Interviu

La Computex-ul de anul acesta, organizat ca de obicei in Taipei, Taiwan, am avut din nou ocazia sa stau de vorba cu Aaron Licht – CEO-ul be quiet!. In randurile de mai jos puteti citi discutia noastra, axata pe noua gama de periferice prezentata la Computex, provocarile intampinate si motivatia din spatele deciziilor luate. Lectura placuta!

1 – Why did be quiet! decide to enter the peripherals market, and how did acquiring Mountain in 2022 influence that decision?

Expanding into peripherals was an evolutionary step for be quiet! – a way to bring our expertise in silence and precision engineering to the devices users interact with daily. We saw an opportunity to create high-performance tools that reflect the same quality and reliability we’re known for in cooling, cases and power supplies.
The acquisition of Mountain in 2022 was key. Their modular design philosophy and user-first innovation perfectly complemented our strengths. Their former keyboards inspired much of our current lineup, and their team brought valuable experience in customization and premium build quality. Together, we’ve created peripherals that are quiet, powerful, and deeply adaptable.

2 – From a technical perspective, what specifically makes be quiet!’s peripherals stand out in the crowded gaming peripherals market of today?

Three pillars define our approach: silence, modularity, and engineering precision. We wanted to address real user needs that are often overlooked. Everyone knows that one teammate on Discord whose keyboard is louder than their voice, or if you live with a partner and enjoy late-night gaming, a silent keyboard can minimize the typing volume as an essential disturbance factor. That’s why we invested heavily in making our mechanical keyboards exceptionally quiet.
Another area where we wanted to stand out was advanced modularity. We love the idea of converting a full-size keyboard into a TKL layout within seconds, controlling music volume with either hand via the flexible media dock, or storing all your essential shortcuts on the eight customizable display keys for instant access. Every detail, from the Hardware to software, is engineered for performance, flexibility, and long-term reliability.

3 – Is silence still the primary focus of your new peripherals? Can you highlight the engineering methods or technologies used to achieve silence in your keyboards?

Silence remains a core pillar of our identity, but as with our other product categories, we set out to create gear that not only reflects our signature acoustic engineering but also delivers top-tier performance for competitive gamers and demanding professionals alike.
Our keyboards feature a triple-layer acoustic insulation system, the Dark Mount for example is combining foam dampening and in addition on the Dark Perk with silicone mats to reduce internal resonance. All switches and stabilizers are precisely pre-lubricated to minimize friction and noise, in addition the space bare includes additional internal foam for further sound dampening. We paid close attention to material selection—not just the robust aluminium top plate, but also the nylon-infused plastic switch housings, which help absorb keystroke impact and reduce high-frequency noise.
Beyond silence, we’ve integrated features that enhance productivity: customizable display keys, modular hot-swappable layouts, and a cross-platform compatible web software that allows users to tailor their setup to their exact needs.

4 – The Dark Mount keyboard offers modularity and unique display keys—what technical innovations and user benefits does this product bring?

The Dark Mount is a showcase of modular engineering and user-focused innovation. At its core are eight customizable display keys – powerful tools for streamers, creators, and power users. They can launch apps, trigger macros, acting like a built-in command center.
Modularity goes beyond the keys. The removable numpad docks on either side, and the media display is flexible for both left- and right-handed users. We also paid attention to small but impactful details—like the split wrist rest. Traditional wrist rests often become unusable when the keyboard is angled for gaming. Ours is divided into two parts: one for the main board and one for the numpad. You can even attach the smaller section to the left side for extra support during intense sessions.

5 – Could you explain the main technical differences between the Dark Mount and Light Mount keyboards?

The Dark Mount is fully modular with a detachable numpad and media dock, while the Light Mount is a more traditional, streamlined design. Both share the same switch technology and build quality, but the Light Mount offers a richer LED illumination, is more compact, and features a 3D aluminium media wheel and five macro keys instead of display buttons. It’s ideal for users who want performance but don’t need the modular extras.

6 – Why did be quiet! decide to develop custom mechanical switches instead of using readily available alternatives?

We wanted full control over the acoustic profile, actuation force, and durability. Off-the-shelf switches couldn’t meet our standards for silence and feel. Our Orange (linear) and Black (tactile) switches are factory-lubricated, hot-swappable, and designed with a 45g and 55g actuation force, respectively. They’re engineered for longevity and tuned to complement our ultra-low-noise philosophy.

7 – What are the standout technical features of the Dark Perk mouse, and how does it differentiate itself from competing models on the market?

The Dark Perk series is with 55g ultra-lightweight, wireless mice with USB-C charging, latest PixArt PAW3950 sensor with 32.000 DPI and the very latest MCU from Nordic, featuring poling rates up to 8000Hz, wired and wirelessly and optical Omron switches. In addition, it provides an exceptional battery life of up to 100 hours. We’ve focused on low weight, ergonomics, low-latency performance, and build quality. The be quiet! Dark Perk will support in depth macro programming and many additional customization options via our IO Center software, which is also by the way available as a web browser-based version as well, which requires no installation and can be used on Windows and Linux based PCs but also on Mac.

8 – How does be quiet! integrate Mountain’s design philosophy and expertise into its current peripheral products?

Mountain’s influence is deeply embedded in our modular philosophy. Their keyboards laid the groundwork for our recent releases, and their emphasis on user customization and premium materials aligns perfectly with our brand.

9 – What were some of the significant technical or engineering challenges your team faced when developing these new peripherals?

Achieving our signature silent performance in a mechanical keyboard was super important for us. We engineered custom nylon switch housings to absorb keystroke impact and pre-lubricated switches and stabilizers with high precision to reduce friction and noise.
We’ve developed a triple-layer dampening system using carefully selected foam and silicone blends to target specific frequencies and vibrations.
To further reduce unwanted noise, we implemented a precise and specialized lubrication process for both the switches and stabilizers, effectively eliminating this common sound source. Balancing these acoustic optimizations with modularity and satisfying haptics required extensive testing, but the result is a keyboard that’s both exceptionally quiet and high performing.

10 – Looking ahead, what new peripherals or technical innovations can we expect next from be quiet!?

First we’re launching the be quiet! Dark Perk mouse in the second half this year, but we are also going to launch some very interesting products in our components categories, e.g. Cases, Power Supplies and Cooling. Meaning fans of traditional be quiet! products as well as customers interested in our latest peripherals will have a good time.