Outemu Silent Yellow vs. TTC Silent Frozen (V2)
An in-depth look at the Outemu Silent Yellow and the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to two popular mechanical keyboard switches, the Outemu Silent Yellow and the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) both offer unique features and benefits. The Outemu Silent Yellow is a linear switch that is best known for its smooth keystrokes and silent operation. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) is also a linear switch but is characterized by its extremely quiet sound profile, smooth feel, and pillowy touch. While the Silent Yellow provides a more standard linear typing experience, the Silent Frozen offers a thocky, low-pitched, creamy, buttery, muted, feathery, subtle, and polished typing experience. Both switches have their own strengths and reasons why you might choose one over the other. 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
45g
Actuation force
39g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
43g
Pre-travel
2.20 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Partial box
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
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Silver white spring
Housing materials
In comparing the housing materials of the Outemu Silent Yellow and the TTC Silent Frozen (V2), we can see that both switches utilize polycarbonate for their top housing. This means that both switches will exhibit a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile due to the stiffness of polycarbonate. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for switches that plan to use RGB lighting. However, the Silent Yellow uses nylon for its bottom housing, which results in a deeper and fuller sound profile compared to the Silent Frozen (V2) with its polycarbonate bottom housing.
The difference in bottom housing materials between the Silent Yellow and the Silent Frozen (V2) means that the overall typing experience will vary between the two switches. Typing on the Silent Yellow, with its nylon bottom housing, will elicit a deeper and fuller sound profile, while the Silent Frozen (V2) will have a sharper and crisper sound profile due to its polycarbonate bottom housing. This difference in sound profile is important to consider for those who prioritize a specific typing experience, whether it be a deeper and more rounded sound or a sharper and clearer sound.
It is important to note that the top and bottom housings of a switch play different roles in the overall sound and feel of the typing experience. The top housing, which is polycarbonate for both the Silent Yellow and the Silent Frozen (V2), will have a greater impact on the sound when you release a key, while the bottom housing, made of either nylon or polycarbonate, will have more of an impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when typing on the switches. This distinction highlights how the choice of housing materials can significantly influence the overall typing experience for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.
Weight
Comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Outemu Silent Yellow linear switch and the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) linear switch reveals a distinct contrast in weight. The Silent Yellow has a heavier actuation force of 65 grams and a bottom out force of 80 grams, providing a more substantial typing experience. In comparison, the Silent Frozen (V2) is lighter, with an actuation force of 39 grams and a bottom out force of 43 grams. The lighter weight of the Silent Frozen (V2) may appeal to those who prefer a lighter typing feel for extended periods of use, while the heavier Silent Yellow is suited for individuals who enjoy a more robust push feel. Both switches offer different typing experiences due to their varying actuation and bottom out forces, allowing users to choose based on their personal preferences for typing comfort and feedback.
Travel distance
The Outemu Silent Yellow linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) linear switch has a shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. The Silent Yellow provides a more traditional travel distance, offering a slightly deeper keystroke compared to the Silent Frozen. Gamers looking for faster response times may prefer the shorter travel distance of the Silent Frozen, while those who prefer a more substantial keystroke may opt for the Silent Yellow. Both switches offer a smooth and silent typing experience, so regardless of which one you choose, you can expect similar results in terms of noise reduction. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches comes down to personal preference in terms of travel distance and typing feel.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Silent Frozen (V2) has an MSRP of $8.61 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Frozen (V2) for $5.33.
The Outemu Silent Yellow comes in at $3.10 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 comparing the sound of the Outemu Silent Yellow linear switch to the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) linear switch, the Silent Yellow is known for being silent with no specific sound characteristics mentioned, while the Silent Frozen (V2) is characterized as thocky, low-pitched, and muted, producing a deep, rich, satisfying, bass-heavy, and mellow sound that minimizes noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. Both switches are designed to offer a quiet typing experience, but the Silent Frozen (V2) provides a more detailed description of its sound profile.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Silent Yellow does not have any specific feel descriptors provided, whereas the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) is described as creamy, buttery, feathery, subtle, and polished. These descriptors suggest that the Silent Frozen (V2) switch offers a smooth, buttery, light, comfortable, and refined typing experience that reduces finger fatigue and provides a sleek feel when typing. In comparison, the feel of the Silent Yellow switch remains unknown, so it is difficult to directly compare the two in terms of typing sensation.
In conclusion, the Outemu Silent Yellow linear switch lacks specific information regarding its sound and feel qualities compared to the detailed descriptors provided for the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) linear switch. While both switches are designed to be silent, the Silent Frozen (V2) offers a more in-depth description of its sound profile, emphasizing its quiet and satisfying characteristics. Similarly, the feel of the Silent Frozen (V2) is highlighted by various positive descriptors like creamy, buttery, and polished, indicating a smooth and comfortable typing experience. Therefore, if a user is looking for a switch with a detailed sound and feel profile, the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) linear switch may be a more suitable option in comparison to the relatively unknown qualities of the Outemu Silent Yellow linear switch.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Outemu Silent Yellow linear switch and the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) linear switch, consider your preference for bottom out force. If you prefer a heavier feel with an 80-gram bottom out force, the Silent Yellow might be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter touch with a 43-gram bottom out force, the Silent Frozen (V2) could be more suited to your typing style. Additionally, if you prioritize a virtually silent experience with a thocky, low-pitched, and muted sound profile, along with a creamy, buttery, feathery, subtle, and polished feel, the TTC Silent Frozen (V2) may be the ideal option for you. Ultimately, choose the switch that aligns best with your preferences for typing sound and feel to enhance your overall keyboarding experience.
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