Introduction
Amongst chassis manufacturers Antec stands out as one of the most popular companies. Even though primarily known for their chassis Antec has already expanded their influence in different directions with other quality hardware such as their power supplies. Their cases are usually very unique and we have reviewed models from Antec before. Everyone likes to show off their cool case with unique designs but that’s not the goal especially in budget builds. This time for review we have much simpler but more affordable case the Antec Sonata Proto which is an extension of the similar design in Sonata Elite and Sonata III 500.
The testing will include basic functionality and installation of the case. How well it fits the hardware, the features available and overall pro’s and con’s.
Antec’s take
Elegantly Silent
The affordable Quiet Computing™ case is here. Introducing the Sonata Proto: get all the features and performance of the renowned Sonata line of enclosures without breaking the bank. With 9 drive bays, 7 expansion slots, an intake air filter, the Sonata Proto offers a plethora of features and has all the quiet performance that the Sonata line is famous for. Along with its convenient front mounted USB 2.0 and HD audio connectors, the Sonata Proto is the ideal combination of silence, efficiency and affordability.
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Features
- 9 drive bays:
External 3 x 5.25″
External 2 x 3.5″
Internal 4 x 3.5″
Internal 1 x bottom-mounted 2.5″ SSD drive - 7 expansion slots
- Advanced cooling system:
1 rear 120mm TwoCool™ two-speed switch control exhaust fan
1 middle (optional) 120mm fan - Built-in washable air filter
- Front mounted I/O ports:
2 x USB 2.0
Audio In and Out (AC’97 and HDA compatible) - 0.8mm cold rolled steel for durability
- Power supply not included
- Compatible motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX
- Unit dimensions:
16.7″ (H) x 8.1″ (W) x 18.2″ (D)
425mm (H) x 206mm (W) x 463mm (D) - Package dimensions:
19.8″ (H) x 10.5″ (W) x 21.5″ (D)
502mm (H) x 267mm (W) x 546mm (D) - Weight:
Net: 16.7 lb / 7.5 kg
Gross: 22 lb / 10 kg
Certifications:
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To See an overall feature comparison of the entire Sonata family please click here.
Sonata Proto is made of cold rolled steel painted in black with glossy finish. The front panel is plastic with a lockable front panel door. The left side panel is opened by pulling a latch and it can be locked with the same key as the front panel door. The right side panel is permanently attached to the case.
The case can hold up to 3 external 5.25″ drives and 2 external 3.5″ drives. It supports Mini-ITX, microATX, and standart ATX motherboards, up to four hard drives and 1 2.5″ SSD drive.
Closer Look (Exterior)
Sonata Proto is almost identical to previous versions of the same family with exception of certain features. The first one that jumps out right away is the lack of eSATA port. The front panel has 2 USB ports and headphone and mic in jacks. The lockable front and side panel door brings back memories of my father’s failed attempts at preventing me front using the computer. The side panel was a little awkward to open, not much trouble but I had to tug it pretty hard.
 Right Side |
 Front Panel |
 Left Panel |
At the bottom you can find a whole through which you can remove the filter. There are no intake or exhaust fans on the front panel and there isn’t any space provided for the fans. However there is a vent duct on the sides of the front panel and the air filter. The computer case stands on four rubber feet.
 Filter |
 Vent |
The back panel is standard. Antec chose to place the PSU on the top. Right below the PSU you can find the only fan, which is the 120mm exhaust fan. There’s enough expansion slots to cover SLI or Crossfire.
 Back Panel |
Let’s open the side and have a look at the interior of the Antec Sonata Proto.
Closer Look (Interior)
The inside isn’t painted or annodized but at its low cost this is to be expected. Additionally given the fact that the case does not have a window, showing of the inside is not a top priority of the consumer for this case. The lone 120mm fan sits on the back panel to exhaust hot air from the CPU and motherboard components. The Sonata Proto can fit any standard/microATX or mini-ITX motherboard. It has enough space to fit flagship video cards but they will be tightly fit against the drive bays with no space in between. Additional thought should be given to the heat generated in a smaller case with use of such cards.
One problem I came across was the fact that it’s virtually impossible to place the mother board before PSU. This causes plenty of issues. First and foremost, if you didn’t realize the issue right away the motherboard will be often the first thing to be placed and screwed in and if done in this manner the PSU will not fit through the space provided. Another issues will come if you ever need to replace your PSU, such as in the case of getting a new card or simply replacing an old PSU for one with higher wattage or more efficiency. Taking apart the whole build and then putting it back together just to replace PSU isn’t something anyone is happy to do.
The drive slots have been well thought through and this is apparant. Though they are not completely tool free, the removable sliding bay makes it much easier to install drives and devices. The whole casing leaves space behind the drives which allows for proper wire management.
 Overview |
 120mm Fan |
 Drive Bays |
Behind the 5.25″ drive cover you’ll find the brackets for your drives. Again, these are not tool free so you still need a screw driver to put them on the drive. After that the drive can be easily inserted into the bay.
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 Right Side |
 Front Panel |
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Summary and Conclusion:
The case overall is unimpressive, even for the price. Though I am a fan of simpler designs this case just doesn’t add any features. The main flaws are lack of venting, irremovable right side panel, awkward to open left side panel, hard to open front side panel, only 1 fan to move the air out of the chassis not counting PSU fan. Front panel only has audio in’s and out’s and 2 USB ports. Power button behind the door can become tiresome or you’ll just end up having the door open all the time (personal experience). Being unable to install PSU after placing the motherboard adds a lot of easily avoidable trouble.
Adding an extra fan either on the side panel or couple smaller fans on the front panel(right where the filter is) would add a lot of air flow. The “Silence” part of the chassis only comes from lack of fans and venting since there isn’t any sound proofing done on this case, and any video card or CPU fan makes this fan just as noisy. Thus, adding extra fans and venting isn’t going to make it any less silent but the benefits would be clearly noticeable. Making an easily removable PSU is a very simple and cheap design change that can save bunch of trouble. Front panel can definitely use an eSATA, which is actually implemented on Sonata Elite.
Wire management was on a decent side, there was plenty of space behind the HDD bays to stick all the wires. The 5.25″ and the HDD drive bays weren’t tool free but they are much easier to install, which for someone who swaps the hard drives a lot, is a necessary feature. It’s surprising that many chassis makers avoid this trend.
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Techwarelabs Relevant Reviews
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Never underestimate the ease of use of a smaller case. I have found my personal preferences have gone toward these smaller cases and away from the full tower cases just due to weight and portability. Of course installation and customization is never easier than with a larger case.