Everglide Crystal Violet vs. KTT Wine Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Wine Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Wine Red are two popular mechanical keyboard switches that offer distinct features and experiences. The Crystal Violet is a tactile switch with a light operating force, perfect for those looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. It provides a gentle and comfortable feel while typing, and its sound profile leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. On the other hand, the Wine Red is a linear switch with a pillowy light type feel and a deep and rich sound profile. It is categorized as bassy and low-pitched, offering a satisfyingly different typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you make the best decision on which switch is right for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
44g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
55g
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
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Progressive spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Wine Red have distinct differences in their housing materials. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare plastic to be used in switch housings. This ABS housing creates a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing, providing a unique auditory experience. On the other hand, the Wine Red boasts a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The stiffer nature of polycarbonate adds to the clarity and resonance of the sound. Additionally, the polycarbonate housing allows for the use of RGB lighting, making it more visually appealing.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both switches present different materials. The Crystal Violet's ABS bottom housing, similar to its top housing, provides a relatively low-pitched sound profile upon keypress. Conversely, the Wine Red utilizes a polycarbonate bottom housing, resulting in a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile. This distinction in materials affects the bottom-out sound and feel of the keys when pressed.
It is important to note that the qualities brought by each housing material are divided between the top and bottom housing of a switch. Pressing down on the switch will emphasize the qualities of the bottom housing, while releasing the key will showcase the impact of the top housing on the sound. This contrast allows for a dynamic and unique typing experience, as the user can perceive different auditory cues at different stages of typing. Overall, whether you opt for the Everglide Crystal Violet or the KTT Wine Red, both switches offer their own distinctive sound profiles and visual appeal through the utilization of different housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Wine Red linear switch, it is clear that both switches have relatively similar actuation and bottom out forces. The Crystal Violet has an actuation force of 45 grams, while the Wine Red has an actuation force of only 44 grams, making it slightly lighter. However, both switches share the same bottom out force of 55 grams, which is considered medium-light.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Wine Red switch may be a preferable option as its actuation force is slightly lighter. This lighter actuation force can allow for longer typing sessions without causing excessive finger fatigue. On the other hand, if a more substantial typing experience is desired, users may opt for the Crystal Violet switch as it offers a slightly heavier actuation force. This heavier force may provide a stronger push feel, providing a more satisfying typing experience for those who prefer it.
Overall, the actuation and bottom out forces of the Everglide Crystal Violet and the KTT Wine Red switches are relatively similar, with only a slight difference in the actuation force. Both switches fall into the medium-light category, providing a balance between lightness and a substantial keystroke feel. Therefore, users can expect similar results from both switches, allowing for a comfortable and enjoyable typing experience regardless of which option they choose.
Travel distance
The travel distances of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the KTT Wine Red linear switch are both 4 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key equipped with either switch, you will feel the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. Both switches provide a consistent and satisfying key travel experience. So, whether you prefer the tactile feedback of the Crystal Violet or the smooth linear travel of the Wine Red, you can expect similar results in terms of the distance traveled.
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 Wine Red comes in at $2.71 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 Crystal Violet and Wine Red switches offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Crystal Violet switches have a pleasantly mellow sound profile that leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience, thanks to the rare use of ABS in the switch housings. On the other hand, the Wine Red switches provide a satisfyingly deep and rich sound profile, characterized by a lower frequency range resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. It is important to note that the sound produced by the switches can also be influenced by other factors such as the choice of board and keycaps.
When it comes to feel, the Crystal Violet switches offer a creamy and gentle typing experience. The smooth and buttery sensation is akin to gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys, with each keystroke feeling silky and smooth. These switches provide a mild typing experience that is approachable to most users, as their qualities are in a safe and middle-ground zone. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches have a stepped tactile feel, meaning that they have two stages to their keystrokes, with some noticeable pre-travel and/or post-travel.
On the other hand, there is no specific information available about the feel of the Wine Red switches. Therefore, it is unknown whether they provide a similar creamy and gentle typing experience or if they have a stepped tactile feel like the Crystal Violet switches.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and KTT Wine Red switches differ in terms of subjective qualities. The Crystal Violet switches have a mellow and non-intrusive sound profile, and offer a creamy and gentle typing experience with a stepped tactile feel. On the other hand, specific information about the sound and feel of the Wine Red switches is unknown. If you are looking for a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a mellow sound, the Crystal Violet switches would be a suitable choice. However, without further information on the Wine Red switches, it is difficult to make a direct comparison or determine if similar results can be achieved.
Conclusion
To wrap up, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a gentle and comfortable feel, along with a pleasantly mellow and non-intrusive auditory experience, then the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch would be an excellent choice for you. With a bottom out force of 55 grams, these switches offer a medium-light typing experience. On the other hand, if you prefer a pillowy light type feel and a satisfyingly deep and rich sound profile, the KTT Wine Red linear switch would be the way to go. Both switches have the same bottom out force of 55 grams, making them equally suitable in terms of actuation force. In terms of sound, the Crystal Violet has a low-pitched and neutral tone, while the Wine Red is described as bassy and low-pitched. As for feel, the Crystal Violet is creamy, mild, and stepped, providing a smooth and buttery typing experience. Unfortunately, there is no specific description available for the feel of the Wine Red switch. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on whether you prioritize a relaxed tactile experience with a mellow sound profile (Crystal Violet) or a pillowy light linear feel with a deep and rich sound (Wine Red).
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