TTC Gold Red vs. KTT Mint

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the TTC Gold Red and the KTT Mint are two popular choices for those seeking a smooth and satisfying typing experience. The Gold Red switch is renowned for its buttery smooth feel and light-medium resistance, providing a pleasant typing experience. Additionally, its snappy sound profile adds a touch of personality to your keyboard without being too overbearing. On the other hand, the Mint switch offers a similarly smooth linear experience but with a poppy thockiness, thanks to its long pole stem. With a light and fleeting type feel, the Mint switch delivers a satisfying sensation with each keystroke. Both switches share a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, along with a mild and polished typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.

By the numbers

TTC Gold Red Linear

KTT Mint Linear

$5.00

$3.28 per 10

$2.91 per 10

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Housing materials

The TTC Gold Red and KTT Mint both feature polycarbonate top housing materials. This commonality means that both switches will produce a sharp, higher-pitched, and crisp sound profile. Polycarbonate's stiffness contributes to a clear and resonant sound, making it an ideal choice for creating a vibrant audio experience. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it perfect for incorporating RGB lighting, enhancing the aesthetics of the switches.

Moving on to the bottom housing, both the Gold Red and the Mint utilize nylon. Nylon is renowned for its ability to generate a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing on switches. Being a softer plastic, nylon absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. The bottom housing plays a significant role in determining the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, providing a distinct tactile experience.

Considering the nature of the top and bottom housings in a switch, the qualities of each housing material will be split between the two. While the bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel upon pressing down a key, the top housing holds more influence over the sound when releasing a key. Ultimately, both the Gold Red and the Mint will deliver similar results in terms of sound and feel, thanks to their shared use of polycarbonate and nylon materials.

Weight

When comparing the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the KTT Mint linear switch, there are some notable differences in their actuation force and bottom out force. The Gold Red has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams, while the Mint has a slightly heavier actuation force of 45 grams. However, both switches fall within the light range, making them suitable for extended typing sessions.

In terms of bottom out force, the Gold Red requires a force of 50 grams, while the Mint has a bottom out force of 53 grams. This makes the Mint slightly heavier in terms of bottoming out, offering a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel.

Considering the weight aspect, those who prefer a lighter feel might lean towards the Gold Red switch as it allows for longer typing periods without fatigue. On the other hand, individuals who enjoy a more substantial keystroke experience might opt for the Mint switch with its slightly heavier forces.

Overall, while there are differences in the actuation and bottom out forces between the Gold Red and Mint switches, they both fall within the same range and would provide similar results in terms of typing experience.

Travel distance

The travel distance of a switch is the distance it travels from the top to the bottom, which is what you feel when you press down on a key. In the case of the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the KTT Mint linear switch, both have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will experience the same amount of travel. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, both switches will provide similar results.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the TTC Gold Red linear switch is known for its thocky sound profile, producing a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed. It also has a low-pitched tone, which adds a bass-heavy and mellow quality to the sound. This switch can be considered neutral in terms of sound, meaning it has a moderate actuation force requirement and a moderate sound profile suitable for different purposes, whether you're a beginner or advanced user, or using the keyboard at home or at work. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

On the other hand, the KTT Mint linear switch is also described as having a low-pitched sound. It offers a satisfyingly smooth typing experience with a poppy thockiness. The switch provides a light and fleeting typing feel. Similarly to the Gold Red, the Mint switch is also considered neutral in terms of sound, offering a bass-heavy and mellow tone. It is suitable for various intents and purposes, making it versatile for both beginners and advanced users, as well as for use at home or work.

In terms of feel, the TTC Gold Red linear switch is characterized as a mild switch that offers a gentle typing experience with a safe, middle-ground feel. It is also described as silky, providing an exceptionally smooth typing experience with minimal resistance. The switch is subtle, with a gentle resistance that maintains a light typing feel. The sound signature of the Gold Red switch is not resonant, making it suitable for shared spaces. Additionally, the switch is polished, resulting in a sleek typing experience due to smooth and refined finishes. This leads to reduced friction and smooth key travel.

Similarly, the KTT Mint linear switch is also described as a mild switch, offering a gentle typing experience with qualities standing in a safe, middle-ground zone. The switch is polished, resulting in a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.

In conclusion, both the TTC Gold Red linear switch and KTT Mint linear switch offer a smooth typing experience. They exhibit similar qualities, including a mild feel and a neutral sound profile with a low-pitched tone. Both switches are suitable for various intents and purposes, making them versatile choices for users at different skill levels and environments. The main difference lies in the characteristics of the sound, with the Gold Red switch being described as thocky and the Mint switch being described as poppy thocky. However, it's important to consider other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used, as they can also influence the overall sound and feel of the switches.

Conclusion

In closing, when it comes to choosing between the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the KTT Mint linear switch, it ultimately depends on your personal preferences and typing style. The Gold Red switch offers a light-medium level of resistance with a buttery smooth typing experience, accompanied by a snappy sound profile that adds a modest touch of personality to your keyboard. On the other hand, the Mint switch provides a satisfyingly smooth linear feel, characterized by a poppy thockiness due to its long pole stem. Additionally, both switches have a low-pitched sound profile and are considered neutral, making them suitable for various typing environments. In terms of feel, the Gold Red is described as mild, silky, subtle, and polished, providing a gentle and polished typing experience with reduced friction. Similarly, the Mint switch is also described as mild and polished, ensuring a comfortable and sleek typing experience. Overall, consider your desired bottom out force, sound profile, and feel to make an informed decision between these two mechanical keyboard switches.

Mentioned in this article

TTC Gold Red Linear

$5.00

$3.28 per 10

Learn more

KTT Mint Linear

$2.91 per 10

Learn more