Reviews for Antec Quiet Mini Tower Case

Antec Solo

Strengths: Small and compact, lighter than a full tower, many metal parts (unlike a plastic-based Dell), reflective piano black finish on the top and sides, blue LEDs

Weakness: Power button LED can be seen from the side so it can blind you sometimes, interior is more cramped than a larger case, back I/O plate was quite hard to get off

Starting from the outside, the Solo is very luxurious-looking. Its piano black finish, simple coloring, and lack of a window make it look much more professional than the numerous gaudy "gamer" cases out there. The blue LED's for HDD activity and power make it look nice too. The power button has a nice feel to it, but the reset button does not for some reason. It just doesn't "click" right.

For the interior, case includes the Antec TriCool fan. If you set the case fan to low, it's virtually silent. I usually hear the video card's fan the most. The motherboard used was a Gigabyte DS3. The brass screws that lift it from the side of the case didn't match up. Only 6 of them lined up and the 7th wasn't there. This caused a little flexing in the board while I was installing the RAM and HSF--causing unnecessary grief for me.

Supposedly the material on the insides of the case keep the computer quiet. I have never had a custom-built PC before so I can't really compare it to anything. My Dell Dimension 8200 was already VERY quiet compared to most custom PC's.

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with my purchase. Just remember to install your parts in a logical order so you can reach all the spots you need to get at. It'll be tight in there compared to an Antec P180.

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Silent Elegance

Strengths: Classy, conservative, beautiful looks. Glossy piano black finish. Drive suspension system. Backed by Antec. Good design for good airflow and noise reduction.

Weakness: Some may wish for more room inside to work with. Finish can scratch easily and fingerprints can show easily, so must handle with care and wipe ocassionally.

If you're looking for a case to house your next computer, this is a great option, especially if you want elegant styling, low noise, and an overall well-designed case with nice touches like sound-dampening pads on the side panels and a suspension system for hard drives.

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Good mid-tower case for < $40

Strengths: Professional looking that easily blends into most environments, removable front cover and easy-to-install front intake fans, drive bay side wire organizer

Weakness: Albeit overall good build quality the case uses lesser materials than Antec P180/B. Not really a con if the price is < $40

Antec Solo mid-tower case has an overall solid build quality, however, the company's Quality Check (QC) is questionable. I'd suggest anyone who purchases this case inspect it inside-out carefully as soon as possible (before it passes the return period.) The two Solo cases I purchased, one has very loose hard drive trays that rattle during normal HD operation, the other has a cheesy loosey (which makes rattling noise after every touch) power & reset buttons that may break any minute. These are the common "weakest links" in any mid-tower case design and unfortunately, Antec doesn't want to enforce a strict QC level on this model. So if you find your new purchase exhibits the same problems, exchange your case before the return period is up.

I purchased this case for its advertised quietness but I wasn't very impressed. The noise containment power of the Antec Solo, is between Antec Sonata (slightly louder) and Antec P180 (much quieter). You will have to use low RPM 92mm/120mm fans to keep the case quiet, but then you sacrifice the internal air flow. The P180's 3-layer composite side panels dampen the noise more efficiently than the Solo's plastic linings. BTW, the P180 has a better internal air flow design that keeps the system temperature cooler than the Solo case.

All in all this is an ok case for conservative and/or professional system builders. It blends into the furniture (home theatre/office environment) easily, provides useful configuration options inside, and covers the system noise adequately (though not dead silent which I'd prefer.) But if you want more I'd suggest Antec P180/B which can be had for $50 ~ 80 after rebate as of late.

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Antec Solo

Strengths: as advertised and more

Weakness: none

It came with every standoff and screw I could have needed.

The manual is excellent. It has the pin diagrams for everything... connections to usb, audio and firewire. If your motherboard doesn't match the common audio block plug that is on the Antec Solo's cable, this case also has each wire on single blocks to attach front audio however you need to.

I've got two hard drives, and one of them is a scsi. I can't hear the hard drives anymore except a tiny bit of occassional read/write clicking. I know how loud these hdd's are, and this case has cut the noise down to almost nothing. The thing I hear now is the chipset fan, and that thing is just real loud period. With all the same components from my former case in this one, the noise level is way down... drastically.

