KTT Sea Salt Lemon vs. Jwick Taro
An in-depth look at the KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Jwick Taro switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Jwick Taro are two popular mechanical keyboard switches that offer unique experiences for users. The Sea Salt Lemon, a linear switch, is best known for its smooth typing experience. With a progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design, these switches provide a buttery feel while typing. They are categorized as low-pitched, neutral, and mild. On the other hand, the Taro, a tactile switch, offers a cozy typing experience with a snappy medium-level of tactility. The Taro switches produce acute and crisp clacks, giving users an auditory feedback while typing. They are categorized as neutral, buttery, and stepped. Both switches have their own distinct characteristics and appeal, making it enticing to choose one over the other. However, let's dive deeper beyond these generalities so you can ultimately decide on the best switch that suits your preferences and needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
53g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
No
Factory lubed
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
13mm progressive spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon and the Jwick Taro both feature polycarbonate top housings. This type of housing material creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, resulting in a clear and resonant sound. Additionally, due to its translucency, polycarbonate is ideal for switches with RGB lighting. Therefore, both the Sea Salt Lemon and the Taro will provide similar sound characteristics and visual effects when it comes to the top housing.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both the Sea Salt Lemon and the Taro utilize nylon. This classic switch housing material offers a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its relatively softer plastic composition. Nylon absorbs more sound compared to harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound when typing on switches. Thus, both these keyboards will provide a similar typing experience in terms of sound, as the nylon bottom housing is responsible for the bottom-out sound and feel.
While the top and bottom housings of the Sea Salt Lemon and the Taro differ in material, both contribute certain qualities to the overall switch. The bottom housing primarily influences the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. Despite their differences, both keyboards will provide a satisfying typing experience and deliver unique sound profiles thanks to the combination of polycarbonate and nylon in their respective housings.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch and the Jwick Taro tactile switch, there are some notable differences. The Sea Salt Lemon has an actuation force of 45 grams, which means it requires a relatively light touch to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the actuation force of the Taro is not available, so it is unclear how much force is required to activate this switch. However, in terms of bottom out force, the Sea Salt Lemon requires 53 grams of force, while the Taro is heavier at 67 grams. This indicates that pressing down on the Taro switch will provide a more substantial typing experience compared to the Sea Salt Lemon.
Considering weight, lighter switches like the Sea Salt Lemon are often preferred by individuals who intend to type for extended periods or engage in prolonged gaming sessions. The lighter actuation force allows for faster typing and reduced finger fatigue. On the other hand, some users prefer switches with heavier actuation forces to provide a stronger push feel and a more satisfying typing experience. These switches require more force to trigger a keystroke, which some individuals find more substantial and enjoyable.
In conclusion, the KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch has a lighter actuation force and bottom out force compared to the Jwick Taro tactile switch. The Sea Salt Lemon requires 45 grams to activate and 53 grams to bottom out, while the actuation force of the Taro is unknown, but its bottom out force is 67 grams, making it a medium-heavy option. These differences in force requirements can greatly impact the typing experience and should be considered based on individual preferences and typing needs.
Travel distance
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Jwick Taro tactile switch has a travel distance of 3.7 mm. In terms of travel distance, the Sea Salt Lemon has a slightly longer distance compared to the Taro. The 4.0 mm travel distance of the Sea Salt Lemon is a more traditional option, providing a deeper feeling when pressing down on the key. On the other hand, the Taro's 3.7 mm travel distance is slightly shorter and may appeal to gamers who prioritize faster response times. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Jwick Taro has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Taro for $4.25.
The KTT Sea Salt Lemon comes in at $2.80 per 10 switches.
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 Sea Salt Lemon is characterized by a low-pitched tone. This means that it produces a more bass-heavy and mellow sound compared to higher-pitched switches. On the other hand, the Taro switch is also described as having a neutral sound profile, meaning it has a moderate sound level. Both switches offer a moderate actuation force requirement, making them suitable for most intents and purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced user, and whether you plan to use them at home or work. It should be noted that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps chosen.
In terms of feel, the Sea Salt Lemon provides a mild typing experience. This means that it offers a more gentle and approachable feel compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. The Taro switch, on the other hand, is described as buttery. This implies that it offers a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. It provides a seamless, effortless, and uniform typing sensation. Additionally, the Taro switch is also described as stepped, which means that it has a tactile feedback with two stages. It offers some pre-travel and/or post-travel, making it feel more mild compared to switches with a larger tactile bump.
Overall, both the Sea Salt Lemon and the Taro switches offer unique subjective qualities. The Sea Salt Lemon provides a buttery smooth typing experience with its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design. It offers a low-pitched sound profile and a mild typing feel that most users will find approachable. On the other hand, the Taro switch offers a cozy typing experience with a snappy, medium-level of tactility. Its sound profile is also neutral, and it provides a buttery and stepped feel. If you are looking for a similar typing experience in terms of sound and feel, both switches offer qualities that can provide comparable results. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preference and the specific requirements of the user.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a smooth and effortless typing experience, the Sea Salt Lemon linear switch would be a great choice for you. With its progressive spring and KTT's dry-lube design, these switches offer a buttery smooth feel that is approachable to most typists. Additionally, the Sea Salt Lemon has a low-pitched and neutral sound profile, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users in any setting.
On the other hand, if you prefer a tactile switch with a snappy typing experience, the Jwick Taro switch is the way to go. These switches provide a cozy and medium-level of tactility, accompanied by acute and crisp clacks. With a bottom out force of 67 grams, the Taro switch offers a medium-heavy feel that is preferred by those who enjoy a more pronounced keystroke.
In terms of sound, both switches have a neutral profile, making them versatile options for any user and environment. However, the Sea Salt Lemon's low-pitched characteristic adds a mellow and bass-heavy tone to its sound, while the Taro switch offers a similar neutral sound profile.
Overall, the Sea Salt Lemon is known for its mild and gentle typing experience, while the Taro switch is described as buttery and stepped in feel. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your preference for linear or tactile switches, as well as your desired typing experience. Whether you prioritize smoothness or tactility, both the Sea Salt Lemon and Taro switches offer unique qualities that cater to different typing preferences.
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