Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Dareu Holly
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Dareu Holly switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Dareu Holly are both tactile mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique typing experiences. The Crystal Violet, with its light 45g operating force, provides a relaxed and stepped tactile feel along with a mellow sound profile that leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum. On the other hand, the Dareu Holly, featuring a medium 50g actuation force, offers a more balanced and distinctive typing experience with a sound signature that combines chirpy and clacky elements. While the Crystal Violet is ideal for those seeking a gentle and comfortable typing experience, the Holly caters to users looking for a more unique sound profile. 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
50g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
N/A
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
Partial box
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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Dareu Holly both offer unique housing materials for their switches. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which provides a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the Holly showcases a polycarbonate top housing, known for creating a sharper and crisper sound profile. While ABS is more common in keycaps, polycarbonate is favored for its translucent properties, making it ideal for switches intended for RGB lighting. The difference in sound profiles between these two materials can greatly influence the overall typing experience.
In terms of bottom housing materials, the Crystal Violet utilizes ABS, similar to its top housing. This maintains a consistent low-pitched sound profile throughout the switch. On the other hand, the Dareu Holly features a nylon bottom housing, which results in a deeper and fuller sound when typing. Nylon is known for its ability to absorb more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound profile compared to ABS. The variation in bottom housing material between these switches can impact the overall sound and feel when pressing down on the keys.
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Dareu Holly, it is evident that the choice of housing materials significantly influences the sound profile and overall typing experience of the switches. While the Crystal Violet offers a consistent low-pitched sound with its ABS housing, the Holly provides a sharper and crisper sound with its polycarbonate and nylon housing combination. Understanding how the top and bottom housing materials interact is crucial in selecting a switch that aligns with your preferences for sound and feel. Whether opting for a more resonant and clear sound with polycarbonate or a fuller and deeper sound with nylon, both switches offer unique characteristics to enhance your typing experience.
Weight
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Dareu Holly tactile switch with 50 grams. This means that the Crystal Violet switch will require less force to trigger a keystroke. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Crystal Violet has a bottom out force of 55 grams while the force needed for the Holly switch is unknown. This indicates that the Crystal Violet switch is more consistent in its force throughout the keystroke process, whereas the force required for the Holly switch after actuation is uncertain. Overall, the Crystal Violet switch provides a medium-light typing experience, while the Holly switch's typing experience may vary depending on the force needed for bottoming out. Depending on personal preference, some users may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Crystal Violet for longer typing sessions, while others may favor the heavier force of the Holly for a more substantial typing feel.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Dareu Holly tactile switch both have a travel distance of 4mm. This means that when you press down on a key using either of these switches, you will feel the same distance of travel from the top to the bottom. In terms of travel distance, both switches offer a similar typing experience, allowing for consistent and comfortable key presses. With their equal travel distances, users can expect to get similar results in terms of keystroke feel and feedback.
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 Dareu Holly has an MSRP of $6.59 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Holly for $3.76.
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 Everglide 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 Dareu Holly tactile switch distinguishes itself with a chirpy and clacky sound signature, creating a balanced and distinctive typing experience. The choice between the two would depend on personal preference, with the Crystal Violet offering a more relaxed sound and the Holly providing a more unique and lively typing sound.
When it comes to feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switch is known for its creamy, mild, and stepped tactile experience, offering a smooth and buttery typing sensation with a gentle feel and two-stage tactile feedback. Unfortunately, information on the feel of the Dareu Holly switch is not available. If the Holly were to provide a similar typing experience to the Crystal Violet, users can expect a smooth and comfortable feel with a moderate tactile feedback.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Dareu Holly tactile switches both offer unique qualities in terms of sound and potentially feel. The Crystal Violet provides a mellow and comfortable typing experience with a low-pitched sound profile, while the Holly offers a distinctive typing sound with chirpy and clacky elements. Depending on individual preferences for sound and feel, users can choose between these two switches for a tailored mechanical keyboard experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Dareu Holly tactile switch, consider your preference for typing experience. If you prioritize a relaxed and gentle tactile feel with a mellow sound profile, the Crystal Violet with its 55g bottom out force may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a unique sound signature combining chirpy and clacky elements for a more balanced and distinctive typing experience, the Holly with its medium 50g actuation force could be the better option. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your personal preference for typing feel and sound profile.
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