TTC Flame Red vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the TTC Flame Red and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the TTC Flame Red and the Gateron Silent Ink Black. The Flame Red is best known for its stunning light diffuser, making it the perfect choice for those who want a backlit, RGB keyboard that pops with visual appeal. Typing on the Flame Reds provides a weighty smoothness and a clacky sound profile, giving a satisfying feel while typing. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is a silenced version of the Ink Black switch, making it ideal for environments that require quieter typing. It offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel, providing a soft and comfortable typing experience, while also minimizing audio feedback. While these general pointers give a good overview of the switches, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide which switch is the perfect fit for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
54g
Bottom-out force
70g
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
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
24.5mm long spring
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the TTC Flame Red and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches differ in terms of their sound profiles. The Flame Red utilizes a nylon top housing, which allows for a deeper and fuller sound. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound compared to harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black features Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing, which creates a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound. This sound profile is described as clacky and offers a satisfying thin and higher-pitched tone. Overall, the Flame Red's nylon top housing provides a deeper and fuller sound, while the Silent Ink Black's INK blend top housing offers a sharper and higher-pitched tone.
Similar to the top housings, the bottom housings of the Flame Red and Silent Ink Black switches differ in sound profiles. The Flame Red's nylon bottom housing contributes to a deeper and fuller sound, similar to its top housing. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder bottom-out tone. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black's proprietary INK blend bottom housing provides a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound. This sound profile is described as clacky, similar to its top housing. The bottom housing greatly impacts the bottom-out sound and feel, with the Flame Red offering a deeper and fuller sound and the Silent Ink Black providing a sharper and higher-pitched tone.
Overall, while the housing materials of the TTC Flame Red and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches differ, they both offer unique sound profiles. The Flame Red's nylon housing produces a deeper and fuller sound due to its softer properties, resulting in a duller and rounder tone. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black's INK blend housing produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound, described as clacky, creating a satisfying thin and higher-pitched tone. However, it's important to note that the top and bottom housings contribute differently to the sound when pressing down and letting go of a key. Regardless, both switches offer distinct auditory experiences that enhance typing and keypress satisfaction.
Weight
When comparing the TTC Flame Red linear switch to the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, there are notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Flame Red has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, requiring a gentle touch to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black has a heavier actuation force of 60 grams, providing a more substantial and deliberate typing experience. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Flame Red is 54 grams, while the Silent Ink Black has a higher bottom out force of 70 grams. This indicates that the Silent Ink Black offers a more resistant and forceful bottoming out feeling compared to the Flame Red. If someone prefers a lighter switch that allows for extended typing or gaming sessions, the Flame Red would be a suitable choice. However, for those who desire a stronger, more substantial typing experience, the Silent Ink Black would be the preferred option.
Travel distance
Both the TTC Flame Red linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key using either of these switches, you will feel the same distance as you go from the top to the bottom. Therefore, both switches offer a consistent and satisfying typing experience in terms of travel distance. Whether you choose the Flame Red or the Silent Ink Black, you can expect similar results and won't have to worry about a significant difference in travel distance.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Flame Red has an MSRP of $7.29 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Flame Red for $4.38.
The Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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
When it comes to sound, the Flame Red is known for its neutral sound profile. This means that it offers a moderate level of sound with a moderate actuation force requirement. Whether you are a beginner or advanced user, and whether you plan to use these switches at home or work, the Flame Red is a suitable choice. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is described as muted. This means that it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular switches, making it ideal for environments that require quieter typing. However, it's important to note that the sound produced by a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Flame Red offers a mild typing experience. It has a gentle and approachable feel that falls within a safe middle-ground zone. Additionally, the Flame Red switch is described as polished, meaning it has a smooth and refined finish. This contributes to a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Similarly, the Silent Ink Black is described as silky, offering an exceptionally smooth typing experience. These switches enhance the overall smoothness of the typing feel and minimize resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Like the Flame Red, the Silent Ink Black is also polished, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Taking into consideration all the available information, the Flame Red and Silent Ink Black switches have distinct qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Flame Red provides a weighty smoothness with a clacky sound profile, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a moderate sound and feel. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback, making it a suitable option for those seeking a quieter typing experience. While the Flame Red leans towards a more neutral sound and a mild feel, the Silent Ink Black leans towards a muted sound and a silky smooth feel. However, both switches share the quality of being polished, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. Ultimately, which switch is best for you will depend on your personal preference and the specific environment in which you will be using the keyboard.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a switch that not only provides a weighty smoothness and clacky sound profile, but also offers dazzling light diffusion for your backlit keyboard, the TTC Flame Red linear switch is the way to go. These switches are perfect for those who prioritize both visual appeal and tactile feedback. On the other hand, if you need a switch that offers a quieter typing experience, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is the ideal choice. With its cushion-like bottom-out feel and minimal audio feedback, it is perfect for environments that require a more subdued typing sound. Ultimately, the Flame Red switch is best suited for those who prefer a medium-light bottom out force, while the Silent Ink Black switch is better suited for those who prefer a medium-heavy bottom out force. In terms of sound, the Flame Red switch has a neutral profile, making it suitable for various purposes, while the Silent Ink Black switch has a muted sound profile, minimizing the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. In terms of feel, both switches offer a polished, smooth typing experience, but the Flame Red switch has a milder feel compared to the silky feel of the Silent Ink Black switch. Overall, the choice between the TTC Flame Red and Gateron Silent Ink Black ultimately depends on your personal preferences and typing environment.
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