Thermaltake Tenor VB2000 - Design Appreciation

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The Tenor case is truly a fantastic looking case. Its styling cues clearly come from the burgeoning living room multimedia PC as it mimics any number of pieces of stereo equipment. Its design is meant to eliminate any connections to it being a PC and further reinforces its core audience as the multimedia enthusiast market.

The front of the case features a bezel similar to (though rotated 90 degrees) a number of other Thermaltake cases (i.e. Mambo) but its design is a significant step up. The front bezel is produced out of aluminum and features a very innovative dual front door system over the optical and floppy drives. In most cases it would be a single door that would swing open on a simple hinge system, but the Tenor takes it a step farther with an innovative wheel and cog method to allow the door to rotate open at a stately and respectable pace on its own. Once the upper catch is released the drive door will rotate open under its own weight until it reaches a ninety degree angle parallel with the lines of the case and completely stop. It's certainly an eye-catching feature.

What really is impressive about the front bezel is the presence of the secondary door nearer the bottom of the drive door. This door does utilize the simpler hinge method to open and close and is meant to house the Thermaltake VFD Media Kit.

The Thermaltake VFD Media Kit is an optional component but certainly seems like a worthwhile addition to the Tenor case, and is worth picking up. With the lower lid open the VFD is visible and displays a very pleasing graphic equalizer effect. It also provides you with the ability to use a very convenient infrared remote control to manage all of your digital media content. Additionally, when you're done the panel can be closed and the quiet ambiance the case exudes is returned to your environment.

That is probably the greatest aesthetic strength of this particular case: its ability to be both striking and inconspicuous. When powered up two tiny blue LEDs illuminate the front of the unit from inside the curves of the bezel and the flip down drive door opens with quiet grace to allow you to insert your DVD movie or audio CD. It closes just as smoothly, allowing you to leave only the IR sensor and digital equalizer visible.

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