Product Description

The third chapter in the Quiet Computing story written by Antec - it's everything you've come to expect from the prestigious Sonata line with even more upgrades and improvements. The Sonata III is whisper quiet when it comes to system noise while with the new High Definition front audio ports the sound you want your system to make will be crystal clear. And the front eSATA connector allows for simple data transfer. And all that means the Sonata III is the perfect combination of style, silence and efficiency.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2971 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Antec
• Model: SONATA III 500
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 10.50" h x 19.50" w x 21.50" l, 26.00 pounds

Features

• EarthWatts 500-Watt power supply (80PLUS certified)
• Front mounted USB, eSATA, HDA & AC'97 Audio In/Out ports
• Metal double hinge door allows the door to open up to 225 degrees
• Built-in washable air filter keeps harmful dust out of your case
• 0.8mm cold rolled steel for durability

Amazon.com Product Description
The Antec Sonata III 500 Super Mini Tower combines style, silence, and efficiency. The Sonata III is whisper quiet when it comes to system noise and the High Definition front audio ports ensure that music will be crystal clear. Use the convenient front eSATA connector for simple data transfer. It is all powered by the EarthWatts 500-watt power supply unit, which is equipped with universal input and Active PFC. This power supply unit is 80-plus certified, one of the most efficient available.

The Antec Sonata also features improved overall air intake for better and quieter cooling. To keep your systems running cool, it has one rear standard 120-millimeter TriCool fan with a three-speed control and one optional front 120-millimeter case fan. This case has a total of nine drive bays--three 5.25-inch external bays, two 3.5-inch external bays, and four 3.5-inch internal bays that are held in individual trays with silicone grommets to absorb hard-drive vibrations. The Antec Sonata is designed to fit motherboards up to standard ATX. It measures 16.7 by 18.2 by 8.1 inches (HxDxW) and weighs 20.2 pounds.

Other features include:

• Metal double hinge door opens up to 225 degrees
• Constructed from 0.8-millimeter cold rolled steel for durability
• Built-in washable air filter to keep dust out of your case
• Front-mounted USB, eSATA, HDA, and AC'97 audio in/out ports

Customer Reviews

Good case but BIG problem could damage system
There is a very big and annoying problem with this product. It does not adequately discharge static electricity. If it has been running for a while and you, or your pet, brushes up against the metalic insert on the front of the panel, you can discharge your energy and crash the system. This happens all the time for me when inserting a USB drive. Antec is aware of the problem, here is their response:

Comment: 1. We are working on this problem with a high priority, and have already tested multiple proposed fixes. Unfortunately, the problem is turning out to be more difficult than anticipated. The case is currently being tested in a special ESD lab.
2. The metallicized plastic IS grounded. That fact is one of the reasons this problem is proving so difficult to pin down.
3. We cannot refund monies that were not paid to us, but if a customer needs help returning product to a distributor we can usually help arrange that if the distributor is being uncooperative.
4. We actually expect an answer fairly soon, and as soon as we can we will be making it available to customers encountering this problem. We definitely apologize for the inconvenience, but Antec is well known for the quality of its customer service and for the way we stand behind our products.

UPDATE 3/17/08: As an update, Antec has come up with a solution. they have replaced the front silver metallic panel with a flat piano black panel. I have yet to see if this will fix the problem, but I think that bodes well to their commitment to fixing the issue.

Excellent case for home theater PC. High wife approval factor.
This is an excellent case for my home theater needs. Very quiet and extremely well put together. Installing the motherboard and drives was very easy. The locking front is absolutely essential if you have young children. It prevents them from powering on and off the system. I previously had one of my hard drives crashed by one of my cute little button pusher. Thank goodness for backups. Could not ask for a better case in this price point.

The old Version of the case was better
I bought my first sonata case 2 years ago and love it. This new one is ok, but not as nice as the old models. The case finishing is lousy, has an orange peel texture instead of a smooth finish like the old cases. The rubber feet came off when I pulled it out from under my desk (cheap glue instead of being screwed or plugged into the case. The door that covers the drives feels cheap and flimsy. I get the feeling antec has moved their production to the lowest bidder for their cases now.

There is a fan switch for the rear fan of this case with a low med and high setting, however there is no where on the back of the case for the switch to fit and be accessible, I have it hanging out of an extra lan port on the rear plate.

On the plus side the case still has rubber mounting for all the drives and the fans are very quiet.