Be Quiet is taking quite a gamble by extending its range to include peripherals. A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to preview these products at the company’s headquarters in Germany. The first challenge takes the form of a duo of two mechanical gaming keyboards. That’s a tough one when you’re Bequiet! and you’re trying to reduce the noise that is so characteristic of this style of keyboard.
These mechanical keyboards are designed for gamers, designers and pros who want to type quickly and quietly. They come with two types of keys: linear or tactile, depending on what you like. In addition, be quiet! is releasing a software called IO Center for customising keyboards and other devices. A web version, IO Center Web, also works on almost all systems.
Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet! says: “With the Dark Mount and Light Mount, we’re not just introducing a new product category, we’re setting a new benchmark for what gamers and designers want from their keyboard. These models reflect everything that be quiet! stands for: cutting-edge engineering, discreet design and an uncompromising focus on performance. We’ve paid particular attention to acoustics, the feel of each keystroke and the overall user experience. This launch marks the start of an exciting new chapter for us, and we’re proud to bring our expertise in silence and quality to the world of peripherals.”
Dark Mount: proven power and precision
Light Mount: advanced multimedia control with unique lighting effects
Special feature of the two Be quiet!
The switches
The Dark Mount and Light Mount keyboards are equipped with high-quality silent mechanical switches, designed by be quiet! with great care. These switches undergo strict testing to ensure that they always work properly, that they stand up to the test of time and that they remain fluid. They support Full N-key rollover and anti-ghosting, which ensures that every key pressed is taken into account.
Types of switch
There are two versions of switches: linear (orange), which are very smooth with little resistance, perfect for playing or typing quickly, and tactile (black), which offer a pleasant feel with every press, for greater precision and responsiveness. All the switches and stabilisers are already lubricated to make them comfortable to use. Customisation fans can also easily replace them with other 5-pin MX-type switches.
Noise reduction
The keyboards use a special system to limit noise. The Dark Mount has two layers of foam plus a layer of silicone, while the Light Mount has three layers of foam. This reduces the sound of the keys while maintaining a good feel when typing. Internal materials reduce vibration and echo, for quiet typing with no loss of quality. So these keyboards are perfect for quiet places, while still offering the feel of a top-of-the-range mechanical keyboard.
The Be quiet! software
The IO Center software for Windows from be quiet! gives users total control over their keyboard settings, lighting and macro customisation. Through an intuitive interface, IO Center allows users to create custom key assignments and fine-tune ARGB lighting effects. In addition, the IO Center web application works with Chromium-based browsers, Windows, macOS and Linux. This powerful software ecosystem ensures a truly personalised typing experience tailored to the needs of each user.
Pricing :
Both models will be available from April 29th, at a recommended retail price of €259.90 (Dark Mount) and €169.90 (Light Mount).