Pre-cut Kit for the Antec Sonata I (AP AntecSon)

The AcoustiPack pre-cut kit for the Antec Sonata contains 12 pieces of 3 different types of acoustic materials (acoustic foam, acoustic barrier, and acoustic composite). Each kit comes boxed, and with fitting directions.

This product is a pre-cut set of acoustic materials especially designed for the Antec Sonata Super Midi Tower. The Sonata has been engineered with quiet operation in mind - with features such as a quiet Antec PSU, HDD mounting grommets to minimise vibrational case resonance, a solid case front, rubber feet, and an internal rear 120mm temperature-controlled case fan as standard (with gel fan mounts).

Front Case Views plus open view of the AcoustiPack pre-cut kit for the Antec Sonata installed inside the case.

The pre-cut AcoustiPack™ for the Sonata adds to the sound dampening features built in to this case to help create a case that will run almost silently with along quiet quiet components. The kit consists of 5 acoustic foam blocks, and 6 shaped pieces of acoustic composite, and a shaped plain acoustic barrier piece for the case floor.

Some of the foam blocks are optional depending on how many internal components are installed. The acoustic foam pieces are designed to occupy unused void space inside the case, and serve to reduce internal volume and absorb internally generated noise. For example, fitting of one of the large blocks supplied into the void space under the HDD cage serves to 'duct' airflow from the front of the case through the HDD cage, therefore aiding HDD cooling.

Fitting Recommendations

Fitting Directions v1.2a 197Kb

Once you have the pre-cut kit for the Antec Sonata, work out where each part fits in the case and fit ONLY in the order shown on the instructions because some parts will NOT fit if installed before others!

The first part in this kit is very tricky to locate and will need special care. It is best fitted by removing the PSU and perhaps any upper 5¼ inch drives and then turning the case up-side down. The trick is to slot the part into its location without letting the self-adhesive stick prematurely. We have found it is easier to leave the optional rectangular 'push-out' (the one that fits behind the 'Antec' logo) in place and then remove it after fitting the entire piece rather than trying to fit this part after you have removed the 'push-out' rectangle (because the part becomes very floppy without the optional 'push-out').

We have found that removing only part of the backing sheet when fitting self-adhesive parts is the easiest way to fit them.For example, when fitting the self-adhesive door panel to the inside of the Sonata door - only peel back a small proportion of the backing sheet, locate the self-adhesive part against the hinge edge, and only when you are certain that the part location is correct proceed to peel back more of the backing sheet and stick more of the pre-cut material in place.

Please take care to read the fitting directions before assembling this product. It is the responsibility of the machine builder to position the materials appropriately to facilitate the normal functioning of internal components.

Reviews and Feedback

"After opening the AcoustiPack™ kit I was quickly able to understand where each of the composite tiles was to be fitted. I tried each of the tiles in their expected positions (without sticking them) and was immediately impressed with the accuracy of the tile cutting.

After removing the PSU, I set about finding a strategy for installing the first composite tile, which fits on the motherboard side of the case. This proved to be extremely difficult due to the narrow space which must be negotiated found between the outer casing and the 5¼-inch cage at the top/front part of the case. It is almost impossible to pass the tile to the front end since, when the backing is removed, the tile almost always sticks to the case before it is in position. After considerable perseverance I managed to get this tile into the correct position.

All other tiles were relatively easy to install. The floor tile could give minor problems if you do not slide it backwards under the PCI slot openings before sticking it down. The removable side panel composite tile was a good snug fit and I got that into position quite nicely by sticking it from the hinge end first, making sure it was lined up correctly before I stuck the whole tile to the panel. I noticed that due to the thickness of this tile, the side panel became slightly 'sprung' against the support beam inside the case. This did not prevent closing the panel successfully but I wondered whether this contact and springiness was not necessarily a good thing for the acoustic result - i.e. the case might become more 'dead' with zero contact between the support beam and the side panel.

The remaining blocks of foam were easy to place in the various cavities which remained after I had installed my hard drives and CD ROM. I also liked the snug fit of the composite tile on the front door of the case, (which was very easy to fit). I am sure that the AcoustiPack™ has made a significant difference to the noise level of my new music PC."

Simon Millward - UK
Author of: Fast Guide to Cubase SX (PC Publishing), Fast Guide to Cubase VST (PC Publishing), and Sound Synthesis with VST Instruments (PC Publishing). Contributor to: Future Music, Sound on Sound, and Music Tech Magazine.

"Simply put, the Sonata AcoustiPack™ made a quiet case silent. This combination allows users to easily achieve a silent computer and we were very impressed with the excellent attention to detail in the design of the AcoustiPack™." Graeme Clark - MD, KustomPCs, UK

"I have installed it (Part #1 is tricky - you don't say!) and I'm pleasantly surprised with the results. It's not that it 'magically silences' the PC, but it muffles it and the remaining noise is much more tolerable (no high-frequency whining). Thanks, I will recommend it to others." Iain Shepherd - UK

"Very easy to install and I'm very pleased with it." Carl, Sweden

"Great package. Installation is easy and fits perfect. Fan noises are absorbed and temperature doesn't raise. The case front is also a lot more solid" Sem, Belgium.

"Just to let you know I am very impressed with this product." Jethro, UK

"Fabulous, this has done so much toward making my PC acceptable in the living room." Tom, UK

"Great kit. Now, if you would just make one for the Antec Overture, I could quiet down my HTPC. Keep up the great work." William, Canada

"This precut Sonata kit was very easy to install, and it's nice knowing that everything will fit perfectly out of the box. One adjustment I would make, however, is the addition of a cutout for the reinforcement bar that is 1/3 of the way up the case." Chris, Canada

"Once it's in it's great." Alan, Ireland

"This product is very impressive, I never realised that my machine could get even quieter." Mark, UK

"I thought Antec had created the ultimate quiet PC case with the Sonata, but amazingly the AcoustiPack improves on this perfection. The silence is music to my ears." Alan, UK

"Nice product this one - the Sonata was already fairly low noise… but the less noise the better." John, UK

"Very very good pack. Very clear labeled instructions. Works well. I am so glad I did not have to cut up the sheets to fit my Sonata. Thanks for this." Jeremy, UK

"Great package – installation is easy and fits perfect. Fan noises are absorbed and temperature doesn't raise. The case front is more solid." Sem, Belgium

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