The Sonnet Echo III Desktop is a Thunderbolt to PCIe expansion chassis that connects up to three full-length PCIe cards to a Mac, Windows, or Linux computer via a single Thunderbolt cable. Housed in a black aluminium enclosure and powered by an integrated 400W supply, the Echo III enables professional users to add capture, audio, networking, storage, and other specialty PCIe cards to portable, mini desktop, and all-in-one systems that lack internal PCIe slots.
Advantages
Echo III supports non-GPU PCIe cards across PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 standards and accepts up to three full-length (12.28-inch) cards simultaneously. The chassis provides a stable 400W power source and a compact footprint (175 mm x 424 mm x 231 mm) in a durable black aluminium body. It enables high-performance video capture and transcoding cards, audio DSP cards, SAS/SATA host adapters, high-speed Ethernet adapters, SSD storage cards, and other specialty expansions for systems that only offer Thunderbolt ports.
Suitable for
- Video capture, encoding and transcoding workflows
- Professional audio processing with DSP cards
- High-speed network connectivity (10Gb/25Gb Ethernet cards)
- External SSD and storage controller expansion (SAS/SATA)
- Workstations using compact or portable computers without PCIe slots
Key specifications
- Form factor: External Thunderbolt to PCIe expansion chassis
- PCIe slots: Up to three full-length (12.28 in) non-GPU PCIe cards
- PCIe compatibility: PCIe 4.0 / 3.0 / 2.0 / 1.1 (non-GPU cards)
- Power supply: 400W integrated
- Dimensions: 175 mm (W) x 424 mm (D) x 231 mm (H)
- Housing: Black aluminium
- Interface to host: Thunderbolt (Thunderbolt 3 / Thunderbolt 4 compatible hosts)
- Manufacturer model: Sonnet Echo III (ECHO-3D-TB3)
How to use
Install up to three supported full-length, non-GPU PCIe cards into the Echo III’s PCIe slots following the chassis user guide and secure them in place. Connect the Echo III to a compatible Mac, Windows, or Linux computer using the Thunderbolt cable, then connect AC power. After powering on the chassis and host computer, install any required drivers or software for the installed PCIe cards on the host system. Verify card recognition in the host operating system and configure card-specific settings as needed for your workflow.
Usage recommendations
Use the Echo III with non-GPU professional PCIe cards such as capture, audio DSP, network, and storage controller cards. Check card length and power requirements before installation, and consult Sonnet compatibility resources for specific card and host combinations. For optimal performance, use Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports on the host and keep firmware and drivers up to date.
