Antec Sonata Series SOLO II Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
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- The SOLO II?s dual-layer 1.0 mm SECC / polycarbonate top & side panels absorb noise for exceptional sound dampening.
- Supports: MOBOs-Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX, Graphics cards up to 15″, 2 x USB3.0, 2 x USB2.0, Audio In/Out,
- HDD supports: 3 x 3.5″/2.5″ using Trays, 2 x 3.5″ with Suspension mounts, 2 x 5.25″ external, 1 x 2.5″ internal dedicated
- Cooling: 1-rear 120mm True Quiet w silicon groumets and 2 speed switch, removeable front Fan Filter.
- Select your own PSU(Antec we hope) and customize your case. Also features 7 expansion slots while working with Graphics cards up to 15″!
The SOLO II emphasizes Quiet Computing™ and reinvents Antec’s renowned Sonata line with a new set of attractive, practical features. Externally, the SOLO II’s dual-layer 1.0 mm SECC / polycarbonate top & side panels mounting absorb noise for exceptional sound dampening. To reduce vibration-related noise, the dual hard drive mounting system gives you the option of mounting your hard drives using tray mounts with silicone grommets – compatible with 3.5” and 2.5” – or the tool-less suspension mount system. SOLO II offers further customization with a dedicated 2.5” SSD drive mount and space for graphics cards up to 15 inches long. An anodized aluminum front bezel and piano black exterior create an understated, professional appearance. Additionally, two front panel USB 3.0 ports and a flip-down drive cage with removable, washable front fan filters provide the convenience you seek. With a customizable layout, sturdy construction and elegant aesthetics, the SOLO II is the rebi
Antec Computer cases
Antec Sonata Series SOLO II Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
List Price: $ 129.95
Price:
Best case for normal desktop PCs,
This is not a gaming case. It only has two external 5.25″, three internal 3.5″, and one internal 2.5″ slots. This is a case for most people’s desktop requirements. This case is perfect for my two hard drivea and two CD/DVD drives.
It has a beautiful glossy finish. However, owners will need to buy a silicone gun & reel polishing cloth (available from any sporting goods store) to remove fingerprints. A little more polishing is needed on this case as compared to aluminum ones, but when you are finished the finish is really nice to look at.
The side panels have a polycarbonate piece added onto the steel, which makes for a heavier panel, but also makes for a quieter system. Don’t drop the side panel onto your foot because you are expecting a light aluminum panel. This is not a light case and the sides do not wiggle.
The three internal 3.5″ slots employ trays and are very easy to use. You can also use their suspension system to install only two 3.5 drives, but the instructions warn you that they might fall when the case is moved. For me, this makes the suspension system useless. Besides, the trays are so easy to use and have soft rubber mounts to absorb vibrations. The trays slide through the front of the case and detach, allowing you to screw hard drives into the tray while the tray is sitting on your ESD mat. I hate the hard drive cages of other manufacturers which must be completely removed, populated, and then reinstalled.
Assuming you are not using the silly suspension system, the orientation of the hard drives, i.e. parallel to the case, makes it easy to install hard drives. You remove the tray through the front, screw the drive into the tray, slide the combo into its slot, and connect SATA wires to the front of the tray.
The top of the case has a vent for the power supply. This is great if you are using a fanless PSU, but it is also okay for PSUs with fans. Antec sized the vent to perfectly fit its large PSUs, e.g. their High Current Pro 750 and 850 watt models which are 7.1″ long. Anything shorter will allow someone to see inside the case and air will leak into the case there as well. Does this really matter? Probably not, but a little more noise would escape. Also, the vent does not include a true air filter; the vent will not exclude dust, as each hole is the size of the business end of a ballpoint pen.
Installing the PSU is a pain because the only under-support is the horizontal bar you see in the photos. You almost need three hands to hold the PSU while screwing it in.
The power button is the best possible design because it is a large circle, i.e. easy to press with a human finger.
