Antec Veris Fusion 430

Examination:

First impression? Elegant case. Nice big knob. High quality build. At first glance, it looks like a mid-end receiver. Of course, on a second look, the drive cover and the USB ports would be a dead giveaway. In any case, the Fusion Black 430 would blend perfectly into any stereo setup. This is one of the most stylish HTPC cases we have seen. Antec has really tried its best to make the Fusion blend into your home theater. From silver-colored, padded silicone feet, to the classy aluminum face, to the big huge knob: everything is styled to match your receivers, CD players, etc. There is a very subtle Antec logo at the top right of the aluminum face panel. Directly under that is the big knob, which is part of the integrated VFD unit. To the left of the knob is a nice looking display screen. This VFD also has an integrated IR receiver; however, a remote is not included. It is supposed to be compatible with any MCE remotes. There are also two USB ports in the front, a Firewire port, and two audio ports (output and microphone).

On the right side of the case are two 120mm TriCool fans. As the name might imply, the fans have three speed settings so you can choose your level of cooling performance. This is a very nice feature to have.

The backside is the standard I/O panel and expansion slots. The top panel is held down by a thumbscrew and there is a locking tab for those of you who need the extra security.