Zuoce Lavender vs. KTT Sea Salt Lemon
An in-depth look at the Zuoce Lavender and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the Zuoce Lavender and KTT Sea Salt Lemon both offer unique features to enhance your typing experience. The Zuoce Lavender is praised for its exceptional smoothness and crisp, clacky sound signature, providing a satisfying keystroke experience right out of the box. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon showcases a buttery smooth typing experience with its progressive spring and dry-lube design. While the Lavender is easy to press and clacky, the Sea Salt Lemon is low-pitched, neutral, and mild. Ultimately, both switches offer distinct advantages, but diving deeper into their specific characteristics will help you decide on the best switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
48g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
53g
Bottom-out force
53g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Z1 (Ly blend)
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
21mm double-staged spring
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Housing materials
The Zuoce Lavender and KTT Sea Salt Lemon both offer unique characteristics in their housing materials that contribute to the overall sound profile of the switches. The Lavender features a POM top housing, which creates a deeper and more muted sound, while the Sea Salt Lemon's polycarbonate top housing produces a sharper and crisper sound. This contrast in sound profile can greatly affect the typing experience, with the Lavender providing a softer feel and the Sea Salt Lemon offering a more precise and high-pitched sound. However, both switches excel in their own ways, catering to different preferences in sound and feel.
In terms of the bottom housing materials, the Lavender utilizes POM while the Sea Salt Lemon incorporates nylon. POM housings create a deeper sound profile, while nylon housings result in a fuller and rounder sound. This difference in material impacts the overall typing experience, as the bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch. The nylon bottom housing of the Sea Salt Lemon may provide a more dampened and cushioned typing experience compared to the Lavender's POM bottom housing, which produces a sharper and more distinctive sound.
Despite the differences in housing materials between the Zuoce Lavender and KTT Sea Salt Lemon, both switches offer unique qualities that cater to varying preferences in sound and feel. The POM and polycarbonate top housings of the Lavender and Sea Salt Lemon, respectively, provide distinct sound profiles that can enhance the typing experience, whether you prefer a softer and deeper sound or a sharper and crisper one. Additionally, the nylon and POM bottom housings of the switches further contribute to the overall sound profile and feel, allowing for a more customizable typing experience based on individual preferences. Overall, the choice between the Zuoce Lavender and KTT Sea Salt Lemon will depend on personal preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Zuoce Lavender linear switch and the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, it is evident that they are quite similar. The Lavender has an actuation force of 48 grams, while the Sea Salt Lemon is slightly lighter at 45 grams. Both switches have a bottom out force of 53 grams, making them equal in this aspect. The actuation force of a switch is crucial as it determines the force needed to trigger a keystroke, while the bottom out force measures the pressure required to press the key all the way down. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience for longer periods of time, the Sea Salt Lemon may be the preferred choice. However, for individuals who enjoy a more substantial typing feel, the Zuoce Lavender with its slightly heavier actuation force might be the better option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and typing style.
Travel distance
The Zuoce Lavender linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, making it shorter than the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch, which has a travel distance of 4 mm. The Lavender switch falls into the category of shorter travel distances, which is favored by gamers for faster response times. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Lemon switch with its longer travel distance may appeal to those who prefer a more hearty depth when typing or gaming. Both switches offer different experiences due to their varying travel distances, so choosing between the two ultimately depends on personal preference.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Zuoce Lavender has an MSRP of $2.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Lavender for $1.99.
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 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
In terms of sound, the Zuoce Lavender linear switch is best known for its clacky sound signature, producing a sharp and snappy sound with each keystroke. On the other hand, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch offers a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, providing a more bass-heavy and mellow tone that is suitable for various purposes. Ultimately, the sound of a switch can also be influenced by the keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Zuoce Lavender switch is highlighted for its easy-to-press nature, offering gentle resistance during key presses and requiring minimal force to activate. This results in a typing experience that is effortless, comfortable, and reduces finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. Conversely, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switch provides a mild typing experience, offering a gentle feel that is approachable to most users due to its safe, middle-ground qualities.
In conclusion, the Zuoce Lavender and KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switches offer distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Lavender switch stands out for its clacky sound and easy-to-press feel, while the Sea Salt Lemon switch offers a low-pitched and neutral sound profile along with a mild typing experience. Depending on your preferences for sound and feel, both switches provide unique options that can enhance your overall typing experience. If you enjoy a sharp and snappy sound with easy key presses, the Lavender switch may be the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer a more mellow and gentle typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon switch could be the better choice. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will come down to personal preference and what qualities you prioritize in a mechanical keyboard switch.
Conclusion
In summary, if you are looking for a smooth and clacky typing experience right out of the box, the Zuoce Lavender linear switch would be the ideal choice for you. With a medium-light bottom out force and a proprietary blend for exceptional smoothness, the Lavender switch offers a satisfying typing experience with a crisp sound signature. On the other hand, if you prefer a buttery smooth typing experience with a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch may be more to your liking. With a similar bottom out force of 53 grams, the Sea Salt Lemon switch provides a mild and approachable feel that caters to a wider range of users. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches will depend on your preference for sound, feel, and overall typing experience.
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