Gateron Quinn vs. TTC Venus
An in-depth look at the Gateron Quinn and the TTC Venus switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Gateron Quinn, a tactile switch, and the TTC Venus, a linear switch, offer contrasting experiences. The Quinn switch is renowned for its crisp, light tactility and deep, resonant sound profile, providing users with a rich and immersive typing experience. On the other hand, the Venus switch stands out for its seamless glide and unique "Q-texture," delivering a smooth and engaging typing sensation with a muted sound signature. While the Quinn switch is characterized by its bouncy and clacky feel, the Venus switch offers a gummy and frictionless texture. Choosing between these switches ultimately comes down to personal preference and typing style; 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
59g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
67g
Bottom-out force
52g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.80 mm
Total travel
3.40 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
Nylon
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm double-stage gold-plated
Spring
Lengthened 20.5mm spring
Housing materials
The Gateron Quinn and TTC Venus both feature unique housing materials that contribute to the overall sound and feel of the switches. The Quinn's nylon top housing creates a deep and full sound profile due to the softer nature of nylon absorbing more sound. In contrast, the Venus's POM top housing provides a more muted and deeper sound profile, offering a different typing experience. However, both switches share a similar characteristic of producing a pleasing sound, albeit with subtle differences in tone and depth.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Quinn's nylon bottom housing and the Venus's polycarbonate bottom housing showcase distinct sound profiles as well. The Quinn's nylon bottom housing contributes to a duller and rounder sound, while the Venus's polycarbonate bottom housing creates a sharper and crisper sound profile. The difference in stiffness between nylon and polycarbonate plastics plays a significant role in the overall sound produced by each switch, with the polycarbonate bottom housing offering a more clear and resonant sound compared to the nylon bottom housing.
Overall, the combination of top and bottom housing materials in each switch affects both the typing experience and the sound produced. While the bottom housing influences the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing a key, the top housing affects the sound when releasing a key. Despite the differences between the Gateron Quinn and TTC Venus in terms of housing materials, both switches aim to provide a satisfying and unique typing experience that caters to different preferences and preferences for sound profiles.
Weight
In comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Gateron Quinn tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, the Quinn has a heavier actuation force and bottom out force compared to the Venus. The Quinn requires 59 grams of force to actuate a keystroke and 67 grams to bottom out, making it a medium-heavy switch. In contrast, the Venus only needs 45 grams to actuate and 52 grams to bottom out, classifying it as medium-light. The Quinn would be more suited to those who prefer a stronger push feel for a more substantial typing experience, while the Venus would be ideal for those who prefer a lighter touch for extended typing or gaming sessions. Both switches offer different weight options to cater to different preferences.
Travel distance
The Gateron Quinn tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the TTC Venus linear switch has a travel distance of 3.8 mm. In comparison, the Quinn has a shorter travel distance than the Venus. The Quinn's 3.4 mm distance may provide a quicker response time, making it suitable for gamers looking for a fast-paced experience. On the other hand, the Venus' 3.8 mm distance may offer a more satisfying keypress with a deeper feel, which could be preferred by users looking for a more substantial keypress feedback. Ultimately, while both switches offer different travel distances, the choice between them will depend on individual preferences for keypress feel and response time.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Quinn has an MSRP of $6.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Quinn for $5.50.
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
In terms of sound, the Gateron Quinn tactile switch is known for its bassy, clacky, low-pitched, and resonant characteristics, offering a deep, rich, and immersive typing experience. On the other hand, the TTC Venus linear switch has a low-pitched, muted, neutral, subdued, and thocky sound profile, providing a softer, quieter, and more subtle auditory experience. The Quinn switch delivers a sharper and more pronounced sound, while the Venus switch offers a more muted and subdued sound, catering to different preferences in typing sound. Both switches offer unique sound profiles that can enhance the overall typing experience, with the Quinn providing a more vibrant and resonant sound, whereas the Venus offers a more muted and subdued sound for a quieter typing experience.
As for feel, the Gateron Quinn tactile switch is described as snappy, polished, bouncy, accented, buttery, and creamy, providing a responsive, smooth, and elastic typing sensation with a seamless and effortless keystroke experience. On the other hand, the TTC Venus linear switch offers a buttery, gummy, frictionless, mild, and polished feel, ensuring a smooth, unique, and effortless typing experience with minimal resistance or friction. Both switches offer differing tactile and typing sensations, with the Quinn switch emphasizing responsiveness and tactility, while the Venus switch focuses on providing a smooth and frictionless typing experience.
Overall, the Gateron Quinn tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch offer distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel, catering to different preferences in typing experience. The Quinn switch provides a more vibrant and resonant sound with a responsive and polished feel, while the Venus switch offers a more muted and subdued sound with a smooth and frictionless feel. Whether you prefer a sharper, more pronounced sound with a tactile and responsive typing experience or a quieter, more subtle sound with a smooth and effortless keystroke feel, both switches offer unique characteristics that can elevate your typing experience. Ultimately, choosing between the two switches would depend on your personal preference for sound and typing feel.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Gateron Quinn tactile switch and the TTC Venus linear switch, consider the following factors. If you value a medium-heavy bottom out force and enjoy a unique combination of crisp tactility and a deep, resonant sound profile with a bassy, clacky, low-pitched, and resonant sound, then the Quinn switch is the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light bottom out force and seek a switch with a "matte" sensation, a nearly frictionless glide, and a Q-texture reminiscent of biting into a chewy mochi, coupled with a low-pitched, muted, neutral, subdued, and thocky sound profile, then the Venus switch would be more suitable for you. Ultimately, your preference for tactility, sound, and typing experience will determine which switch is the best fit for you. Make your selection based on what qualities align most with your typing preferences and needs.
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