Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Outemu Silent Ocean
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Outemu Silent Ocean switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Outemu Silent Ocean stand out as two distinct choices. The Crystal Violet is a tactile switch that offers a light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, these switches offer a gentle and comfortable feel ideal for those seeking a subtle auditory experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ocean is a linear switch with a silent operation. While the Crystal Violet is best for those looking for a creamy, low-pitched, and mild typing experience, the Silent Ocean caters to users who prefer a quiet and linear feel. 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
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 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
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and Outemu Silent Ocean both feature unique housing materials that contribute to the sound profile and feel of the switches. The Crystal Violet utilizes ABS for both its top and bottom housings, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, the Silent Ocean uses polycarbonate for the top housing, creating a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile due to its stiffer nature. While both materials have their own characteristics, the ABS in the Crystal Violet and polycarbonate in the Silent Ocean offer distinct auditory experiences for users.
In terms of the bottom housings, the Crystal Violet's ABS material provides a lower-pitched sound profile, similar to that of the top housing. On the other hand, the Silent Ocean's nylon bottom housing results in a deeper and fuller sound profile, creating a more rounded and duller sound when typing. The difference in materials between the two switches' bottom housings highlights how varying plastics can significantly impact the overall typing experience, from sound to feel. Users who prefer a softer and more absorbent sound may lean towards the nylon bottom housing of the Silent Ocean.
Overall, the housing materials of the Everglide Crystal Violet and Outemu Silent Ocean play a crucial role in shaping the sound profile and feel of the switches. While the Crystal Violet's ABS construction offers a consistent low-pitched sound throughout, the Silent Ocean's mix of polycarbonate and nylon creates a contrast between the sharpness of the top housing and the depth of the bottom housing. Whether you prefer a crisper sound or a fuller tone, both switches deliver unique typing experiences based on the choice of materials used in their housing construction.
Weight
In comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch, we see differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Crystal Violet has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 55 grams, making it medium-light in terms of force required. On the other hand, the Silent Ocean has the same actuation force of 45 grams but a heavier bottom out force of 65 grams, classifying it as medium-heavy. This means that the Crystal Violet would provide a lighter typing experience, perfect for extended periods of typing or gaming, while the Silent Ocean would offer a stronger push feel, ideal for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would depend on personal preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel the key travel a total distance of 4 mm from the top to the bottom. With their equal travel distances, you can expect to get similar results in terms of key feel and typing experience. Whether you choose the Crystal Violet or the Silent Ocean, you can enjoy a consistent travel distance that provides a satisfying tactile or linear response, respectively.
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 Outemu Silent Ocean comes in at $3.10 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 renowned for its low-pitched sound profile, offering a mellow and non-intrusive auditory experience that is pleasing to the ear. The use of ABS material in the switch housing contributes to this unique sound signature. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch's sound characteristics are unknown, making it difficult to make a direct comparison in this aspect.
When it comes to typing feel, the Crystal Violet switch is described as creamy, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience. This can be attributed to either factory lubrication or specific materials used in the switch construction. Additionally, the mild and stepped tactile feel of the Crystal Violet switch offers a gentle and comfortable typing experience, suitable for those looking for a relaxed keystroke sensation. Unfortunately, the typing feel of the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch is not provided, making it challenging to draw a direct comparison in this area.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch stands out for its low-pitched sound profile and creamy typing feel, making it an excellent choice for users seeking a gentle and comfortable typing experience. Although the sound and feel characteristics of the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch are unknown, users can expect similar results in terms of sound and feel if seeking a mild and approachable typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will come down to personal preference and the specific typing experience desired by the user.
Conclusion
To sum up, when choosing between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch, consider your preference for typing experience and sound profile. If you prefer a lighter operating force and a gentle, stepped tactile typing experience with a low-pitched and mellow sound profile, the Crystal Violet may be the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-heavy operating force and a linear typing experience without any tactile feedback, the Silent Ocean switch might be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and the type of typing experience you are looking for in a mechanical keyboard switch.
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