KTT Sea Salt Lemon vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black

Overview

When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Gateron Silent Ink Black. The Sea Salt Lemon is a linear switch that is best known for its buttery smooth typing experience, thanks to its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design. This switch is categorized as low-pitched, neutral, and mild, providing a pleasant and comfortable typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is also a linear switch but stands out for its silenced version, making it ideal for environments where quieter typing is necessary. Offering a cushion-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback, this switch is categorized as silky, muted, and polished. Both switches have their own unique qualities and advantages, catering to different preferences and needs. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.

By the numbers

KTT Sea Salt Lemon Linear

Gateron Silent Ink Black Linear

$2.80 per 10

$8.50

$8.35 per 10

Learn moreLearn more

Housing materials

The KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Gateron Silent Ink Black both have unique housing materials that contribute to their distinct sound profiles. The Sea Salt Lemon features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. This is due to polycarbonate's stiffness, which leads to a more clear and resonant sound. The Silent Ink Black, on the other hand, utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend top housing, which produces a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound that is described as clacky. While they have different sound profiles, both top housings enhance the overall sound experience of the switches.

In terms of bottom housing materials, the Sea Salt Lemon includes a nylon bottom housing. This classic switch housing material elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile, as nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound. As a result, the Sea Salt Lemon produces a duller and rounder sound compared to the Silent Ink Black. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black features Gateron's proprietary INK blend bottom housing, which contributes to its thin and higher-pitched sound profile, often described as clacky. Although their sound profiles differ, both bottom housings play a significant role in shaping the overall sound when the keys are pressed down.

While the top and bottom housings of the Sea Salt Lemon and the Silent Ink Black have distinctive qualities, it's important to note that each housing material contributes to different aspects of the switch's performance. The bottom housing mainly influences the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when the key is released. Despite their differences, both switches provide a satisfying typing experience, with the Sea Salt Lemon offering a sharper and crisper sound, and the Silent Ink Black delivering a pointed and clacky sound. Therefore, regardless of the housing materials, users can expect similar results in terms of performance and responsiveness from both switches.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, it is clear that there are notable differences. The Sea Salt Lemon has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams, which falls into the medium-light category. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black requires a heavier actuation force of 60 grams and has a bottom out force of 70 grams, placing it in the medium-heavy range.

These variations in force can have a significant impact on the typing experience. For those who prefer a lighter touch and the ability to type for extended periods without fatigue, the Sea Salt Lemon with its lower actuation and bottom out force would be a suitable choice. This makes it ideal for individuals who need to use their keyboards extensively at work or engage in prolonged gaming sessions.

However, for those who appreciate a more substantial and forceful typing experience, the Silent Ink Black provides the desired push feel. With its higher actuation and bottom out force, this switch offers a satisfying resistance that can enhance the tactile feedback during typing.

It is important to note that while the Sea Salt Lemon and Silent Ink Black switches differ in terms of actuation and bottom out forces, they both deliver a linear switch experience. This means that despite the difference in force, the overall feel of typing on either switch will be smooth and consistent, without any tactile bump or click. So, if the goal is to achieve a similar linear switch experience, both switches can provide satisfying results, albeit with varying levels of resistance.

Ultimately, the choice between the Sea Salt Lemon and the Silent Ink Black will depend on an individual's personal preference for typing force, with the Sea Salt Lemon leaning towards a lighter and the Silent Ink Black towards a heavier touch.

Travel distance

Both the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switches have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key with either of these switches, you will feel a similar distance traveled from the top to the bottom. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, both switches will provide similar results.

Price comparison

Typing experience

In terms of sound, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon switch has a low-pitched and neutral sound profile. The low-pitched nature of these switches gives them a bass-heavy and mellow tone, which can be quite pleasant to the ears. Additionally, the neutral sound profile means that these switches offer a moderate level of sound, making them suitable for various environments such as home or work. The Gateron Silent Ink Black switch, on the other hand, is described as producing a muted sound. This means that it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular mechanical switches, which can be ideal for situations that require less noise. It is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used. However, based on the provided information, it can be concluded that the Sea Salt Lemon and Silent Ink Black switches offer different sound profiles, with the former being low-pitched and neutral, while the latter is muted.

When it comes to feel, the Sea Salt Lemon switch offers a mild typing experience. This means that it provides a gentle and approachable feel while typing, without any pronounced characteristics that may be overwhelming to the user. The mild nature of these switches makes them suitable for a wide range of typists, as they strike a safe middle-ground in terms of feel. On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black switch is described as silky and polished. These qualities indicate that these switches offer an exceptionally smooth typing experience with reduced resistance when pressing and releasing keys. The smooth and refined finish of the Silent Ink Black switch enhances the overall typing feel, providing a sleek and enjoyable experience. Overall, the Sea Salt Lemon and Silent Ink Black switches offer different tactile experiences, with the former being mild and the latter being silky and polished.

Taking into consideration the available information, it is clear that the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches have distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Sea Salt Lemon switch provides a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, along with a mild typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black switch offers a muted sound and a silky, polished feel. These differences allow users to choose the switch that best suits their preferences and typing requirements. If a user desires a low-pitched and mellow sound with a mild typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon switch would be the ideal choice. Conversely, if a user wants a quieter typing experience with a smooth and refined feel, the Silent Ink Black switch would be more suitable. It is worth noting that individual preferences may vary, and it is recommended to try out different switches before making a final decision to ensure the best possible typing experience.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are looking for a linear switch with a medium-light bottom out force and a buttery smooth typing experience, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon would be a great choice for you. These switches are known for their progressive spring and dry-lube design, providing a lovely typing experience. Additionally, the Sea Salt Lemon has a low-pitched sound profile and a mild feel, making it suitable for most intents and purposes. On the other hand, if you need a linear switch with a medium-heavy bottom out force and a quieter typing experience, the Gateron Silent Ink Black is the way to go. These switches offer a pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback, making them ideal for environments that require quieter typing. The Silent Ink Black has a muted sound profile and a silky, polished feel, ensuring a smooth and refined typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Gateron Silent Ink Black depends on your specific preferences and requirements.

Mentioned in this article

KTT Sea Salt Lemon Linear

$2.80 per 10

Learn more

Gateron Silent Ink Black Linear

$8.50

$8.35 per 10

Learn more