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Antec Solo Mid Tower Case

Strengths: Solid thick steel construction. Harddrive suspension systems. Simply and elegant design. High quality paint.

Weakness: Airflow is low. Plastic button could break any second.

This is a great case from Antec. My complete system built with this case is extremely quiet. Two harddrives in suspension mode eliminates all vibration/seek noises. The rear 120mm fan is pretty quiet on 5v. The paint is absolutely stunning. This is a very simple and elagant design. The only thing I have to complaint about is the power button. It feels like I will break it everytime I push it. There is a simple mod with metal button if you search around. I highly recommend this case.

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Antec Solo quiet mid-tower case

Strengths: Very well thought out and solidly constructed

Weakness: Not quite as stylish as my Antec Sonata

This is a wonderfully well thought out and solidly built computer case for the quiet pc / htpc enthusiast. It's not as stylish as my Antec Sonata, but it has much better airflow and a great hard drive suspension system (to minimize hard drive vibrations from causing the whole case to pulse and hum annoyingly).

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Antec Solo - A great case

Strengths: Attractive case, well built (heavy), system stays cool, system stays quiet, cable management system, mid-tower size.

Weakness: Heavy

I'm very impressed with the styling of this case, though the heft is a bit more than I expected. The black with silver accents looks superb. The case is heavy before adding any components. However, the weight is one of the reasons this computer is so quiet. The case has an extra sound-deadening layer (dual-layer design) to keep noise from reaching beyond the case. And the case has some other nifty features to reduce noise besides the enclosure. The drive mounts, if mounted directly to a drive tray, have rubber grommets to deaden hard drive vibration. Further, the drives can be mounted within a stretchable band such that the drive is suspended and not really touching anything. This is great if you have noisy drives. However, use caution with this method - the drives could come out if the computer is toted around - say to a LAN party. If you intend to tote your computer, I would suggest mounting directly to the drive tray to ensure stable drives. I tried both methods out of curiosity, but could not really hear any difference. Either one achieved my goal of a quite computer. There is a 3-speed fan at the back which, when on low, is very quiet. Of course, if you turn up the speed, it is more noticeable, but never interfered with any conversations in range of computer. And even at the high setting, was quieter than my current computer. When mounting the motherboard, it seemed a bit cramped getting it in, but everything fit nicely with plenty of room and the case comes with a cable management system of hooks along the side of the drive cage. This allows you to route all your cables out of sight and out of the way to allow more cooling air flow without cable interference. This is one well built computer case and one that should last many years and many computer builds. I highly recommend this case for its quietness and stunning good looks.

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perhaps the best "standard" case

Strengths: silent, solidly built, aesthetics, no included PSU

Weakness: no included PSU

I have owned a dozen cases so far (three Antecs), and the Solo tops them all. There's nothing to fault in the quality and design. Attention to details in every corner is superb. I did not want the P180 with the PSU compartment on the bottom due to the non-standard wiring required. There are also other excellent HTPC cases and LAN party cases, but the Solo is perhaps the best "standard" form factor case. The case does NOT come with a PSU which is a plus for me but a minus for some.

Detailed review can be found here: www.silentpcreview.com.... Note that the Solo is the black version of P150 without the PSU.

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Better looking follow-on to the Sonata II

Strengths: Easy-to-remove front bezel, nice looks, piano gloss black finish, noise dampening panels, heavy, drive rails, rubber HDD grommets or elastic HDD mounting, stiff I/O shield

Weakness: Heavy, piano gloss black finish, cramped interior, HDD elastic mounting system, no speaker

Prior to acquiring the Antec Solo, I'd assembled a system in the Antec Sonata II, so I had an idea of what's entailed by a case designed to be quiet.

With an Antec TruePower II in the system, the only sound to be heard is the whir from the stock Intel cooling fan. In fact, there would be less noise if the Solo didn't have the huge 120 mm rear fan and its associated opening.

