Everglide Crystal Violet vs. SP-Star Duck
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the SP-Star Duck switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
Introducing the Everglide Crystal Violet and the SP-Star Duck, both mechanical keyboard switches offering a tactile typing experience. The Crystal Violet switch stands out with its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile feel. With a pleasantly mellow sound profile leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, typing on the Crystal Violet switches offers a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. This is further enhanced by the rare use of ABS in their housings. On the other hand, the Duck switches offer a more subtle tactile experience, resulting in a clean and crispy sound profile. Categorized as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Buttery', and 'Polished', the Duck switches present an equally enjoyable typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can confidently choose the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
58g
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
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold plated
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the SP-Star Duck differ in their choice of housing materials. The Crystal Violet utilizes ABS for both its top and bottom housings, while the Duck incorporates polycarbonate for both. ABS is a common plastic used in keycaps, but relatively rare in switch housings. It results in a low-pitched sound profile when typing, which some people may find more comfortable. On the other hand, polycarbonate, used in the Duck, creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is because polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic, leading to a more clear and resonant sound. Aesthetically, polycarbonate is ideal for switches with RGB lighting as its translucency allows for better illumination.
When it comes to the bottom housing, the qualities of the material are more noticeable. Both the Crystal Violet and the Duck utilize ABS for this component, resulting in a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. However, the bottom housing of the Duck features polycarbonate, which contributes to a sharper and crisper sound profile. This difference may be more pronounced during the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch. On the other hand, the top housing's impact on the sound when releasing a key is more prominent. ABS in the Crystal Violet and polycarbonate in the Duck will create distinct sound characteristics during this moment.
In summary, the Everglide Crystal Violet and the SP-Star Duck differ in their housing materials, leading to variations in sound profile and aesthetics. While the Crystal Violet uses ABS for both top and bottom housings, resulting in a low-pitched sound, the Duck opts for polycarbonate, resulting in a sharper and higher-pitched sound. In terms of aesthetics, the polycarbonate in the Duck's clear housing enhances the visibility of RGB lighting. However, if the top and bottom housings are different within a switch, the qualities of each material will be split between the bottom-out sound and the sound when releasing a key. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on personal preferences in terms of sound and visual appeal.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the SP-Star Duck tactile switch, there are some notable similarities and differences. Starting with the actuation force, the Crystal Violet requires 45 grams of force to trigger a keystroke, while the exact force required for the Duck is unavailable. Based on this information, we can conclude that the actuation force of the Crystal Violet is either lighter or equal to that of the Duck.
Moving on to the bottom out force, the Crystal Violet requires 55 grams of force to fully press the key, whereas the Duck requires 58 grams. Therefore, the Duck has a slightly heavier bottom out force compared to the Crystal Violet.
Considering weight as an important factor, those who prefer a lighter typing experience that allows for longer periods of usage may find the Crystal Violet to be more suitable. This lighter actuation force can be beneficial for individuals who use their keyboard extensively for work or long gaming sessions. On the other hand, for those seeking a more substantial typing experience with a stronger push feel, opting for a switch with a heavier force may be preferable. In this context, the Duck with its higher bottom out force might be a better choice.
Overall, while the actuation force of the Crystal Violet seems to be lighter or equal to that of the Duck, the Duck has a slightly heavier bottom out force. These differences in force can be influential in determining the typing experience and suitability of the switches for various users' preferences.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the SP-Star Duck tactile switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either switch, you will feel a consistent 4 mm of travel distance. Both switches offer a similar tactile experience with their identical travel distances, ensuring that users will get similar results when typing or gaming.
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 SP-Star Duck has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Duck for $5.40.
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 Crystal Violet tactile switch offers a pleasantly mellow and low-pitched auditory experience. The sound leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive sound profile. This is partly due to the rare and special use of ABS in the switch housings. On the other hand, the Duck tactile switch has a clean and crispy sound profile, described as neutral. Both switches fall within the neutral category in terms of sound, making them suitable for a wide range of users and purposes.
When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet tactile switch provides a creamy and mild typing experience. These switches offer a smooth and buttery feel, akin to gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys. The mild characteristics of the switch make the typing experience approachable to most users. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches are described as stepped, meaning they provide a tactile feedback with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. On the other hand, the Duck tactile switch is also characterized as mild, offering a gentle typing experience. It provides a safe middle-ground feel that most users would find comfortable. The Duck switches are described as buttery and polished, indicating a smooth and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Taking all the available information into account, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the SP-Star Duck tactile switch offer similar qualities in terms of sound and feel. Both switches fall within the neutral sound profile, with the Crystal Violet being more low-pitched and mellow, while the Duck provides a clean and crispy sound. In terms of feel, both switches offer a mild and gentle typing experience. The Crystal Violet provides a creamy and stepped tactile feedback, while the Duck offers a buttery and polished feel. Based on these descriptions, users can expect a comfortable and pleasant typing experience with either switch, although they may prefer the Crystal Violet for a more relaxed and stepped tactile feel, or the Duck for a smoother and more polished typing experience.
Conclusion
In closing, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be a great choice for you. With its light operating force of 45g and a medium-light bottom out force of 55g, it provides a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience with a low-pitched sound profile. The Crystal Violet switches also offer a creamy and mild typing experience, allowing for smooth and effortless keystrokes. On the other hand, if you prefer a more subtle tactile typing experience with a clean and crispy sound profile, the SP-Star Duck tactile switch would be more suitable. With its medium bottom out force of 58g and a neutral sound profile, the Duck switches provide a mild and buttery typing experience with a polished finish. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches depends on your personal preferences and desired typing experience.
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