Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Cherry MX Brown
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Cherry MX Brown switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Cherry MX Brown are both tactile mechanical keyboard switches that offer a unique typing experience. The Crystal Violet, with its light operating force of 45g, provides a relaxed and stepped tactile feel that is ideal for those seeking a comfortable typing experience. Its sound profile leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a pleasant and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the Crystal Violet's use of ABS in its housings adds to its overall feel. On the other hand, the MX Brown switches are known for their subtlety. With a relatively light typing experience and gentle tactility, these switches offer a more subdued audio feedback. They are categorized as textured, bassy, and low-pitched. Both switches have their own merits and choosing between them depends on personal 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
55g
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
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
ABS
Top housing material
Nylon
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 housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Cherry MX Brown switches differ in terms of their composition and resulting sound profiles. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, a relatively rare choice for switch housings. When typing on ABS switches, a low-pitched sound profile is observed. In contrast, the MX Brown utilizes a nylon top housing, which is a classic switch housing material. Typing on nylon switches elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer nature of nylon, which absorbs more sound and creates a duller and rounder sound.
The same contrast can be observed in the bottom housing materials of the Crystal Violet and MX Brown switches. The Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing contributes to a relatively low-pitched sound profile, similar to its ABS top housing. On the other hand, the MX Brown employs a nylon bottom housing, which enhances the switch's sound profile by creating a deeper and fuller sound. Like the top housing, the softer nature of nylon allows it to absorb more sound, resulting in a distinct tone.
In the case where a switch has different top and bottom housings, both materials play a role in determining the switch's overall sound and feel. When pressing down on the Crystal Violet switch, the characteristics of its ABS bottom housing will be more prominent in the bottom-out sound and feel. Meanwhile, the impact of the top housing, whether ABS or nylon, will be more noticeable when releasing a key. The same principle applies to the MX Brown switch, where the bottom housing influences the bottom-out experience, while the top housing affects the sound upon key release. Ultimately, choosing between the Crystal Violet and MX Brown will depend on the preferred sound profile and tactile sensation desired by the user.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch, it is clear that both switches have the same actuation force of 45 grams and bottom out force of 55 grams. This means that users can expect similar results in terms of the force required to trigger a key press and the force needed to fully press down on the switch. With this similarity, both switches can provide a medium-light typing experience.
Considering weight, some individuals prefer a lighter actuation force for prolonged typing sessions, making the Crystal Violet and MX Brown ideal choices for work or long gaming sessions. This lighter actuation force allows for comfortable typing without straining the fingers. On the other hand, there are users who prefer a heavier actuation force to impart a more substantial push feel while typing. For these individuals, both switches would offer a medium-lightweight option, satisfying their preference for a stronger push feel.
In summary, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Cherry MX Brown switches share the same actuation and bottom out forces, making them comparable in terms of force requirements. As a result, users can expect a similar typing experience in terms of actuation and bottoming out across both switches. The individual's preference for a lighter or heavier typing experience will ultimately determine their choice between the two switches.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel a consistent 4 mm distance from the top to the bottom. Therefore, you can expect similar results in terms of travel distance when using both switches.
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 Cherry MX Brown comes in at $4.00 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
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is known for its pleasantly mellow sound profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience, thanks in part to the rare use of ABS in the switch housings. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch is described as having a bassy sound profile, offering a deeper and richer sound during key presses, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Both switches have a low-pitched sound, providing a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet switch provides a creamy typing experience. This means that it offers a smooth and buttery sensation, akin to gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. The switch has a mild and approachable feel, falling within a safe middle-ground zone. It also has a stepped tactile feel, providing a sensation of two stages during the keystroke, with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. On the other hand, the MX Brown switch is described as textured, meaning it has noticeable friction when pressed. Some users prefer a subtle texture, while others prefer a smoother, friction-free typing experience.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Cherry MX Brown switches offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switch has a mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, while the MX Brown switch has a bassy sound profile. The Crystal Violet switch provides a creamy and mild typing experience with a stepped tactile feel, while the MX Brown switch is textured, offering noticeable friction. If you prefer a lower-pitched sound with a smooth and buttery feel, the Crystal Violet switch would be a good choice. However, if you prefer a bassier sound with some texture during keystrokes, the MX Brown switch would suit your preferences.
Conclusion
In closing, if you're looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is a great choice for you. With a bottom out force of 55 grams, these switches offer a medium-light typing experience that many find enjoyable. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow and leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the use of ABS in the housing contributes to this switch's unique sound profile. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subtle and gentle typing experience with subdued audio feedback, the Cherry MX Brown tactile switch is worth considering. With the same bottom out force of 55 grams, the MX Brown offers a relatively light typing experience with gentle tactility. The sound profile of the MX Brown is characterized by a deeper and richer tone, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Cherry MX Brown will depend on your personal preference for typing feel and sound. Both switches have their own unique qualities that make them suitable for different individuals and preferences.
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