As other reviewers have said, the interior is rather cramped, but this appears to be a by-product of all the wiring associated with the power supply. A modular power supply into which only those cables that are required are plugged, like the Antec Smart Power 500 or other higher end options, would solve some of the cable cramping problem. Going to SATA from PATA would help with the rest.

One thing I learned very quickly with the Solo: Install your power supply first! This might seem like common sense to some people, but it hadn't occurred to me. The cases I've been working with recently are old, early ATX-era full towers, and it is entirely possible to remove from and install a power supply into one of these without touching anything else in the system. Not so with the Solo once a motherboard and CPU are installed.

I tried the elastic HDD mounting system but did not twist the mounting tabs a sufficient number of times, and, for this, I was rewarded with my HDD slipping out of the elastic mount and crashing into the back of the case. I opted for the rubber grommet mounts instead -- which are twice as thick as those on other Antec cases -- and was able to boot the system.

The piano gloss black finish is quite classy, but you will get fingerprints all over it during system assembly. Wiping the panels with a dry, soft cloth will take care of this. I'd also note that the Solo will attract dog hair in carpet because of its slick black finish.

So, overall, the Solo is definitely a notch up from other Antec mid-tower cases. Recent promotions have had it selling for $19.99 after rebate, so the price is definitely right if time is not of the essence.

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Classy and Silent Mid-Tower Case

Strengths: Solid case construction, professional look, includes speaker, microphone, USB, and Firewire ports on the front.

Weakness: Power and reset buttons are hard to push, tight working environment, lacks motherboard tray.

After looking over the many choices of cases these days, the Antec Solo stood out as a very professional-looking case that would blend right into any home-office, home theater, or computer room.

Although the Solo lacks a motherboard tray, which would have made installation much easier, I found that it wasn't too difficult to work inside the case. My only problem was connecting the front panel connectors to the motherboard headers, but otherwise I found it easy to install the power supply, DVD-ROM drive, and hard drive into place. One nice feature was that hard drives are installed with silicone grommets that dampen vibrations and keep the case quieter.

Overall the case was on the quiet side (although particular parts inside will make the most difference in noise). It's certainly much quieter than "gamer" cases which house 4 or more case fans. I'd definitely recommend it if I were to build another desktop.

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Antec SOLO

Strengths: Hard drive suspension system, great looking, sound dampening panels

Weakness: Heavy, mirror finish shows fingerprints easily

I had fairly quiet hardware, but I couldn't eliminate the seeking sound from my hard drives. The hard drive suspension system in this case eliminated the seeking noise from my hard drives. This is the ultimate case for people who want a quiet computer. With the right parts, you can have a silent system.

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Slick Black Stealth

Strengths: Nice 120mm fan speed controller for the exhaust fan Stylish blue LED, unlike the green/red blinking lights. Glossy exterior Hand screwed side panel for easy access HDD bay with cable suspension.

Weakness: Still requires screws for regular HDD tray and DVD roms, though it's more of a preference. Front bezel doesn't stay on when opened all the way, unless you work on hard floors.

I enjoy having this case around! I made it so there aren't any blue LED lighting in the front, though it does look classy with it on, and it's the quietest case I've had thus far. The HDD suspension is pretty sweet, with two 92mm fans for intake in the front. Something that might get a little annoying is when you push the button for the DVD rom to close, it may get caught on the black lip and you will have to manually push the lip down a tad to let the DVD rom close. It's a great case, and the extra noise reduction sheets on the inside are a plus. Same goes for the glossy black finish on its exterior.

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Good case!

Strengths: quiet sturdy construction, beautiful.

Weakness: Too Heavy, No PSU included (P150 has it ).

Good looking well thought out case. Easy to work on. Excellent for the price.But the power and reset buttons seem a little cheap. Front fans not included. Its still a good case. I like it.

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Design and Silence in perfect synergy

Strengths: Airflow, noise suppression, and clean industrial design

Weakness: Weight and cheap plastics

Having migrated from a P180 due to the faulty door design, I wanted to experience the "sibling" of the Antec silent series. I can attest now that the SOLO makes a bigger leap silence performance wise than its older brother.

