Sonnet Echo III 3-Slot Thunderbolt 5 PCIe Expansion System - Desktop

About: Sonnet Echo III 3-Slot Thunderbolt 5 PCIe Expansion System - Desktop

Today’s laptop and mini desktop computers with ultra-high performance Thunderbolt 5 ports offer tremendous onboard processing power, but don’t have the PCIe slots required for connecting adapter cards that add specialized ports and processing capabilities critical to your workflow.

Echo III T5 Desktop provides the slots you need. Using the included Thunderbolt 5 cable, this professional Thunderbolt 5 expansion system connects three full-length (12.28 inches) PCIe cards simultaneously to your Thunderbolt 5, 4, or USB4 Mac, Windows PC, or Linux computer. Add nearly any compatible (non-GPU) PCIe card to create the professional setup your workflow demands.

• Adds Connectivity and Capabilities – Connects three high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards via a Thunderbolt 5 cable to a computer that lacks expansion slots.
• Three PCIe 3.1 Slots – One x16 plus two x8 slots support three full-height, single-width cards, or one double-width card plus one single-width card.
• Thunderbolt 5 to PCIe Device – Provides 3400 MB/s aggregate, bi-directional PCIe bandwidth to the installed cards when connected to a Thunderbolt 5 computer port.
• Comprehensive PCIe Card Compatibility – Every Thunderbolt-compatible, non-GPU card is supported.
• Avid Pro Tools | HDX Compatible – Use three Pro Tools | HDX PCIe cards with no additional parts needed.
• Pro Power – Integrated 400W power supply with 75W auxiliary PCIe power connector for power-hungry cards; saves energy by powering on/off automatically with the computer.
• Remarkably Quiet – Dual temperature-controlled, variable-speed Noctua fans rated at 17 dBA automatically and quietly cool the cards.
• Rugged Aluminum Housing – Provides robust and secure protection.
• Connect an Additional Device – Secondary Thunderbolt port provides 15W of power for an additional Thunderbolt or USB device.
• Mac Compatibility – Mac with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt/USB4 ports. OS support: macOS 15+; compatible with macOS 27.
• Windows Compatibility – Windows computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports. OS support: Windows 11 25H2+ and Windows Server 2025.
• Linux Compatibility – Linux computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports. OS support: Supported Linux kernel, 6.6 or later.
• PCIe Card Compatibility – For a list of compatible PCIe cards, see PCIe Card Compatibility list for details.

Three PCIe 3.1 Slots: 3400 MB/s Aggregate, Bi-directional PCIe Bandwidth

Echo III T5 Desktop features one x16 and two x8 PCIe 3.1 slots. When connected to a Thunderbolt 5 computer port, the system provides 3400 MB/s aggregate, bi-directional PCIe bandwidth to the installed cards. This system supports single- and double-width PCIe 4.0, 3.1, 2.0, and 1.1 cards, including video capture, streaming, and transcoding; audio DSP; 10Gb and 25Gb Ethernet; SSD storage; SAS host bus adapters; and other specialty cards.

Comprehensive PCIe Card Support

Do you have a card in mind but aren’t sure it’s compatible? We’ve created a compatibility list that lists many cards conforming to Thunderbolt technology requirements and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems.

Avid Qualified for Pro Tools

Install Three Pro Tools | HDX PCIe Cards – No Extra Parts Required. At the flick of a switch, the Avid compatible Echo III T5 Desktop system is optimized to support three Pro Tools | HDX PCIe cards, with no extra parts necessary! This system has been tested and is qualified by Avid Audio group  for use with Avid Pro Tools 2026 software, and Avid Pro Tools, Pro Tools HD, and Pro Tools Ultimate systems.

Power to Spare. Smart Operation.

Echo III T5 Desktop supports power-hungry cards with ease. Its integrated universal 400W power supply includes a 75W auxiliary power connector for non-GPU cards that require extra power, including AJA KONA 5, Blackmagic DeckLink 8K Pro G2, and Avid Pro Tools | HDX. Designed without a power switch, the Echo III powers on and off automatically with the connected computer to help conserve energy. And because there’s no power switch, you can’t forget to turn off the system!

Dual Noctua Fans: Ultra-quiet Operation

Echo III T5 Desktop is built for noise-sensitive environments, delivering ultra-quiet performance with dual Noctua fans that operate below the recommended 20 dBA limit for recording and broadcast studios. The temperature-controlled fan speeds adjust smoothly as needed, while optimized airflow efficiently cools installed cards, keeping the system quiet under demanding workloads.

Light, yet Rugged

Echo III T5 Desktop uses a lightweight, rugged aluminum outer shell to securely house the inner assembly that holds the installed PCIe cards and the integrated power supply.

Secure Connections for High Performance

Thunderbolt 5 Cable and ThunderLok Included.Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt 5 cable that supports Thunderbolt’s maximum bandwidth and is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3 computers. Sonnet also provides ThunderLok, a Thunderbolt connector cable lock, that prevents accidental cable disconnections.

• ThunderLok Advantage: Many Sonnet Thunderbolt products featuring Thunderbolt ports come equipped with threaded mounting holes to securely attach a Sonnet ThunderLok connector lock, preventing Thunderbolt cables from accidentally disconnecting.

Thunderbolt 5: More Than Just the Fastest External Interface Available

Echo III T5 Module features an ultra-high-speed Thunderbolt 5 interface that delivers the PCIe bandwidth needed to support demanding cards at high performance. The system includes two Thunderbolt 5 ports: one connects to the computer, while the second enables you to connect an additional Thunderbolt or USB peripheral device:

• Powers Peripherals. 15 watts is provided to bus-powered USB or Thunderbolt devices requiring extra power through the secondary Thunderbolt port.
• Connect One 5K Display Using Spare Bandwidth. Maximize the utilization of one computer Thunderbolt port, connecting a 5K display while retaining full PCIe bandwidth.

Specifications

• Hardware
  • Form Factor: Thunderbolt desktop enclosure
  • External Connectors
    • Two Thunderbolt ports
    • Power (C14-type)
  • Internal Connector: 6-pin auxiliary power; provides up to 75W of power for PCIe cards that require supplemental power
  • Expansion Slots (Facing Rear, Left to Right)
    • One x8 mechanical (x8 electrical) PCIe 3.1
    • One x16 mechanical (x8 electrical) PCIe 3.1
    • One x8 mechanical (x4 electrical) PCIe 3.1
  • PCIe Cards Supported
    • Three full-length, full-height, single-width PCIe cards or
    • One full-length, full-height, double-width PCIe card, plus one single-width card
  • Power Supply: Universal 400W, 115-230V AC, 50-60 Hz
  • Operating Temperature: 0ºC to 35ºC (32ºF to 95ºF)
  • Warranty: 2-year
  • Weight: 9.7 lbs (4.40 kg)
  • Dimensions (WxDxH): 3.5 x 16.7 x 9 in. (8.9 x 42.4 x 22.9 cm)
• Compatibility
  • Mac Compatibility
    • Mac with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt/USB4, or Thunderbolt 3 ports
    • macOS 15+; compatible with macOS 27
  • Windows Compatibility
    • Windows computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports
    • Windows 11 25H2+
    • Windows Server 2025
  • Linux Compatibility
    • Linux computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports
    • Supported Linux kernel, 6.6 or later
  • PCIe Card Compatibility
    • Click Here for a list of compatible PCIe cards

What's in the Box

• Echo III T5 Desktop Thunderbolt Expansion System
• Power cable
• 6-pin PCIe auxiliary power cable
• 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable
• ThunderLok-A connector lock
• Documentation