Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT Rose
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Rose switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing two mechanical keyboard switches, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Rose. On one hand, the Crystal Violet switch offers a light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. With a pleasant mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, these switches create a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the use of ABS in their housings further enhances their unique feel. On the other hand, the Rose switch stands out with its progressive springs, offering a substantial yet not heavy typing experience. Known for its beautiful appearance, typing on the Rose switch evokes the sound of bassy raindrops. While these general pointers provide a sense of each switch's characteristics, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
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
Standard
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
Progressive spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Rose utilize different materials for their top and bottom housings, resulting in distinct sound profiles and aesthetics. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic for switch housings. This ABS material gives the Crystal Violet a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing, offering a unique typing experience. On the other hand, the Rose's top housing is made of polycarbonate, which creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile. Additionally, the polycarbonate material allows for RGB lighting to shine through, enhancing the visual appeal of the Rose switch.
Moving on to the bottom housings, the Crystal Violet uses ABS, similar to its top housing. This choice contributes to the switch's low-pitched sound profile and overall typing experience. In contrast, the KTT Rose incorporates a nylon bottom housing, which is a classic material for switch housings. The use of nylon in the Rose switch elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its softer plastic composition. The nylon material absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound when typing on the Rose switch.
In terms of functionality, the top and bottom housings play different roles in the overall performance of a switch. When pressing down on a switch, the bottom housing primarily affects the bottom-out sound and feel. In this case, the Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing and the Rose's nylon bottom housing offer distinct tactile experiences. Conversely, the top housing influences the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, the Crystal Violet's ABS top housing and the Rose's polycarbonate top housing will contribute to different sound profiles when keys are released.
In summary, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Rose differ in terms of their housing materials, resulting in contrasting sound profiles and aesthetics. The Crystal Violet's ABS top and bottom housings provide a relatively low-pitched sound, while the Rose's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound. Similarly, the Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing and the Rose's nylon bottom housing result in different typing experiences, with the latter offering a deeper and fuller sound. Despite these differences, both switches offer unique qualities that can enhance the typing experience for different preferences.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Rose linear switch, one noticeable difference lies in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Crystal Violet requires an actuation force of 45 grams, while the Rose's actuation force is unknown. However, the Crystal Violet's bottom out force of 55 grams is lighter compared to the Rose's 63.5 grams, which is considered medium-heavy. This discrepancy means that the Crystal Violet offers a slightly lighter typing experience overall. For those who prefer a lighter touch, the Crystal Violet would be a suitable choice, allowing for longer typing sessions without fatigue. On the other hand, users who seek a more substantial typing experience may lean towards the Rose due to its heavier bottom out force. It's important to note that without knowing the specific actuation force of the Rose, it is difficult to directly compare the two switches in terms of actuation force. However, based on the known information, one can expect a lighter actuation force from the Crystal Violet and a heavier bottom out force from the Rose, resulting in distinctly different typing experiences.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Rose linear switch have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key fitted with either switch, you will feel a consistent 4 mm of distance traveled from the top to the bottom. In terms of travel distance, these switches offer similar results. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is no significant difference in the travel distance between the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Rose linear switch. Both switches provide users with a consistent tactile experience.
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 Rose comes in at $3.01 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
In terms of sound, both the Everglide Crystal Violet and KTT Rose switches have a low-pitched sound profile. Low-pitched switches typically have a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. This creates a pleasant auditory experience that is subtle and non-intrusive. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard and keycaps being used. Therefore, while the sound profiles of these switches are similar, slight variations may occur based on other components in the keyboard setup.
When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet switch offers a creamy and mild typing experience. Creamy switches provide a smooth and buttery sensation, making the keystrokes feel effortless and easy on the fingers. The mild characteristic of the Crystal Violet switch ensures that the typing experience is gentle and approachable for most users. Additionally, the stepped feature of these switches adds a subtle tactile feedback with some pre-travel and/or post-travel, enhancing the overall typing feel. On the other hand, the Rose switch also provides a mild typing experience, which is comfortable and suitable for a wide range of users. The polished finish of the Rose switch contributes to a sleek and refined feel, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
In conclusion, both the Everglide Crystal Violet and KTT Rose switches offer comparable results in terms of sound and feel. Both switches have a low-pitched sound profile, creating a pleasant auditory experience. They also provide a mild typing experience that is comfortable and approachable for most users. While the Crystal Violet switch features a creamy feel with stepped characteristics, the Rose switch offers a polished finish for a sleek and refined typing experience. Depending on individual preference, either switch can provide a satisfying and enjoyable typing experience.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be a great choice for you. With its light operating force of 55 grams, it offers a gentle and comfortable feel. 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 Crystal Violet switches have a creamy and mild feel, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a unique and substantial typing experience, the KTT Rose linear switch would be more suitable. With a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, it offers a medium-heavy feel. The sound profile of the Rose switches is also low-pitched, providing a bass-heavy and mellow tone. The Rose switches have a mild and polished feel, offering a gentle and refined typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the Crystal Violet and Rose switches depends on your preference for tactile feedback and typing experience.
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