The strengths lie in the fact that this case was designed for the silent hobbyist in mind. Airflow and those little attention to details will make you smile. Though not SILENT, the noise suppression really works because it is so efficient in funneling the hot air produced by the CPU or the video card so that the fans don't have to spin at full max. If anything, coupled with expensive fans, this system gives any processor a chance at being inaudible.

While the strengths certainly make up the bulk of its praise, some of the weakness do detract from the overall rating. Antec has lately chosen weak third party suppliers for their plastics. Hinges and gaps do not hold up. If you don't swap components, you will never notice. If you frequently upgrade, then it will start to vex you. A compromise is making sure you don't swap components at an above average rate. Lastly, the weight of this case does figure if you are moving the computer from residence to residence. If this is a set once and forget about it computer, this weakness is moot. Weight does give credulence to noise suppression, so it really is a tradeoff that I'm willing to make.

Overall, you will love this case. Nothing shiny aesthetically (besides the early 2000s fad of an obscenely BRIGHT/BLINDING LED), this case masks a more masculine form of the personal computer coupled with substance. Apple products might make a nice porn shot for Madison Ave. marketing campaigns, but if you value substance over the latest trends, this PC Case makes a fine base component for any build.

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Nice looking case

Strengths: High quality solid case, well designed

Weakness: It's pretty heavy, The opening for the powersupply is very small.

Overall, this is a great case, Looks nice.
The blue LEDs for the power and HDD make it look even better.
Case is very well constructed both
inside and outside, very easy to install components.
It has nice features for noise abatement, harddrive suspension.
I'm very pleased with this case,
I would definately buy this case again.

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Excellent Case!

Strengths: Solid construction. Quiet with speed controlled 120 mm fan. Good looking.

Weakness: Nothing to complain about. Everything that I wished for. Might be too small for a larger video card though like the 8800 series nvidia

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a good, quiet case. I personally like the simplistic styling. All of its features work well to make a quiet machine. It has upgrades from is silver brother the P150 with fabric suspension mounts instead of rubber mounts. The rubber ones were reported to breaking sometimes after a year.

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Worth Every Penny!!

Strengths: Ultra Quiet, fabric based Hard Disk Drive suspenders, Built-in washable air filters (No more compressed air to buy to clean fans!), lockable side pannel (extra security), beautiful Piano Black look!

Weakness: No Power Supply included! This is actually a positive for me since I wanted a non Antec power supply for an SLI certified PSU!

The shiny case does leave finger prints, but I keep mine really clean. It's so beautiful and yet so quiet and functional! I was looking to buy a Dell due to their quiet designs, but I read that their fans are slightly underpowered to achieve their quietness. Also, I'm not a big fan of an all plastic exterior - has a cheap feel to them. This is an amazing case. I mainly purchased this to protect my hard drives. My old computer had its hard drive fail several times and I believe that protecting your data by good design is an excellent idea. Antec uses fabric based HDD suspenders, rather than rubber O-rings which break after a while, even if the elastic suspenders snap, the fabric will still hold to absorb HDD vibration, preserving your HDD to last you a very long time. It was a real pain losing all of my data when my HDDs failed, so this is a welcome change. If you're a gamer and want to run 2 Graphics cards simultaneously, you'll want a really good power supply. I chose this case to go with a Corsair 520W PSU since it's SLI ready! If you're not into gaming and would like a PSU included, you can't go wrong with Antec P150, which is almost identical to this Antec SOLO! If you build your own PCs, this is your next Case!!!!

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Antec SOLO case review

Strengths: Very stylish, well made, and very silent

Weakness: a little cramped on the inside, no power supply included

My Antec solo case is quite sleek with its piano black finish. It honestly doesn't look that great in pictures, but in person, out of the box, and all setup, it looks fantastic!

The case is very well made and lives up to its promise for delivering a quiet computing experience. The side panels contain sound-deadening polycarbonate that helps to kill the inside noises from inside the case. Also, I've found that using the rubber suspenders (instand of the standard tray mount) to mount the hard drives in the case does a nice job of reducing noise levels. This is, so far, the quietest case I have ever owned.

