TTC Gold Red vs. KTT Strawberry
An in-depth look at the TTC Gold Red and the KTT Strawberry switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The TTC Gold Red and the KTT Strawberry are both popular mechanical keyboard switches that offer a delightful typing experience. The Gold Red is a linear switch with a reputation for providing a buttery smooth feel and a light-medium level of resistance. The switch's snappy sound profile adds a touch of personality to your keyboard, without being too ostentatious. On the other hand, the Strawberry switch boasts attractive pink and clear housings, adding a visually appealing aspect to your keyboard. With smooth actuation, a comfortable feel, and reliable performance, the Strawberry switch is a solid choice for those seeking a pleasant typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can make the best decision on which switch is perfect for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 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
Polycarbonate
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The housing materials of the TTC Gold Red and the KTT Strawberry switches have several similarities. Both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, which results in a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it an ideal choice for switches intended to be used with RGB lighting. This means that both switches will offer a clear and resonant sound experience when typing.
However, the bottom housing materials differ between the two switches. The Gold Red features a nylon bottom housing, which provides a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon is a relatively softer plastic that absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Strawberry utilizes a polycarbonate bottom housing, similar to its top housing. This means that the Strawberry will offer a sharper and crisper sound profile throughout, including the bottom-out sound.
When comparing the typing experience of the two switches, the bottom housing material will have a more significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel. This means that the Gold Red, with its nylon bottom housing, will provide a deeper and fuller sound when pressing down on the keys. In contrast, the Strawberry, with its polycarbonate bottom housing, will offer a sharper and crisper sound during the bottom-out action. On the other hand, the top housing material will primarily affect the sound when releasing a key, with both switches providing a clear and resonant sound during this action.
In summary, while both the TTC Gold Red and KTT Strawberry switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing, the bottom housing materials differ. The Gold Red's nylon bottom housing provides a deeper and fuller sound, while the Strawberry's polycarbonate bottom housing contributes to a sharper and crisper sound. However, when considering the overall typing experience, both switches will offer a clear and resonant sound profile, making them suitable choices for those seeking a high-quality sound when typing.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the TTC Gold Red linear switch and the KTT Strawberry linear switch, we can see both similarities and differences. In terms of actuation force, both switches require 43 grams of force to trigger a keystroke, resulting in a similar light feel. However, when it comes to the bottom out force, we see a contrast between the two. The Gold Red switch has a bottom out force of 50 grams, which is on the lighter side, while the Strawberry switch has a bottom out force of 62 grams, providing a slightly heavier and more substantial typing experience. The weight of the switches is worth considering depending on personal preferences. Those who prefer a lighter feel for prolonged typing sessions or gaming may opt for the Gold Red switch. Conversely, individuals who enjoy a stronger push feel and a more substantial typing experience may gravitate towards the Strawberry switch with its heavier bottom out force.
Travel distance
Both the TTC Gold Red and KTT Strawberry linear switches have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key using either switch, you will feel the same distance being traveled from the top to the bottom. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, you can expect similar results from both switches.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Gold Red 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 Red for $3.28.
The KTT Strawberry comes in at $4.91 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 TTC Gold Red linear switch is often described as thocky, meaning it produces a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed. The sound is low-pitched, giving it a bass-heavy and mellow tone. This switch has a neutral sound profile, making it suitable for various preferences and settings. On the other hand, the KTT Strawberry linear switch is also described as low-pitched, resulting in a mellower tone. However, beyond this limited information, the exact sound profile of the Strawberry switch is unknown. It is important to note that the sound of switches can be influenced by factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
In terms of feel, the TTC Gold Red linear switch offers a mild, silky, subtle, and polished typing experience. The mild characteristic provides a gentle typing experience, suitable for most users. The silky attribute ensures an exceptionally smooth key feel with minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The subtle nature of the switch means it has a gentle resistance and a non-resonant sound profile, making it suitable for shared spaces. The polished feature indicates a sleek and refined typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Similarly, the KTT Strawberry linear switch offers a frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished typing experience. The frictionless attribute imparts an extremely smooth and effortless typing experience, while the silky quality enhances overall smoothness and minimizes resistance. The buttery characteristic ensures a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, providing a seamless and uniform typing sensation. Finally, the polished aspect results in a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel, similar to the Gold Red switch.
In conclusion, the TTC Gold Red and KTT Strawberry linear switches offer a similar subjective typing experience in terms of sound and feel. Both switches provide a smooth and refined typing experience, with minimal resistance and friction. While the Gold Red switch has a thocky sound profile and a mild feel, the Strawberry switch is characterized by its low-pitched sound and frictionless feel. Overall, both switches offer a comfortable and pleasant typing experience, making them suitable for various users and settings.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you're in search of a light-medium linear switch with a buttery smooth typing experience and a modest touch of personality, then the TTC Gold Red linear switch is the way to go. These switches have a bottom out force of 50 grams, which is light, and offer a thocky and low-pitched sound profile. They are described as mild, silky, subtle, and polished in terms of feel. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium linear switch that provides a smooth actuation, comfortable feel, and reliable performance, then the KTT Strawberry linear switch is what you need. With a bottom out force of 62 grams, the Strawberry switch offers a low-pitched sound profile and is described as frictionless, silky, buttery, and polished in terms of feel. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches depends on your preference for bottom out force, sound profile, and the desired feel during typing.
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