Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT Phalaenopsis
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis, two mechanical keyboard switches offering a tactile typing experience. The Crystal Violet stands out with its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile feel for a comfortable typing experience. The switch's sound profile is pleasantly mellow and low-pitched, thanks to the rare use of ABS in its housing. On the other hand, the Phalaenopsis features beautiful translucent switches with a light actuation force of 37g, making typing effortless and minimizing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. With a tactile force of 50g, each keystroke produces a satisfying and discernible tactile bump, ensuring a delightful typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
37g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
50g
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
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
22mm gold-plated spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis have contrasting housing materials for both their top and bottom housings. The Crystal Violet features ABS plastic for both the top and bottom housings, while the Phalaenopsis utilizes polycarbonate for both. ABS plastic produces a relatively low-pitched sound profile, resulting in a softer and less crisp sound when typing. On the other hand, polycarbonate creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile, leading to a more distinct and resonant typing experience. Additionally, polycarbonate's translucency makes it ideal for the top housing if RGB lighting is to be used, adding to the aesthetics of the switch. In terms of feel, the bottom housing material plays a significant role in the impact and bottom-out sound, while the top housing influences the sound when releasing a key.
Despite their differences, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis share similarities in their housing materials. Both switches incorporate ABS plastic for their bottom housings, which results in a comparable low-pitched sound profile when typing. This indicates that users can expect a similar typing experience in terms of sound and feel when using switches with ABS bottom housings, regardless of the switch brand. However, where they differ is in their top housing materials. The Crystal Violet uses ABS for the top housing, while the Phalaenopsis utilizes polycarbonate. This distinction will result in noticeable differences in sound profiles and aesthetics between the two switches.
The choice of housing materials, whether ABS or polycarbonate, plays a crucial role in determining the characteristics of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis switches. ABS, being relatively rare in switch housings, provides a low-pitched sound profile for both the top and bottom housings of the Crystal Violet. Conversely, polycarbonate, being a stiffer plastic, produces a sharper and crisper sound profile for the top and bottom housings of the Phalaenopsis. The use of polycarbonate in the top housing of the Phalaenopsis is particularly advantageous for those planning to utilize RGB lighting, as its translucency enhances the visual appeal. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on individual preferences for sound, feel, and aesthetic considerations.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Phalaenopsis tactile switch, there are notable differences. The Crystal Violet has an actuation force of 45 grams, which is slightly heavier than the Phalaenopsis's actuation force of 37 grams. This means that the Crystal Violet requires a slightly stronger push to trigger a keystroke compared to the Phalaenopsis. Additionally, the Crystal Violet has a bottom out force of 55 grams, while the Phalaenopsis has a bottom out force of 50 grams. This indicates that the Crystal Violet provides a slightly more substantial typing experience when pressed all the way down, compared to the Phalaenopsis.
However, it is worth mentioning that both switches fall within the range of medium-light to light forces. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, both switches offer a suitable choice. The lighter actuation and bottom out forces provided by the Phalaenopsis may be preferred by individuals who value prolonged typing sessions, such as those bringing their keyboard to work or engaging in extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, the Crystal Violet's slightly heavier actuation and bottom out forces may appeal to those seeking a more tangible and forceful push feel when typing. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on individual preferences and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis tactile switches have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches will provide users with a consistent and familiar key press experience, as they will feel the same distance when pressing down on a key. Whether it is typing or gaming, the travel distance of these switches ensures that users will have a similar tactile feedback and responsive keystrokes.
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 KTT Phalaenopsis has an MSRP of $4.73 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Phalaenopsis for $4.15.
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 switches offer a pleasantly mellow tone that leans 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 KTT Phalaenopsis switches have a deeper and richer sound profile, characterized by a lower frequency range resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Additionally, the Phalaenopsis switches produce a satisfying "thocky" sound when pressed and released. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches are known for offering a creamy and smooth typing experience. This can be attributed to the factory lubrication applied to the switches, as well as the specific materials used. Typing on Crystal Violet switches provides a silky sensation, akin to effortlessly gliding your fingers across the keys. The switches are also described as having a mild tactile feel, which means they offer a more gentle typing experience compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. The Crystal Violet switches also fall into the category of stepped switches, which means they have a two-stage tactile feel with some noticeable pre-travel and/or post-travel.
On the other hand, the KTT Phalaenopsis switches are also classified as stepped switches, offering a similar tactile experience with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. Unfortunately, there is no additional information available about the specific feel of the Phalaenopsis switches.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and KTT Phalaenopsis switches have different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switches offer a mellow and low-pitched sound profile, along with a creamy and mild typing experience. On the other hand, the Phalaenopsis switches produce a deeper and bassy sound, but further information about the actual typing feel is unknown. If you are seeking a more relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a low-pitched sound, the Crystal Violet switches would be the recommended choice. However, if you prefer a deeper and bassy sound without specific information about the typing feel, the Phalaenopsis switches may offer a similar result, albeit with some uncertainty.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a medium-light bottom out force, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be a great choice. These switches offer a comfortable feel with a light operating force of 45 grams. The sound profile leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. The Crystal Violet switches are also known for their creamy and mild feel, offering a smooth and gentle typing experience. On the other hand, if you prioritize effortless typing with minimized finger fatigue and a light bottom out force, the KTT Phalaenopsis tactile switch is the way to go. With a bottom out force of only 50 grams, these switches provide a satisfying and discernible tactile bump, ensuring each keystroke is a delightful experience. The sound profile of the Phalaenopsis switches is characterized by a deep and rich tone, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Both switches offer a stepped feel, allowing you to feel some pre-travel and/or post-travel during keystrokes. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Phalaenopsis will depend on your personal preferences for tactile feel, bottom out force, and sound profile.
Mentioned in this article
