HMX Violet vs HMX Cheese

Overview

When it comes to switches, you know that every detail matters. HMX has quickly made a name for itself in the keeb world, known for producing ultra-smooth stock switches with minimal to no stem or housing wobble.

In this blog, we are comparing the two popular HMX switches: HMX Cheese and HMX Violet. Both have generated a lot of excitement with HMX Cheese selling over 80,000 units in less than half a year since it launched, and HMX Violet being featured in the popular WOBKEY Rainy75 Keyboard Lite and Standard series. But how do these two switches compare? Let’s dive into the details.

Product Details

HMX Cheese Linear Switch

Switch Type: Linear
Manufacturer: HMX
Stem Material: LY
Top Housing Material: PA12
Bottom Housing Material: PA-2
Actuation Force: 43g
Bottom Out Force: 46g
Mount: 5 pin
Pre Travel: 2.0mm
Total Travel: 3.5mm
Spring: 22mm single stage spring
Factory Lubed: Yes

HMX Violet Linear Switch

Switch Type: Linear
Stem Material: POM
Top Housing Material: PC
Bottom Housing Material: PA
Operating Force: 45g
Mount: 5 pin
Pre Travel: 2.0mm
Total Travel: 3.5mm
Spring: 22mm single stage spring
Factory Lubed: Light Factory Lubed

Material and Construction

Both HMX Cheese and HMX Violet are linear switches that come factory lubed. They use 22mm single-stage springs and have the same pre-travel and total travel distances. However, their construction materials set them apart. The HMX Cheese is constructed with a PA12 nylon top housing, a PA-2 nylon bottom housing, and an LY long pole stem. In contrast, the HMX Violet uses a PC top housing, a PA bottom housing, and a POM long pole stem. These differences in materials contribute to the unique sound and feel.

Operating Force and Typing Feel

The HMX Cheese operates with an actuation force of 43g, while the HMX Violet has a slightly heavier actuation force of 45g. Both switches are known for their smoothness right out of the box, with very little stem wobble. Both switches are very smooth in stock form and improve very slightly with hand lubing and filming.

Sound Profile

The HMX Cheese and the HMX Violet both have a bright, bold sound signature that is clean and clacky. However, the HMX Cheese has a clackier and higher-pitched tone compared to the HMX Violet. The sound profile makes these switches ideal for those who prefer a clean, clacky typing experience.

Sound tests of the HMX Cheese:

Sound tests of the HMX Violet:

Things to Note

One thing to note of the HMX Cheese and HMX Violet is that they appear to fit a little less snug on the PCB. So for those planning to build a plateless or half plate configuration (recommended to solder for plateless builds), the HMX Cheese and HMX Violet would require a little more attention when flipping the PCB over to solder. With builds including a plate though, there are no issues at all.

Comparisons to Other Linear Switches

HMX Macchiato vs HMX Cheese

Macchiato uses a POK stem material and Cheese uses a LY stem material.
Macchiato has a 4mm total travel and Cheese has a 3.5 total travel.
The Macchiato has a slightly heavier spring weight at 50g bottom out while the Cheese with a 46g bottom out.
Both have similar smoothness, tight stem wobble, and factory lube.
Macchiato is slightly lower pitched compared to the Cheese.

Gateron Oil King vs HMX Cheese

Gateron Oil King has a PA66 nylon top and ink bottom housing while the HMX Cheese has a PA12 nylon top and a PA-2 nylon bottom.
Gateron Oil King has a POM stem while the HMX Cheese has a LY stem.
Gateron Oil King has a 4mm total travel and HMX Cheese has a 3.5 total travel.
Gateron Oil King has a heavier spring weight at 65g bottom out while the HMX Cheese has a lighter 46g bottom out.
The HMX Cheese feels smoother and has less stem wobble than the Gateron Oil King.
Both come factory lubed.
The HMX Cheese is higher pitched and louder than the Gateron Oil King.

HMX Violet vs JWK WOB

HMX Violet has a PC top housing while JWK WOB has a PA top housing.
Both HMX Violet and JWK WOB have a PA bottom housing and a POM stem.
HMX Violet has a slightly heavier spring at 45g compared to the JWK WOB spring at 40g.
HMX Violet and JWK WOB have similar travel distances with a pre-travel of about 2.0mm and a total travel of about 3.5mm.
HMX Violet has a relatively brighter and more solid sound profile than the JWK WOB, which has a relatively deeper and softer tone.
HMX Violet has slightly tighter housing tolerances and less stem wobble than the JWK WOB.

HMX Violet vs HMX Hyacinth V2U

HMX Violet has a PA bottom housing while the HMX Hyacinth V2U has a modified nylon housing.
Both the HMX Violet and the HMX Hyacinth V2U have a PC top housing and a POM stem.
HMX Violet has a slightly brighter and louder sound profile than the HMX Hyacinth V2U, possibly due to the HMX Violet having a longer stem and the HMX Violet having a PA bottom housing.

Final Thoughts

Choosing between the HMX Violet and HMX Cheese ultimately comes down to personal preference. The HMX Cheese has a slightly lighter actuation force and sounds slightly clackier and higher-pitched compared to the HMX Violet. Whether you go for the HMX Cheese or the HMX Violet, you’re getting a top-tier switch that excels in both performance and quality. These switches represent the best of what HMX has to offer, making them worthy additions to any mechanical keyboard enthusiast’s collection.

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