HMX Gravel vs. TTC Silent Red

Overview

When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, the HMX Gravel and TTC Silent Red both offer compelling options for different typing experiences, despite being linear switches. The HMX Gravel is celebrated for its exceptional smoothness and refined feel, featuring a medium-light actuation force that caters to those seeking a responsive and effortless typing experience. It stands out for its ability to combine sensitivity with a satisfying tactile experience, making it ideal for both gaming and everyday typing. In contrast, the TTC Silent Red prioritizes a quieter performance, delivering a muted sound profile that's perfect for office environments or shared spaces. With its smooth and consistent feel throughout the keystroke and a cushioned bottom-out, it enhances comfort while minimizing noise distractions. Both switches have their unique advantages—whether you prefer the light and responsive nature of the Gravel or the quiet elegance of the Silent Red, your choice will hinge on your specific needs and environment. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

HMX Gravel Linear

TTC Silent Red Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

$5.28

$4.38 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When examining the housing materials of the HMX Gravel and the TTC Silent Red, both switches utilize a polycarbonate top housing, which contributes to their sound profiles in a similar manner. The polycarbonate's stiffness allows for a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound, offering a clarity that enhances the overall auditory experience when typing. Moreover, both switches feature top housings that are translucent, making them particularly well-suited for RGB lighting setups. This design choice means that users can enjoy vibrant lighting effects without compromising sound quality, as the properties of polycarbonate effectively highlight the aesthetics while delivering a satisfying acoustic performance.

Conversely, the bottom housing of both switches is constructed from nylon, a material known for its distinctive sound qualities. Nylon is a softer plastic, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile when typing. This material absorbs more vibrations compared to the stiffer polycarbonate, leading to a rounder and more pleasant sound during key presses. While the Gravel and Silent Red switches diverge in the material used for their tops and bottoms, both switches consistently produce a balanced auditory landscape due to the complementary characteristics of their housing materials.

The similarities in material choice for the top and bottom housings result in a unified typing experience across both switches. The polycarbonate top achieves a distinct sound when keys are released, while the nylon bottom enhances the bottom-out sound and feel of each keystroke. This synergy ensures that even with different acoustic properties contributing to the overall sound profile, users can expect a consistent auditory quality—clear and resonant from the top and rich and full from the bottom—regardless of whether they choose the HMX Gravel or the TTC Silent Red. Ultimately, the interplay of materials in each switch allows for an engaging typing experience that satisfies both sound and lighting preferences.

Weight

The HMX Gravel linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch exhibit notable differences in their bottom out forces, despite having the same actuation force of 45 grams. The Gravel switch is characterized by a lighter overall feel, with a bottom out force of 50 grams, making it ideal for users seeking a more comfortable typing experience suitable for extended periods, whether at work or during long gaming sessions. In contrast, the Silent Red switch features a heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams, providing a more substantial typing experience for users who prefer a stronger push feel. Thus, while both switches require the same actuation force, the TTC Silent Red is heavier overall due to its higher bottom out force, making it less suitable for long-term use for some users compared to the lighter HMX Gravel.

Travel distance

The travel distance of the HMX Gravel linear switch is 3.5 mm, while the TTC Silent Red linear switch has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.7 mm. This difference of 0.2 mm means that users of the HMX Gravel will experience a slightly shorter actuation, making it potentially more responsive for quick actions, which is often preferred by gamers seeking faster response times. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Red, with its longer travel distance, could appeal to those who appreciate a bit more depth in their keystrokes, providing a more satisfying tactile experience for typing or gaming. Thus, if you prefer quicker actions, the HMX Gravel is the better choice due to its shorter travel distance. Conversely, if you favor a heartier keypress, the TTC Silent Red would be more suitable.

Price comparison

Typing experience

The HMX Gravel switch offers a sound that's notably smooth, but specific details about its sound profile haven't been provided. This contrasts with the TTC Silent Red, which is characterized by its muted sound. The Silent Red's design focuses on minimizing the typical noise associated with mechanical keyboards, making it particularly ideal for shared spaces or office environments. While the Gravel's sound qualities remain unspecified, it can be inferred that it will produce a cleaner sound experience, though perhaps not as quiet as the Silent Red.

When it comes to feel, the HMX Gravel switch is celebrated for its exceptional smoothness and refined typing sensation, complemented by a medium-light actuation force that makes it responsive and effortless. In comparison, the TTC Silent Red provides a buttery and polished feel, delivering a smooth, fluid keystroke experience with a gentle and mild typing sensation. The combination of these characteristics allows for a consistent and comfortable typing experience, making both switches approachable for a wide range of users; however, the Gravel may edge out in the realm of smoothness due to its focus on high-quality feel.

In summary, the HMX Gravel and TTC Silent Red switches cater to slightly different preferences, yet they both emphasize smoothness and comfort. While the Gravel leans towards a more responsive typing experience, the Silent Red excels in sound dampening, making it suitable for quieter environments. Ultimately, if you're seeking a refined, smooth feel with potentially more auditory feedback, the Gravel would be an excellent choice. Conversely, if low sound levels are a priority alongside a comfortable typing experience, the Silent Red is likely the better option.

Conclusion

To sum up, your choice between the HMX Gravel linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch will largely depend on your preferences for actuation force, typing experience, and environment. If you prefer a lighter touch and a more effortless typing experience, the Gravel switch may be your ideal option. It offers an exceptional smoothness and refined feel, which can enhance your typing speed and reduce fatigue during long typing sessions. On the other hand, if you find yourself in a quieter or shared space, the TTC Silent Red switch stands out due to its muted sound profile and medium-heavy actuation force. It provides a buttery, polished feel, making it suitable for environments where noise may be an issue while still offering a stable and comfortable typing experience. Ultimately, consider your typing habits, the noise level you can manage in your surroundings, and the tactile feedback you desire when making your decision, as each switch has its unique strengths to cater to different preferences and needs.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Gravel Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn more

TTC Silent Red Linear

$5.28

$4.38 per 10

Learn more