The case is also easy to take a apart and put back together. Well positions screws that you can undo and tighten with your hands are in the back and front of the case and allow for easy access.

The downside to the case is that it doesn't come w/ a power supply - which is to be expected considering its normal price. Though it does come w/ a 1 rear 120mm fan, it does not include two front 92mm fans (used to cool the hard drives). I think Antec should have thrown those two fans into the package. Also, if you add tons of things to your case, things might get a bit cramped as there isn't TONS of room on the inside of the case.

I bought this case for $19.99+tax after rebate, and for that amount, it's a steal!

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Antec Solo Case

Strengths: aesthetically pleasing, good size, nice design

Weakness: does not come with the two 92mm fans for the front

I got this case for 19.99 after rebate so I can't complain much but the case doesn't come with the 2 92mm fans for the front which cost me around another 20 dollars or a power supply. The hinged front is not good if your case sits on a rug. The design make s it hard to open and close I already chipped mine slightly because it got caught on the rug. I just ordered my fans so I can't really say how quiet the case is yet but when set the back fan to medium or high it get kind of loud, on low its pretty quiet.

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great case

Strengths: solidly constructed case, quiet, very roomy, looks great !

Weakness: The power and reset button is not solid

It is a well designed case, came with plenty of screws and has a nice 120mm fan on the back. The edges are rounded off so you don't cut yourself. This case offers excellent cooling, easy installation of components.
It looks great,
I highly recommend it, it is the best case i've owned.

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Best case ever

Strengths: ATX. Stunning finish (similar to the sonata series, not mirror finish, but close). VERY quiet (I cant tell my computer is on). Sturdy. Well thought out. Cooler than my previous case.

Weakness: Finish is subject to fingerprint madness. No PSU included (could be a good thing).

Antec is one of the best companies for enclosures. And this is perhaps their best product yet. With suspension HD mounting, options to expand the number of fans, cable management systems, and piano style finish, their case is hard to beat. The sides of the case are layered with sound-dampening material. Clearly very high quality. Similar to the P150, but black, better suspension system, and without the included PSU. Built for the hardcore PC modder who like to choose his PSU rather than have it bundled. If you like black, and have the money, get this case. If you are on a budget, get the P150. Either way, you cant go wrong.

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Nice Case

Strengths: Sound insulating pads, no front door like Sonatas and P180, both sides open

Weakness: Heavy, a little tight on space

I bought this to replace a Sonata I case. It has solid construction, a nice finish, includes a 120mm fan, suspended drive mounts, and sound deadening insulation. It is not an absolutely silent case, but unless you have a really loud graphics card, it will be quieter than anything in the standard case variety. No included PSU allows you to select the wattage and cable needs rather than being stuck with the manufactures whims. Depending on how your board is laid out, it can be difficult getting to some connections near the bottom of the case. Upfront USB, firewire, and audio is always good.

All in all, a good case.

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great case

Strengths: suspension mount for HDD, quiet sturdy construction

Weakness: Flimsy power and reset buttom

This is a great case, one of the best cases available for quiet computing. The front can be removed easily for easy installation of HDD and optical drives. The hard drive can be mounted 2 ways. It has the option for suspension mount or regular mount with rubber feet to avoid vibration.

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Antec SOLO

The SOLO is a mid-tower computer case from Antec. Part of the Sonata family, the SOLO attempts to bring quality computer cases to the masses. Representing one of the best price:performance ratios of whole Antec line-up, the SOLO contains a great deal of advanced features in an inexpensive package, such as dust filters, advanced cable management, hard disk suspension and sound dampening. An...

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Antec Solo

Testseek.com has collected 8 expert reviews for Antec Solo and the average expert rating is 93 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.

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Best Quiet Computer Case

Bestcovery experts have rated the Antec SOLO Silver/Black Mini Tower as a best pick for the Best Quiet Computer Case. This product has also been rated as a best pick for the Best Midsize Tower Case. Bestcovery's experts recommend the best products and services for a particular need based on extensive research and evaluations. Click below to see Bestcovery's full review of this product.

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