KTT Pine vs. TTC Venus
An in-depth look at the KTT Pine and the TTC Venus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The KTT Pine and TTC Venus are both linear mechanical keyboard switches with unique attributes that cater to different preferences. The Pine is celebrated for its medium-heavy feel, buttery smooth movement, and effortless typing experience, thanks to its factory-lubed finish that minimizes friction. On the other hand, the Venus stands out for its internal design featuring a balance between near-frictionless glide and a distinctive "Q-texture" resistance, creating a matte sensation that is smooth and engaging. While the Pine offers a bassy and creamy typing experience, the Venus provides a gummy and thocky feel. Both switches excel in delivering a low-pitched sound profile, but the Venus boasts a muted and polished auditory experience. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches will depend on personal preferences in terms of actuation force, smoothness, sound, and overall feel. 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
45g
Bottom-out force
58g
Bottom-out force
52g
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
15.5mm gold-plated spring
Spring
Lengthened 20.5mm spring
Housing materials
The KTT Pine and TTC Venus both feature a polycarbonate top housing, which is known for creating a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. This is due to polycarbonate being a relatively stiffer plastic, leading to a more clear and resonant sound. In terms of aesthetics, both switches benefit from the translucency of polycarbonate, making them ideal for use with RGB lighting. However, the sound produced by the Pine may be slightly different from that of the Venus due to other factors such as stem material and overall design.
In contrast, the Pine and Venus differ in their bottom housing material. The Pine features a polycarbonate bottom housing, which contributes to its sharp and crisp sound profile. On the other hand, the Venus utilizes a POM bottom housing, resulting in a deeper and more muted sound. This highlights how the choice of housing material can significantly impact the overall sound experience of a switch. While both switches may offer a satisfying typing experience, the difference in bottom housing material may sway users towards one or the other based on their sound preferences.
Overall, the housing materials of the KTT Pine and TTC Venus play a crucial role in shaping the sound profiles of these switches. While they both share a polycarbonate top housing for a clear and resonant sound, the Pine's polycarbonate bottom housing creates a sharper profile compared to the Venus's POM bottom housing, which produces a more muted sound. This distinction showcases how the combination of different housing materials can result in unique typing experiences, catering to the diverse preferences of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.
Weight
The KTT Pine and TTC Venus linear switches both have a similar actuation force of 45 grams, meaning the force required to trigger a keystroke is the same for both switches. However, when it comes to bottom out force, the Pine switch is heavier with a force of 58 grams compared to the Venus switch's lighter force of 52 grams. This makes the Pine switch more suitable for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience, as the heavier bottom out force provides a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Venus switch's lighter bottom out force may be preferred by those who like a lighter typing experience to type for longer periods without fatigue. In terms of weight, the Pine switch is heavier, while the Venus switch is lighter, giving users the option to choose based on their preference for actuation and bottom out forces. Ultimately, both switches offer a medium actuation force while differing in bottom out force, allowing users to customize their typing experience.
Travel distance
Comparing the travel distance of the KTT Pine linear switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, the Pine has a travel distance of 4 mm while the Venus has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm. While both switches fall within the range of traditional travel distances, the Pine offers a slightly longer travel distance which may provide a more satisfying depth when typing. On the other hand, the Venus with its shorter travel distance may cater better to those seeking a faster response time, particularly gamers. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference regarding travel distance and the desired typing experience. Both switches offer unique advantages, and selecting either will result in a high-quality typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The KTT Pine has an MSRP of $4.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Pine for $4.15.
The TTC Venus has an MSRP of $7.99 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Venus for $5.09.
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 it comes to sound, the KTT Pine linear switch is best described as having a bassy and low-pitched profile, offering a deeper and richer sound during key presses. On the other hand, the TTC Venus linear switch produces a low-pitched, muted, subdued, and thocky sound signature, resulting in a quieter and more mellow typing experience. Both switches aim to minimize the noise associated with mechanical keyboards, but the Venus switch adds a unique tactile dimension to its sound with the "Q-texture," creating a more engaging auditory experience.
In terms of feel, both the KTT Pine and the TTC Venus linear switches are described as providing a buttery typing experience. The Pine switch offers a medium-heavy feel with its buttery and creamy keystrokes, emphasizing smoothness and fluidity. Meanwhile, the Venus switch boasts a gummy, frictionless, and polished feel that provides a unique typing sensation akin to bottoming out on a trampoline or experiencing a sleek and refined key travel. Both switches offer effortless and uniform typing experiences, making them suitable for users seeking a comfortable and enjoyable typing feel.
Overall, while the KTT Pine and TTC Venus linear switches have their own distinctive sound and feel qualities, they both prioritize smoothness and comfort in typing. The Pine switch offers a heavier and more bassy sound with a buttery and creamy feel, while the Venus switch introduces a lighter actuation, muted sound profile, and a gummy, frictionless texture for a more engaging typing experience. Ultimately, choosing between these switches will depend on personal preference for sound and feel, as both options provide a satisfying typing experience tailored to different preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the KTT Pine linear switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, consider the following factors. If you prefer a medium bottom out force and a bassy, low-pitched sound profile, along with a buttery, creamy typing feel, the KTT Pine switch may be the ideal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force with a low-pitched, muted sound profile that is neutral, subdued, and thocky, along with a gummy, frictionless, mild typing feel, the TTC Venus switch could be more appealing to you. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preferences for key feel, sound, and actuation force.
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