KTT MoonRosa vs. Gateron Mountain Top
An in-depth look at the KTT MoonRosa and the Gateron Mountain Top switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, the KTT MoonRosa and Gateron Mountain Top both offer unique characteristics that cater to different preferences and needs. The MoonRosa switch is praised for its all-POM construction, delivering a smooth typing experience with a neutral sound signature. Categorized as 'Mild', 'Low-pitched', and 'Easy-to-press', this switch provides a comfortable and gentle typing experience. On the other hand, the Gateron Mountain Top switch is designed for office environments, prioritizing discretion and a quiet typing experience while maintaining a light actuation force. Categorized as 'Bouncy', 'Easy-to-press', 'Mild', 'Neutral', 'Snappy', and 'Subtle', this switch is ideal for professional settings where a subdued sound signature is desirable. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
37g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
45g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Pre-travel
1.40 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm spring
Spring
22mm double-stage spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the KTT MoonRosa and the Gateron Mountain Top both offer unique qualities that impact the sound profile of the switches. The MoonRosa's POM top housing provides a pleasing and muted sound that leans towards the deeper side, while the Mountain Top's nylon top housing elicits a fuller and deeper sound profile. Both materials offer a level of softness that helps absorb sound, resulting in a rounder and duller sound. Despite these differences, both housing materials ultimately contribute to creating a satisfying typing experience with distinct sound characteristics.
In terms of the bottom housing, both the MoonRosa's POM bottom housing and the Mountain Top's nylon bottom housing contribute to the overall sound profile of the switches. Similar to the top housings, POM housings offer a deeper and muted sound, while nylon housings bring a fuller and deeper sound profile. The softness of both materials allows for increased sound absorption, resulting in a rounder sound quality. While they may have different material compositions, both bottom housings play a crucial role in enhancing the typing experience and sound signature of the switches.
When considering how the top and bottom housings interact with each other in a switch, it becomes evident that they each have a specific impact on the overall typing experience. The qualities of the bottom housing are more pronounced during the pressing down of a key, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. Conversely, the top housing plays a more significant role in the sound produced when releasing a key. Despite the differences in the housing materials of the MoonRosa and the Mountain Top, both contribute to creating a unique sound profile that adds to the overall typing experience, whether it be a deeper and muted sound or a fuller and rounder tone.
Weight
The KTT MoonRosa and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switches both fall on the lighter side when it comes to actuation and bottom out forces. The MoonRosa has a lower actuation force of 37 grams compared to the Mountain Top's 40 grams, making it slightly lighter to trigger a keystroke. Similarly, the MoonRosa has a lower bottom out force of 45 grams compared to the Mountain Top's 50 grams, indicating a slightly lighter typing experience when pressing all the way down. Both switches cater to users who prefer a lighter touch, making them ideal for extended typing or gaming sessions where fatigue may become a factor. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will come down to personal preference for either a lighter actuation and bottom out force with the MoonRosa or a slightly heavier feel with the Mountain Top.
Travel distance
The KTT MoonRosa linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, slightly longer than the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch which has a travel distance of 3.4 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, making them popular choices for gamers seeking faster response times. The difference of 0.1 mm between the two may not be noticeable to most users, but those who prefer a slightly deeper key press may lean towards the MoonRosa, while those who prefer a slightly lighter touch may opt for the Mountain Top. Ultimately, both switches offer a similar experience due to their close travel distances, so users can expect comparable results when typing or gaming with either option.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the KTT MoonRosa comes in at $4.88, whereas the Gateron Mountain Top comes in at $6.00.
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 KTT MoonRosa linear switch is characterized by a low-pitched tone that provides a bass-heavy and mellow sound profile, creating a soothing typing experience. On the other hand, the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch offers a neutral sound signature, striking a balance between a quiet typing experience and a moderate sound profile suitable for various environments. Both switches deliver pleasant auditory feedback, with the MoonRosa offering a deeper tone and the Mountain Top offering a more versatile profile that suits different preferences.
When it comes to feel, the KTT MoonRosa linear switch offers a mild and easy-to-press typing experience, with gentle resistance and minimal force required for activation. This results in a comfortable and effortless typing session, reducing finger fatigue and enhancing overall typing efficiency. On the other hand, the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch provides a bouncy and easy-to-press feel, with a spring-like feedback sensation that adds a lively touch to typing. Additionally, the Mountain Top switch offers a mild and snappy typing experience with a subtle resistance, making it suitable for extended use in shared spaces.
Taking into account the subjective qualities of sound and feel, both the KTT MoonRosa linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch offer unique typing experiences tailored to different preferences. While the MoonRosa switch emphasizes a low-pitched and smooth typing sound with an easy-to-press feel, the Mountain Top switch prioritizes a neutral sound profile and a bouncy typing sensation. Ultimately, choosing between these switches depends on individual preferences for sound, feel, and typing environment, ensuring that users will achieve satisfying results regardless of their choice.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the KTT MoonRosa linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch, you should consider your preferences for bottom out force, sound, and feel. If you prefer a lighter bottom out force of 45 grams and enjoy a buttery smooth typing experience with a low-pitched sound, the MoonRosa switch may be the better option for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a slightly heavier bottom out force of 50 grams and value a quiet yet not entirely silent typing experience with a balanced sound profile, the Gateron Mountain Top switch may be more suitable for your needs. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your specific preferences for typing feel and sound signature.
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