HMX Deep Navy vs. Haimu Viola Tricolor

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboards, the choice of switches can dramatically alter your typing experience, making it essential to consider your preferences. The HMX Deep Navy, a linear switch, is celebrated for its rich and sharp sound profile, crafted with a full nylon construction and featuring a Ly stem that ensures silky smoothness with each keystroke. This switch is an excellent choice for users seeking a quiet yet luxurious typing feel, ideal for gaming or prolonged typing sessions where distraction needs to be minimized. In contrast, the Haimu Viola Tricolor is a tactile switch that provides a delightful, thuddy sound profile, enhancing the overall character of the typing experience. With pronounced tactility, the Viola Tricolor strikes a perfect balance, offering satisfying feedback without overwhelming the user, making it a great option for typists who enjoy a responsive feel. Given these contrasting characteristics—smoothness in the Deep Navy versus the tactile feedback of the Viola Tricolor—it's essential to assess your typing style and environment before making a decision. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your needs.

By the numbers

HMX Deep Navy Linear

Haimu Viola Tricolor Tactile

$3.50

$2.79 per 10

$6.60

$3.09 per 10

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Housing materials

The HMX Deep Navy and the Haimu Viola Tricolor exhibit contrasting material choices for their top housing, which leads to distinct sound profiles. The Deep Navy utilizes nylon for its top housing, a material known for its softness and sound-absorbing properties. This results in a deeper and fuller sound, creating a rounded sound experience that is often sought after by typists who prefer a more muted auditory feedback when engaging with their keyboard. In contrast, the Viola Tricolor employs polycarbonate for its top housing, producing a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. The inherent rigidity of polycarbonate leads to a clearer sound profile, which is further accentuated by its translucence that complements RGB lighting setups. Thus, while both materials serve the purpose of housing, their intrinsic properties lead to significantly different auditory experiences.

For the bottom housing, both the HMX Deep Navy and Haimu Viola Tricolor share a commonality in the use of nylon. This consistency in material results in a uniform sound profile, as both switches elicit a deeper and fuller sound when bottomed out. The nylon's softer characteristics allow for sound absorption, creating a rounded auditory feedback that is similar across both switches in this aspect. Consequently, while the top housings of the two switches contribute divergent qualities to the overall sound profile, the retention of nylon in the bottom housing ensures a coherent and fuller sound experience when a key is pressed down.

The combination of different materials in the top and bottom housings of these switches illustrates the impact of housing materials on sound quality and typing experience. In the case of the Deep Navy, the softer nylon top housing produces a rounder sound, while the nylon bottom harmonizes this with a similar full feedback. Conversely, the Viola Tricolor creates a dynamic auditory contrast with its polycarbonate top housing providing a crisper sound, while also benefiting from a full bottom-end produced by the nylon. As a result, the sound experience of typing on these switches can vary significantly depending on which housing is primarily influencing the sound at any given moment, underscoring the importance of material choices in switch design.

Weight

The HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch present notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Deep Navy features a light actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 45 grams, making it ideal for users who prefer a lighter touch for prolonged typing or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Viola Tricolor lacks a specified actuation force but offers a considerably heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams. This suggests that while the actuation feel is unknown, the overall typing experience would likely favor those who appreciate a more substantial push. Thus, the Deep Navy switch is the lighter option, promoting ease of use, while the Viola Tricolor switch caters to those who enjoy a firmer response. As a result, these switches provide distinct user experiences based on their differing force characteristics.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch, there is a noticeable difference between the two. The Deep Navy features a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Viola Tricolor has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.8 mm. This means that for those who prioritize responsiveness, the HMX Deep Navy would be the preferred choice, as its shorter distance allows for quicker actuation, ideal for gamers seeking fast response times. On the other hand, the Haimu Viola Tricolor, with its longer 3.8 mm travel distance, may appeal to users who appreciate a more tactile and deeper keystroke experience, as it can feel less abrupt compared to shorter distances. Thus, while both switches can offer unique advantages depending on personal preference, the Deep Navy is the shorter option, and the Viola Tricolor is the longer one.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The sound profile of the HMX Deep Navy linear switch is noted for its rich and sharp qualities, enhanced by its full nylon construction, which contributes to a smooth auditory experience with every keystroke. This contrasts with the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch, which is characterized by a thuddy, punchy sound that gives it a unique character. While the Deep Navy provides a silky smoothness, the Viola Tricolor’s sound leans towards the deeper and more resonant, often described as bassy and low-pitched. This difference indicates that the Deep Navy might be more suited for users who prefer a more subdued and consistent sound, whereas the Viola Tricolor appeals to those who appreciate a bit more auditory drama and depth during typing.

When it comes to the feel of the switches, the Deep Navy linear design tends to offer a smooth experience without tactile feedback, focusing on glide and fluidity in each keypress. In contrast, the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch is crafted for pronounced tactility, delivering a medium tactile sensation that's invigorating and snappy. This makes the Viola Tricolor ideal for typists who seek feedback without an overwhelming tactile response, allowing for a reactive typing experience. While the feeling can be subjective, it's evident that the Deep Navy offers a no-frills, straightforward experience, while the Viola Tricolor engages users with its textured feedback.

In conclusion, both the HMX Deep Navy and Haimu Viola Tricolor switches cater to different preferences in sound and feel. The Deep Navy excels in providing a rich and smooth auditory experience with a linear feel that prioritizes seamlessness, making it excellent for those who prefer minimal distraction while typing. On the other hand, the Viola Tricolor offers a thuddy, deeper sound with an invigorating tactile actuation that draws in users who relish feedback and character in their typing. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on whether a user prioritizes a clean, linear approach or seeks a more dynamic and engaging experience.

Conclusion

To conclude, when deciding between the HMX Deep Navy linear switch and the Haimu Viola Tricolor tactile switch, consider your typing style and sound preferences. If you prefer a light actuation force and enjoy a smooth, unmistakably quiet typing experience, the Deep Navy switch is an excellent choice. Its silky smooth keystrokes and rich sound profile make it ideal for long typing sessions, whether for work or leisure, without disturbing those around you. Conversely, if you appreciate tactile feedback and a deeper sound profile with a bit more character, the Viola Tricolor switch is the way to go. With a more substantial actuation force and pronounced tactile bump, it provides an invigorating typing experience, making it perfect for those who want to feel each keystroke while also enjoying a bassy and rich auditory response. Ultimately, your choice hinges on whether you value smoothness and subtlety with the Deep Navy or a more tactile and lively feel with the Viola Tricolor.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Deep Navy Linear

$3.50

$2.79 per 10

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Haimu Viola Tricolor Tactile

$6.60

$3.09 per 10

Learn more