TTC Gold Brown vs. Outemu Silent Grey
An in-depth look at the TTC Gold Brown and the Outemu Silent Grey switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the TTC Gold Brown and Outemu Silent Grey both offer unique features for different typing experiences. The TTC Gold Brown is known for its balanced feel, slight bump, and moderate weightiness, providing a satisfying typing experience with a soft sound profile. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Grey offers a quiet and highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke. While the Gold Brown is described as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Buttery', 'Accented', 'Polished', the Silent Grey's category remains unspecified. Each switch has its own strengths and appeal, making them suitable for different preferences. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
63g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 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
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
Both the TTC Gold Brown and the Outemu Silent Grey feature polycarbonate top housings, which create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to the stiffness of the material. This results in a clear and resonant sound when typing on these switches. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches that plan to use RGB lighting, as it allows the light to shine through the housing. Both switches offer similar sound profiles and aesthetics with their polycarbonate top housings.
On the other hand, the Gold Brown uses a nylon bottom housing, which gives it a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to the Silent Grey's polycarbonate bottom housing. Nylon is known for being a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound when typing on switches that use nylon housings. In this aspect, the Gold Brown offers a different typing experience with a more muffled sound compared to the Silent Grey.
Overall, the housing materials of the TTC Gold Brown and the Outemu Silent Grey play a crucial role in determining the sound profile and feel of the switches. The polycarbonate top housings of both switches create a sharp and clear sound, while the nylon bottom housing of the Gold Brown provides a deeper and fuller sound compared to the Silent Grey. The combination of these materials results in distinct typing experiences for each switch, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, and the top housing influencing the sound when releasing a key.
Weight
The TTC Gold Brown tactile switch and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switch both fall into the medium range when it comes to actuation force, with the Gold Brown requiring 55 grams and the Silent Grey needing 50 grams. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Gold Brown is lighter at 63 grams compared to the Silent Grey at 65 grams, which is medium-heavy. In terms of weight, some may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Silent Grey for longer typing sessions or gaming, while others might opt for the heavier bottom out force of the Gold Brown for a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, both switches offer a different tactile feel and cater to different preferences, but users can expect similar results with either choice due to their similarities in actuation force.
Travel distance
Both the TTC Gold Brown and the Outemu Silent Grey tactile switches have a travel distance of 4 mm, making them equal in this aspect. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. This can result in a similar typing experience for users who prefer a 4 mm travel distance. Overall, the travel distance of both switches is identical, providing consistency in key press feel and performance.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Gold Brown has an MSRP of $5.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Gold Brown for $3.28.
The Outemu Silent Grey comes in at $3.10 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
When it comes to sound, the Gold Brown switch provides a neutral sound profile that is softer than most switches but not completely silent. On the other hand, the Silent Grey switch is specifically designed to offer a quiet typing experience. Depending on your setup including the keyboard and keycaps used, the sound produced by these switches can vary.
Moving on to feel, the Gold Brown switch is described as mild, buttery, accented, and polished, offering a balanced and approachable typing experience with a satisfying bump. The Silent Grey switch, while lacking a specific description, is known for providing a highly tactile typing experience with a pronounced bump and smooth keystroke. Both switches aim to provide a tactile feel while maintaining a certain level of smoothness in the keystroke.
In conclusion, the TTC Gold Brown switch offers a balanced sound profile and a gentle typing experience with a moderate weightiness. The Outemu Silent Grey switch, on the other hand, is designed for those seeking a quiet and highly tactile typing experience. Depending on your preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience, either of these switches could be a great choice for your mechanical keyboard setup. Ultimately, both switches aim to provide a satisfying typing experience with their unique characteristics.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the TTC Gold Brown and Outemu Silent Grey tactile switches, you should consider your preference for weight and sound. If you prefer a slightly lighter switch with a balanced feel and a softer sound profile, the Gold Brown with its 63-gram bottom out force would be a great choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier switch with a pronounced bump and a quiet typing experience, the Silent Grey with its 65-gram bottom out force would be more suitable for you. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal typing style and preferences for weight and sound in a mechanical keyboard switch.
Mentioned in this article
