HMX Poro vs. TTC Silent Red

Overview

When exploring the world of mechanical keyboard switches, two noteworthy options that stand out are the HMX Poro and the TTC Silent Red, both linear switches designed to enhance your typing experience. The HMX Poro is celebrated for its silky smooth keystrokes coupled with an ultra-light actuation force, offering a satisfying poppy and clacky sound profile that many gamers and typists find engaging and fun. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Red caters to users who prioritize quietness in their keystrokes, providing a smooth and consistent feel from top to bottom, making them an excellent choice for office settings or shared spaces. While the HMX Poro revels in its audible feedback and playful sound, the Silent Red stands out by delivering a muted yet comfortable typing experience, complete with a padded bottom-out feel. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the most suitable switch for your needs.

By the numbers

HMX Poro Linear

TTC Silent Red Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

$5.28

$4.38 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

When comparing the housing materials of the HMX Poro and the TTC Silent Red switches, a distinct difference emerges in their top housing compositions. The Poro features a nylon top housing, which is renowned for its ability to produce a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon's softer plastic characteristics, which effectively absorb sound rather than allowing it to reverberate. In contrast, the Silent Red employs a polycarbonate top housing, characterized by its stiffness and translucency. This material provides a crisper and higher-pitched sound profile, leading to a more resonant acoustic experience. While the nylon's sound is muted and rounded, the polycarbonate's properties allow it to resonate more clearly, influencing the character of the typing experience in notable ways.

The bottom housings of both switches align in their use of nylon, providing a consistent acoustic element between the two models. Like the top housing of the Poro, the nylon bottom housing enhances the switch's ability to absorb sound, yielding a more velvety bottom-out sound and feel. This shared nylon characteristic means that both switches will elicit a deeper and fuller sound when typing, regardless of the contrasting top housings. Therefore, while the Poro maintains a cohesive nylon configuration, the Silent Red's differentiation comes from an equally effective yet contrasting upper material, giving typists a glimpse of how a split acoustic experience plays out between the two designs.

In practical terms, users can expect different auditory feedback when typing on either switch due to these contrasting top housing materials. The Poro's nylon top will enhance the overall depth of sound, resulting in a more subdued auditory output, while the Silent Red’s polycarbonate top will create a sharper and more engaging sound profile. Nevertheless, because both share a nylon bottom housing, the foundational typing experience retains a semblance of similarity in terms of the bottom-out sound. This duality illustrates how combinations of different materials can blend their unique auditory signatures, leading to a diverse typing experience that can cater to various preferences, depending on whether one prioritizes warmth and depth or clarity and brightness.

Weight

The HMX Poro linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch both have the same actuation force of 45 grams, making them equally easy to trigger for keystrokes, which can be advantageous during long typing sessions or gaming. However, their bottom out forces differ significantly; the Poro has a bottom out force of 50 grams, while the Silent Red exhibits a heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams. This means that while both switches require the same initial force to activate, the Silent Red provides a more substantial feel upon bottoming out, potentially appealing to users who prefer a heavier typing experience. Therefore, the Poro is considered the lighter switch in terms of overall feel, making it more suitable for extended use, whereas the Silent Red caters to those who appreciate a more pronounced feedback with its heavier bottom out force.

Travel distance

Both the HMX Poro linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch feature the same travel distance of 3.7 mm, meaning that users will experience an identical keypress depth when engaging either switch. This equal travel distance allows for similar tactile responses and feel during typing or gaming, providing a consistent experience across both options. Therefore, no matter which switch is chosen, users can expect the same travel distance, resulting in comparable performance in terms of key actuation.

Price comparison

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the HMX Poro linear switch produces a satisfyingly poppy and clacky sound profile that provides a lively auditory feedback, making typing feel engaging and dynamic. This contrast is stark compared to the TTC Silent Red linear switch, which features a muted sound profile designed to minimize the noise typically associated with mechanical keyboards. This makes the Silent Red an excellent choice for environments where noise is a concern, such as offices or shared living spaces. Thus, if you prefer a quieter experience, the Silent Red will provide a more subdued sound, while the Poro will appeal to those who enjoy a more pronounced acoustic interaction.

In terms of feel, the HMX Poro is characterized by a silky smooth keystroke, enhanced by meticulous lubrication that ensures effortless gliding with every key press. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Red is known for its buttery, mild, and polished feel, which together create a smooth, fluid typing experience that remains approachable for most users. The Silent Red is designed for comfort, offering a padded bottom-out feel that enhances the overall typing experience, making it feel gentle yet consistent across the full key travel. While both switches aim for smoothness, the Poro's distinctively engaging glide contrasts with the comfort-focused performance of the Silent Red.

In conclusion, if you are seeking a mechanical keyboard switch that emphasizes liveliness and a pronounced sound, the HMX Poro will likely appeal to you with its poppy acoustics and silky smooth keystrokes. Conversely, if you prioritize a quiet, smooth, and comfortable typing experience, the TTC Silent Red is your go-to option, providing buttery and polished keystrokes along with a muted sound profile. Each switch offers unique qualities that cater to different preferences, ensuring that whether you choose the Poro or Silent Red, your typing experience will be pleasurable in its own right.

Conclusion

To conclude, your choice between the HMX Poro linear switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch should hinge on your specific typing preferences and environment. If you prefer a light actuation force and enjoy a smooth, gliding feel paired with a satisfying poppy sound, the HMX Poro is an excellent choice. Its 50-gram bottom-out force contributes to an effortless typing experience, making it suitable for those who type frequently or enjoy gaming. However, if you find yourself in a shared workspace or living situation where noise could be a distraction, the TTC Silent Red is likely the better option. With a medium-heavy bottom-out force of 63.5 grams and a muted sound profile, it offers a buttery smooth experience that minimizes noise while providing a comfortable typing feel. Ultimately, if acoustics and a more substantial feedback are priorities, go for the Silent Red; conversely, if you value a light, tactile sensation and don’t mind a bit of sound, the Poro will serve you well.

Mentioned in this article

HMX Poro Linear

$3.50

$2.99 per 10

Learn more

TTC Silent Red Linear

$5.28

$4.38 per 10

Learn more