KTT Sea Salt Lemon vs. Everglide Sunset Yellow
An in-depth look at the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Everglide Sunset Yellow switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Everglide Sunset Yellow are two mechanical keyboard switches that offer distinct features and experiences. 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. Categorized as 'Low-pitched', 'Neutral', and 'Mild', these switches provide a comfortable and balanced feel. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow is also a linear switch but stands out with its captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding. Its rich and bassy sound elevates the typing experience to one of indulgence. Categorized as 'Bassy', 'Creamy', 'Frictionless', 'Polished', and 'Thocky', these switches offer a distinct gliding feel and highly responsive typing experience. 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
43g
Bottom-out force
53g
Bottom-out force
51g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.20 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Ly
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Spring
Single-staged lengthened 20mm spring
Housing materials
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Everglide Sunset Yellow both have different materials used for their top housing. The Sea Salt Lemon features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The polycarbonate material is known for being relatively stiff, resulting in a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate is ideal for RGB lighting. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow utilizes a POM top housing, which produces an incredibly pleasing sound with a deeper and more muted tone. While both materials contribute to a unique sound profile, the Sea Salt Lemon's polycarbonate provides a sharper sound, while the Sunset Yellow's POM produces a deeper and relatively more muted sound.
In terms of the bottom housing, the Sea Salt Lemon incorporates a nylon material, which creates a deeper and fuller sound profile. Nylon is known for being a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. In contrast, the Sunset Yellow utilizes a POM bottom housing, which also contributes to a pleasing and unique sound profile. This sound profile is on the deeper side and relatively more muted. While the materials differ, both nylon and POM materials contribute to a deeper sound, enhancing the overall typing experience.
When comparing the impact of the top and bottom housings, it is important to note that they have different effects on the sound and feel of the switch. The bottom housing has a more significant impact on the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switch. This means that the material of the bottom housing in both the Sea Salt Lemon and Sunset Yellow will influence the overall sound and feel of typing. On the other hand, the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. Therefore, the choice of top housing material, whether it is polycarbonate or POM, will affect the sound profile when letting go of a key.
In summary, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and Everglide Sunset Yellow differ in the materials used for their top and bottom housings. The Sea Salt Lemon utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, providing a sharper and crisper sound, while the Sunset Yellow features a POM top housing, resulting in a deeper and more muted sound profile. Both switches have nylon and POM bottom housings, contributing to a deeper and fuller sound. While they have their distinct qualities, the impact of the top and bottom housings should be considered for both switches' sound and feel.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch and the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch, we can see that both switches fall into the medium-light category. The Sea Salt Lemon has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 53 grams, while the Sunset Yellow has an actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 51 grams.
In terms of weight, both switches offer a similar experience. Those who prefer a lighter typing experience may appreciate the slightly lighter actuation and bottom out forces of the Sunset Yellow switch. This can be beneficial for extended typing sessions or long gaming sessions, as it reduces the strain on the fingers over time. However, those who prefer a more substantial typing experience may opt for the Sea Salt Lemon switch, which has slightly heavier actuation and bottom out forces. This provides a stronger push feel when typing, giving a more satisfying tactile feedback.
Overall, both switches have relatively similar force requirements, making them suitable for users who prefer a medium-light feel. The slight differences in actuation and bottom out forces offer a subtle variation in typing experience, allowing users to choose according to their personal preferences. Whether one prefers a lighter or heavier switch, both the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Everglide Sunset Yellow provide options that cater to different typing preferences.
Travel distance
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a travel distance of 3.2 mm. The Sea Salt Lemon offers a more traditional travel distance, providing a deeper press and a more substantial feeling when pressing down on the keys. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow offers a slightly shallower travel distance, which may be preferred by gamers looking for faster response times. The shorter travel distance of the Sunset Yellow allows for quicker key presses, ideal for quick and precise movements in gaming. However, for those who prefer a more substantial and satisfying key press, the Sea Salt Lemon with its longer travel distance would be the better choice. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on personal preference and the desired typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80, whereas the Everglide Sunset Yellow comes in at $3.09.
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
The Sea Salt Lemon linear switch is known for its buttery smooth typing experience, thanks to its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design. It has a low-pitched sound profile, which means it offers a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. This neutral switch is suitable for most users, whether they are beginners or advanced typists, and whether they plan to use it at home or work. In terms of feel, the Sea Salt Lemon offers a mild and approachable typing experience, with qualities that stand in a safe middle-ground zone.
On the other hand, the Everglide Sunset Yellow linear switch has a captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding. With a rich, bassy, and decadent sound, typing becomes an indulgent experience. It is described as having a bassy sound profile, with a lower frequency range that resembles the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Additionally, it produces a thocky sound, which is deep, rich, and satisfying. The Sunset Yellow also offers a distinct gliding feel, thanks to its unique POM stem and proprietary factory lube method. It has a medium-weight, making it suitable for a wide range of users. The combination of very short travel and a long-pole stem ensures a sharper and highly responsive typing experience. It offers a creamy, frictionless, and polished typing experience, with a smooth and effortless feel and reduced friction.
In conclusion, both the Sea Salt Lemon and the Sunset Yellow linear switches offer unique and desirable qualities. The Sea Salt Lemon provides a buttery smooth typing experience with a low-pitched and neutral sound profile. Its mild and approachable feel makes it suitable for a wide range of users. On the other hand, the Sunset Yellow offers a captivating and indulgent sound profile, with a bassy and thocky sound. Its distinct gliding feel, medium-weight, and shortened travel provide a highly responsive typing experience. It offers a creamy, frictionless, and polished feel, ensuring smooth and effortless typing. While the two switches have their own unique characteristics, users can expect similar results in terms of smoothness and performance when using either option.
Conclusion
In closing, if you are looking for a linear switch with a medium-light bottom out force that provides a buttery smooth typing experience, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon is a great choice. These switches have a neutral sound profile, offering a mellow and bass-heavy tone. The Sea Salt Lemon also offers a mild typing experience, with qualities that stand in a safe, middle-ground zone. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a captivating sound profile reminiscent of mahjong tiles colliding, the Everglide Sunset Yellow is the way to go. These switches have a rich and decadent sound, characterized by a deeper and bassy tone. The Sunset Yellow also offers a creamy, frictionless, and polished typing experience, with a distinct gliding feel. Ultimately, the decision between the Sea Salt Lemon and Sunset Yellow switches comes down to personal preference in terms of sound and feel.
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