystal Violet has a travel distance of 4 mm while the Gold Silver has a travel distance of 3.5 mm. The Crystal Violet offers a slightly longer travel distance compared to the Gold Silver, which may provide a slightly deeper feel when pressing down on the key. Gamers may prefer the shorter travel distance of the Gold Silver for faster response times, while those who prefer a more substantial feel may opt for the Everglide Crystal Violet. Overall, the choice between the two switches ultimately depends on personal preference in terms of travel distance and key feel.
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 Silver has an MSRP of $6.11 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Gold Silver for $2.90.
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
In terms of sound, the Crystal Violet tactile switch offers a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, providing a mellow and non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the TTC Gold Silver linear switch produces a thocky, low-pitched, and neutral sound, resulting in a deep, rich, and satisfying tone. Both switches have a moderate sound profile suitable for various environments, with the Crystal Violet leaning towards a more relaxed sound and the Gold Silver offering a more resonant and decisive sound.
When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet switch is described as creamy, mild, and stepped, offering a smooth, gentle, and two-stage tactile typing experience. In contrast, the Gold Silver switch is polished, silky, mild, and subtle, providing a refined, exceptionally smooth, gentle, and resistance-free typing feel. Both switches offer a comfortable and approachable typing experience, with the Crystal Violet emphasizing smoothness and the Gold Silver focusing on fluidity and precision in each keystroke.
Overall, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the TTC Gold Silver linear switch provide distinct but satisfying typing experiences. The Crystal Violet excels in offering a relaxed and smooth typing experience with a subtle and mellow sound profile, while the Gold Silver stands out with its rapid responsiveness, solid bottom-out, and resonant thocky sound. Depending on personal preferences for sound and feel, either switch can provide a satisfying typing experience, ensuring that newcomers are equipped with high-quality options for their mechanical keyboard setup. Ultimately, choosing between these switches will result in similarly excellent results for users seeking comfort, precision, and a satisfying typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the TTC Gold Silver linear switch, consider the type of typing experience you prefer. If you value a gentle and comfortable tactile typing experience with a mellow, low-pitched sound profile, the Crystal Violet may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prioritize rapid responsiveness, decisive bottom-out, and a thocky, low-pitched sound with smooth key travel, the Gold Silver switch could be more suited to your preferences. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you prioritize comfort and subtlety or speed and precision in your typing experience.
Mentioned in this article
