KTT Hyacinth vs. Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie

Overview

When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the choice can be crucial for ensuring an optimal typing experience. The KTT Hyacinth, a linear switch, is renowned for its thoughtful design, featuring a unique 3.5mm travel distance that minimizes the hard bottoming-out feel often associated with longer-stem switches. This design decision, combined with a single-stage elongated spring, aims to provide a harmonious balance of tactile feedback and user comfort, making it an attractive option for those who prioritize a smooth typing experience. In contrast, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie offers a medium-weight option that is celebrated for its superb smoothness and a thocky sound profile, breaking the price barrier without compromising on quality. This linear switch is ideal for individuals looking for a satisfying auditory feedback while typing. Both switches, while appealing for different reasons, bring their own strengths to the table; the Hyacinth emphasizes user comfort and a refined feel, while the Sea Salt Smoothie caters to those seeking sound and smoothness in their keystrokes. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the ideal switch for you.

By the numbers

KTT Hyacinth Linear

Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie Linear

$4.03

$3.75 per 10

$3.00

$2.70 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the KTT Hyacinth and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie, the differences in their housing materials significantly contribute to their distinct sound profiles and overall performance. The Hyacinth's top housing is made from polycarbonate, a material known for producing a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. This is largely due to polycarbonate's stiffness, which allows it to create a clear and resonant audio experience. Furthermore, the translucency of the polycarbonate material enhances its compatibility with RGB lighting, making it particularly appealing for users who prioritize visual customization alongside acoustics. In contrast, the Sea Salt Smoothie features a POM top housing, which creates a deeper, more muted sound profile. This difference in material leads to a more subdued auditory experience, demonstrating that the choice of housing significantly shapes the switches' character.

Similarly, the bottom housings of both switches offer unique contributions to their respective sound profiles. The KTT Hyacinth uses nylon for its bottom housing, a classic material in switch design that contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softness. This results in a more rounded auditory experience, as nylon absorbs more sound compared to harder plastics. On the other hand, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie's bottom housing is crafted from POM, which mirrors the softer characteristics of nylon to some extent. While both materials lead to a deeper sound, POM is still known for its unique auditory qualities that tend to be more muted, creating an interesting contrast when compared to the Hyacinth's nylon.

Both the KTT Hyacinth and Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie leverage their distinct housing materials to enhance the typing experience; however, the differences ultimately lead to contrasting sound signatures. The Hyacinth's sharp and resonant characteristics from the polycarbonate top housing entirely alter how the top-out sound is perceived, while the nylon bottom deepens the overall feel. Conversely, the Sea Salt Smoothie's POM top and bottom housing deliver on a unified sound profile that is inherently muted yet pleasing. Users looking for a switch experience that offers fewer tonal fluctuations might gravitate toward the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie, while those who prefer brightness and clarity may lean towards the Hyacinth. Despite their differences, both options provide unique auditory experiences that cater to various preferences based on user taste.

Weight

When comparing the KTT Hyacinth and Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switches, we can see a notable difference in actuation forces and some ambiguity around the bottom out force. The KTT Hyacinth features an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 56 grams, categorizing it as a medium-light option. In contrast, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie requires a slightly heavier actuation force of 48 grams. However, its bottom out force remains unknown, making it difficult to fully assess its push feel when bottoming out. Overall, the Hyacinth is the lighter switch due to its lower actuation and bottom-out force compared to the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie, which may make it preferable for those who favor extended typing sessions. Conversely, the slightly heavier actuation force of the Sea Salt Smoothie may appeal to users desiring a more substantial typing experience.

Travel distance

When comparing the travel distances of the KTT Hyacinth linear switch and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch, the Hyacinth features a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Sea Salt Smoothie has a slightly longer travel distance of 3.7 mm. This means that the Hyacinth is the shorter option, which may provide a more responsive feel and quicker actuation that could appeal to gamers seeking faster response times. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Smoothie, with its longer travel distance, offers a deeper and more substantial typing experience, which some users might prefer for a more traditional feel. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference: if you value rapid actuation, the Hyacinth may be the better fit, while the Sea Salt Smoothie caters to those who appreciate a more pronounced keypress.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the KTT Hyacinth linear switch has a neutral sound profile, characterized by moderate actuation force requirements and a balanced auditory experience. This makes it an appealing choice for various settings, whether it’s at home or in an office environment, as it doesn't disrupt the space with overly loud or aggressive noises. On the other hand, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie is noted for its distinctively thocky sound profile, which adds a unique auditory element to the typing experience. While the thocky sound may cater to fans of a richer acoustic feedback, the overall sound experience varies significantly depending on the keyboard build and keycap materials used.

In terms of feel, the Hyacinth linear switch is praised for its silky texture, providing an exceptionally smooth typing experience that minimizes resistance both when pressing and releasing keys. This switch also exhibits a subtle resistance, offering a light typing feel that avoids being overly feather-light. This quality contributes to a comfortable typing experience, making it suitable for longer typing sessions, particularly in shared spaces due to its non-resonant sound signature. Unfortunately, the specific feeling of the Sea Salt Smoothie is not provided, leaving a gap in the comparison regarding how it might compare in smoothness or resistance.

In conclusion, both the KTT Hyacinth and Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switches have their unique qualities. The Hyacinth offers a neutral sound profile combined with a silky and subtle feel that emphasizes comfort and a smooth typing experience in various environments. Meanwhile, the Sea Salt Smoothie stands out with its thocky acoustic characteristics but lacks detailed descriptions of its tactile feel. While they may cater to slightly different preferences, one could find satisfying typing experiences with either switch depending on personal taste and keyboard setup.

Conclusion

To wrap up, when deciding between the KTT Hyacinth and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switches, your choice will depend on your specific preferences and typing conditions. If you favor a balanced typing experience with a neutral sound profile that accommodates both home and work settings, the KTT Hyacinth is a solid choice. Its medium-light actuation force and silky feel combined with its 3.5mm travel distance promote a comfortable typing experience, minimizing the hard bottoming-out sensation common with longer-stem switches. On the other hand, if you're looking for a switch that delivers exceptional smoothness and a thocky sound profile without breaking the bank, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie is likely the better option. This switch caters to those who appreciate a medium-weight feel and prioritize auditory feedback along with smooth actuation. Ultimately, your decision should reflect your desired typing experience, whether that leads you towards a more subtle and balanced feel with the Hyacinth or the rich sound and smoothness of the Sea Salt Smoothie.

Mentioned in this article

KTT Hyacinth Linear

$4.03

$3.75 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie Linear

$3.00

$2.70 per 10

Learn more