Only one fan is included, on the rear, and it is a TrueQuiet 2-speed 120mm model. Antec should have included a 3-speed TriCool one instead, as the TrueQuiet fans do not move as much air. Two filtered 120mm mounts are included on the front of the case in between the front panel and the hard drive cage, but fans are not included. I highly recommend that buyers immediately add two fans of their choice — I suggest Noctua or Antec — because the interior case temperatures will be too high without them. I installed two Noctua 120mm fans running at full speed and the Intel i5 CPU temperature hovers around 30C, the Western Digital 500GB Black drive runs at 27-29C, and the Crucial Ballistix memory runs at 22-23C.
Because there is no drive cage on the bottom, you can install some really long graphics cards depending upon your mainboard. And the bottom front fan will have an unobstructed airpath to those cards. The top front fan cools the hard drives.
The four bottom pads are made of the same soft rubber as the hard drive mounts. I suspect they absorb more vibrations that the usual hard rubber ones typically found on the bottom of cases.
The front of the case is where the fans draw their air, unlike Antec’s Sonata cousins which draw air from the side. All air is filtered through two air filters. One thing that is not obvious at all from the photos is that there are actually three front vents, a vertical one on each side and one at the bottom. The bottom vent means that this case should not be mounted on the floor or even just 1-2″ above a rug unless you want to clean the filters every week.
There are two USB 3.0 jacks, two USB 2.0 jacks, a headphone jack, a microphone jack, a power switch, and a reset switch on the front panel. There is an LED which appears as a blue ring around the power switch; this is well done but a little bright. I do wish Antec had supplied an eSATA jack, however. I am happy they did not include a FireWire jack — FireWire is so last century — but you might not agree with me. The two USB 3.0 ports are fed by a 20-pin motherboard header. If your motherboard does not include one of these headers, you can buy an add-on card (SIIG promised me they…
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|The best silent case just got better,
This is not a case for everyone, this is a case design for people looking to build a quiet PC,
Pros:
– Side panels and top case with dampening material
– Good size, bigger than sonata but still i would say smaller than mid tower
– Best HDD mounting system for someone looking for little noise coming from HHDs, suspending on bands.
– Top PSU, this is no for all but with Seasonic X400 it plays great for venting on top.
– Very well built, as all Antecs, solid steel, but this is more personal preferences.
– Easy to get positive pressure, 2 fan on front, one fan on the back.
– Fan filters, easy to reach, clean and re install.
Cons:
– Very little space for cable management, its hard to finish a clean build, but it can be done, just gotta be a little more thoughtful when building.
– Top vent, its good for a fanless PSU but its a hole where noise can get out.
– Paint n finish, the body is the classic pianno black glossy that the sonata has, looks great but also dust and finger prints are easy noticeable, i would like more a matte finish like the front.
– Limited airflow, should be fine for a mainstream build, but high end and OCing might not be ideal.
– Price, for what it costs, it should come with 3 fans at least.
Overall this is a really good case for someone looking to make a quiet build, for OC and people looking for a high end setup look elsewhere.
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|Good Case,
Pros
The case is very well made. Sure, there is the plastic front cover but it doesn’t feel cheap by any means. The case is meant to be built around a silent computer, not a hardcore gaming machine, but you can turn it into one (as i will describe below). Top mounted power supply is a nice touch, given the lack of space behind the motherboard for hiding thick cables. You can easily hide the cables in an unused 5.25″ bay.
Cons
If you are trying to install front intake fans, you will be disappointed in the amount of air that can be pushed through with the front cover on. I bought some cougar fans that are rated at 70 cfm, and they could barely blow any air through, even after I took off the front filters to!
Other
While I listed it as a con that the front intake fans are “starved for air”, there is a remedy if you are willing to tinker. I am actually using this in a desk that has a CPU holder on the inside. So, I can only see the front of it. If you notice, there are grooves to allow cold air to enter the tower and they also serve as intakes for the front fans. What you can do to allow more airflow is to take off the front plastic cover, and remove the screws located on the outside edge. This will allow you to remove those plastic pieces. Once you un-snap them, and turn the fans on…the difference is HUGE! Now, it doesn’t look great when looking at it from the side, but it definitely works.
To people who think the power button is too “flimsy”: The power button is connected by a stretchy rubber piece to minimize noise. It feels sturdy and should not cause a problem.
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