Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon, two mechanical keyboard switches that offer distinct typing experiences. The Crystal Violet, a tactile switch, is meticulously crafted with a light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. Its gentle and comfortable feel is complemented by a pleasantly mellow sound profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon, a linear switch, showcases KTT's dry-lube design and progressive spring, resulting in a buttery smooth typing experience. While both switches share characteristics such as being low-pitched, mild, and neutral, the Crystal Violet stands out with its creamy feel and stepped attribute. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
53g
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
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon have contrasting housing materials. The Crystal Violet has an ABS top housing, whereas the Sea Salt Lemon features a polycarbonate top housing. ABS is a relatively rare plastic to be used in switch housings, but it offers a low-pitched sound profile when typing. In contrast, polycarbonate creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile due to its stiffness. Aesthetically, the polycarbonate top housing allows for RGB lighting, making it ideal for those wanting to incorporate lighting effects.
Moving on to the bottom housings, the Crystal Violet utilizes ABS, while the Sea Salt Lemon incorporates nylon. The use of nylon in switch housing is classic and brings about a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon, being a softer plastic, absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, ABS offers a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing, which enhances the overall typing experience.
When it comes to the overall impact on sound and feel, the differences between the top and bottom housings play a significant role. The bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key, while the top housing affects the sound when letting go of a key. Therefore, understanding the qualities each housing material brings can give users an idea of the overall sound and tactile experience they can expect from each switch.
In conclusion, while the Crystal Violet and Sea Salt Lemon have different housing materials, they each offer unique sound profiles and typing experiences. The Crystal Violet's ABS housing provides a low-pitched sound, while the Sea Salt Lemon's polycarbonate housing creates a sharper and higher-pitched sound. Similarly, the Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing offers a low-pitched sound, while the Sea Salt Lemon's nylon bottom housing elicits a deeper and fuller sound. By considering the qualities of both the top and bottom housings, users can choose switches that align with their preferred sound and feel preferences.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, we can see that both switches have a similar actuation force of 45 grams. This means that the force required to trigger a keystroke is the same for both switches, resulting in a consistent typing experience. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, there is a slight difference. The Crystal Violet has a bottom out force of 55 grams, while the Sea Salt Lemon has a bottom out force of 53 grams. This means that the Crystal Violet provides a slightly heavier typing experience when fully pressing down the keys compared to the Sea Salt Lemon.
Considering weight, some users may prefer a lighter switch like the Crystal Violet, as it allows for longer typing sessions and is ideal for bringing to work or engaging in long gaming sessions. On the other hand, those seeking a more substantial typing experience may opt for the Sea Salt Lemon, which has a slightly heavier bottom out force. This heavier force can provide a greater sense of feedback and satisfaction with each keystroke. Overall, the differences in actuation force and bottom out force between these switches may influence users' preferences based on their individual typing style and personal preferences.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have the same travel distance of 4mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will feel a consistent 4mm distance of travel from the top to the bottom. Both switches offer a similar tactile feedback, making them suitable options for those who prefer a consistent and responsive typing experience. Whether you choose the Crystal Violet or the Sea Salt Lemon, you can expect to achieve similar results in terms of travel distance and overall feel.
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 Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 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 the KTT Sea Salt Lemon 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 and non-intrusive auditory experience for both switches. The Crystal Violet switches, in particular, have a sound that leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, thanks to the rare and special use of ABS in their housings. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps being used.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet switches offer a creamy and mild typing experience. Creamy switches are known for their smooth and buttery feel, which enhances the typing experience by providing a silky sensation as your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys. The Crystal Violet switches also fall under the mild category, offering a more gentle typing experience compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. This makes them approachable to most users, as their qualities stand in a safe middle-ground zone. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches have a stepped feel, which means they provide a slight tactile feedback with a pre-travel and/or post-travel sensation.
On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches are described as mild, offering a gentle typing experience similar to the Crystal Violet switches. They also have a sound profile that is low-pitched, creating a mellow and pleasant auditory experience. However, specifics about the feel of the Sea Salt Lemon switches are not provided in the available information.
In conclusion, both the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch have similar sound profiles, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum and providing a mellow and non-intrusive auditory experience. In terms of feel, the Crystal Violet switches offer a creamy and mild typing experience with a stepped feel. While details about the feel of the Sea Salt Lemon switches are unknown, as both switches fall under the mild category, it can be expected that they would offer a gentle and approachable typing experience similar to the Crystal Violet switches. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on a user's individual preferences and desired typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, if you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is the perfect choice for you. With its medium-light bottom out force of 55 grams and creamy, mild, and stepped feel, typing on these switches will feel like effortlessly gliding your fingers across the keys. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a buttery smooth linear switch, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon is a great option. With its medium-light bottom out force of 53 grams and mild feel, typing on these switches will provide a gentle and approachable experience. Both switches have a low-pitched sound profile, making them suitable for most intents and purposes. Ultimately, your choice between the two switches will depend on whether you prefer a tactile or linear experience, and the specific qualities that resonate with your typing preferences.
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