KTT Glimp vs. Durock Sea Glass

Overview

Introducing the KTT Glimp and the Durock Sea Glass, two prominent mechanical keyboard switches with their own distinctive characteristics. The Glimp, a linear switch, strikes the perfect balance between a substantial typing experience and manageable resistance. With its tactile feedback and comfortable actuation force, the Glimp switch offers a satisfying and responsive typing feel, accompanied by a fairly clacky sound profile that adds an enjoyable auditory element to your typing sessions. On the other hand, we have the Sea Glass, another linear switch known for its captivating selection of pastel colors. The Sea Glass switch series stands out as one of Durock's favorites, emanating a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness due to its proprietary material blend. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, these switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, showcasing their frictionless nature. Additionally, typing on the Sea Glass switches reveals a uniquely hollow sound signature. Both switches offer their own advantages and characteristics, but let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your needs.

By the numbers

KTT Glimp Linear

Durock Sea Glass Linear

$3.84

$3.45 per 10

$5.80

$4.87 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The KTT Glimp and the Durock Sea Glass differ in their choice of housing materials, particularly in their top housings. The Glimp features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, which provides a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucent nature of polycarbonate makes it ideal for use with RGB lighting. In contrast, the Sea Glass utilizes a unique blend of polymer nylon and UHMWPE for its top housing. The sound profile of the Sea Glass is described as pleasant, with a slightly brighter tone. The absence of sharpness gives it a smoother and more balanced sound.

Moving on to their bottom housings, the Glimp has a nylon bottom housing, known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound when typing on switches. On the other hand, the Sea Glass employs a blend of polymer nylon and UHMWPE in its bottom housing. Apart from its unique composition, the specific sound profile of the Sea Glass's bottom housing is not explicitly mentioned. However, it can be inferred that the blend would contribute to the overall sound and feel of the switch.

While the Glimp and the Sea Glass have contrasting housing materials, it's important to note that the qualities brought by each housing material are distributed differently within the switches. When pressing down on either switch, the bottom housing's qualities have a more significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel. The softer nylon of the Glimp and the unique polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend of the Sea Glass likely contribute to a cushioned and smooth bottom-out experience. On the other hand, the top housing's influence is more pronounced when releasing a key. The stiffness of polycarbonate in the Glimp and the pleasant, slightly brighter tone of the Sea Glass's blend may result in a distinctive and satisfying sound when keys are released.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Glimp linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, there are some notable differences. The Glimp has a slightly lighter actuation force of 43 grams, while the Sea Glass requires 45 grams of force to trigger a keystroke. This small difference could potentially result in a slightly quicker response time with the Glimp switch. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, the Sea Glass is slightly heavier with a force of 62 grams, compared to the Glimp's 53 grams. This means that the Sea Glass switch provides a more substantial typing experience, as it requires a stronger push to fully press the keys.

Considering weight, some users may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Glimp switch, as it allows for longer typing periods without experiencing fatigue. This would make it a suitable choice for work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, those who prefer a more substantial typing experience may opt for the Sea Glass switch, with its heavier bottom out force. This heavier force provides a stronger push feel when typing, resulting in a more satisfying and tangible keystroke.

In terms of similarities, both switches fall within the medium range in terms of actuation force. While the Glimp has a slightly lighter actuation force, the difference is minimal and users can expect similar results in terms of keyboard performance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences and the desired typing experience.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distance of the KTT Glimp linear switch and the Durock Sea Glass linear switch, it is evident that the Glimp has a longer distance of 4 mm, while the Sea Glass offers a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm. Both switches fall within the traditional range of travel distances, with 4.0 mm being the more standard option and 3.8 mm providing a slightly shallower travel.

In recent times, shorter travel distances have gained popularity, particularly among gamers who value faster response times. These individuals tend to prefer the shorter option, such as the Sea Glass switch, to ensure quick and precise key presses. On the other hand, some users may find shorter travel distances to be too abrupt and may prefer a switch with a longer travel distance, such as the Glimp, for a more satisfying keystroke depth. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches depends on individual preferences for responsiveness and key feel.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the KTT Glimp linear switch is best described as clacky, producing a sharp and snappy sound when pressed. This sound can be described as crisp, bright, and percussive. On the other hand, there is no specific information available about the sound profile of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.

In terms of feel, the KTT Glimp linear switch is often referred to as creamy, offering a smooth and buttery typing experience. This sensation can be attributed to factors such as lubricant applied in the switch at the factory or specific materials used. Typing on the Glimp switch feels like gliding your fingers effortlessly across the keys, as each keystroke seamlessly melds into the next. Additionally, the Glimp switch falls under the category of a mild switch, providing a gentle typing experience that is approachable for most users.

On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch boasts a variety of feel descriptors. It is described as frictionless, offering an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience with minimal resistance or friction when pressing the keys. This results in a fluid travel as you type. Like the Glimp switch, the Sea Glass switch is also categorized as mild, providing a comfortable typing experience. Furthermore, the Sea Glass switch is considered feathery, meaning it is exceptionally light to press and requires minimal exertion from your fingers. This reduces finger fatigue and makes it comfortable for extended typing sessions such as gaming, school, or work. The easy-to-press characteristic of the Sea Glass switch enhances the typing experience by offering a responsive and low-impact feel.

In conclusion, the KTT Glimp linear switch stands out for its clacky sound profile and creamy, mild typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch shines with its unique hollow sound signature and various feel descriptors such as frictionless, mild, feathery, and easy-to-press. While the sound profiles differ between the two switches, both offer a mild typing experience that is approachable and comfortable for most users. Additionally, the Sea Glass switch provides an additional feather-light feel, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference in terms of sound and feel.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are someone who values a substantial typing experience without overwhelming resistance and enjoys a clacky sound profile, the KTT Glimp linear switch is the go-to choice for you. It strikes the perfect balance with its medium-light bottom-out force of 53 grams and offers tactile feedback and comfortable actuation force, resulting in a satisfying and responsive typing feel. On the other hand, if you are looking for a captivating and visually appealing switch that emanates a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch should be your preference. Despite its medium bottom-out force of 62 grams, these switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, thanks to their frictionless nature. Typing on the Sea Glass switches also reveals a uniquely hollow sound signature. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches depends on your preference for sound, feel, and visual aesthetics.

Mentioned in this article

KTT Glimp Linear

$3.84

$3.45 per 10

Learn more

Durock Sea Glass Linear

$5.80

$4.87 per 10

Learn more