Are you using one of the latest portable, mini desktop or all-in-one computers in your creative pro workflow? You’ve probably discovered that onboard processing power alone is not enough to get your job done. While these Mac, Windows, and Linux computers include high-performance Thunderbolt™ ports to support peripherals, they lack PCIe expansion slots necessary to install specialty cards that add needed video and audio I/O, transcode data, and connect to high-speed networks and shared storage.
Sonnet has the ultimate solution for connecting cards with high bandwidth requirements — Echo™ II DV Rackmount — a professional Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion system that enables you to connect two up to full-length (12.28 inches long), single-width PCIe cards to your computer, each to a separate Thunderbolt port (if needed) for maximum bandwidth to each card.
Some computers — such as the latest MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, Mac mini and iMac (plus some Windows PCs such as Dell XPS 9730)— have multiple Thunderbolt ports that are supported by separate 40Gbps Thunderbolt buses and provide up to 2880 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth to each port. Among multi-slot Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion systems, the Sonnet Echo II DV Rackmount is unique. Instead of using one Thunderbolt interface for two or three slots — which dynamically allocates the PCIe bandwidth between them — Echo II DV employs one interface per slot. With each slot getting Thunderbolt’s full PCIe bandwidth, you can exploit two cards’ full potential when connected at the same time to separate Thunderbolt buses on the computer, ideal for cards with high bandwidth requirement such as DV I/O, NVMe SSD storage, and 10 and 25Gb Ethernet adapters.
By employing a separate Thunderbolt interface for each card slot, Echo II DV is designed to provide full PCIe bandwidth to each slot when connected to two computer Thunderbolt ports that also have independent PCIe bandwidth. Computers with independent PCIe bandwidth to two or more Thunderbolt ports include all Apple M series Macs, and Intel Macs or PCs with three or four Thunderbolt ports. (A few Pro PC laptops with only two Thunderbolt ports support independent PCIe Bandwidth. Check your computer’s specifications.) Computers that share PCIe bandwidth between their Thunderbolt ports, that would provide only shared bandwidth to the two slots, include Intel Macs or PCs with only two Thunderbolt ports.
with any M series Mac and a few Pro Thunderbolt 4 PCs
with Intel Macs or PCs with 3 or 4 Thunderbolt Ports
Does your computer have only one available Thunderbolt port? Because each PCIe card slot’s Thunderbolt interface includes two Thunderbolt ports, you can connect the interfaces together in a daisy chain to enable Echo II DV Rackmount to connect to your computer with a single Thunderbolt cable.
with Intel Macs or PCs with only Two Thunderbolt Ports
Plugged into one or two of your computer’s Thunderbolt ports, the Echo II DV Rackmount system enables you to connect two up to full-height, single-width professional PCIe cards. Watch the following video to learn more about the performance benefits of the Thunderbolt controller in Sonnet’s pro line of Thunderbolt products.
Echo II DV Rackmount supports every Thunderbolt compatible, single-width, non-GPU PCIe 4.0, 3.1, 2.0, and 1.1 card available including video capture, streaming and transcoding; SSD storage; audio DSP; 10Gb or 25Gb Ethernet; SAS or SATA host bus adapter; and other specialty types to your system.
Do you have a card in mind but aren’t sure it’s compatible? We’ve put together a compatibility list that identifies cards conforming to Thunderbolt technology requirements and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems.
Connects two high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards via one or two Thunderbolt cables to your computer lacking expansion slots.
One interface per slot supports full PCIe bandwidth to each installed card, enabling maximum performance at the same time.
Two ports connect to computer for maximum performance; secondary ports support daisy-chaining of Thunderbolt interfaces to enable single-cable connection to computer.
Every Thunderbolt compatible, single-width, non-GPU card supported regardless of length or height.
You can connect each side of the Echo II DV to a separate computer. Each side operates independently of the other. It’s like having two single-slot systems in one, saving rack or desktop space.
Dual temperature-controlled, variable-speed Noctua fans rated at 17dBA automatically and quietly cool the cards.
Supports full PCIe bandwidth for each installed card.
Provides robust and secure protection in server and DIT racks; space for an additional Sonnet expansion module (sold separately).
Supports all M series Macs and Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Supports Windows computers with Thunderbolt 5 or Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Supports Linux computers with Thunderbolt 5 or Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Founded in 1986 in Orange County, Southern California — the vibrant hub of technology and engineering south of Silicon Valley — Sonnet has been at the forefront of innovation. Over the years, we've developed numerous award-winning products that enhance performance and connectivity for Mac, Windows, and other industry-standard computers. Many of our team members have been with us for over two decades, providing us with extensive expertise about our current and past offerings. If you ever need technical support for any of our products, don’t hesitate to reach out; we’re here to assist you.
Echo II DV Rackmount features two x16 PCIe slots with support for a wide variety of cards. For power-hungry cards, Echo II DV integrates a universal 400W power supply and includes dual 75W auxiliary power connectors (one for each card slot) for non-GPU cards that require extra power, including AJA Kona 5, Blackmagic DeckLink 8K Pro, Bluefish444 Epoch and KRONOS SDI cards, and Avid Pro Tools | HDX. Designed without a power switch, Echo II DV powers on and off automatically with the connected computer, saving energy in the long run. With no power switch, you can’t forget to turn off the system!
Echo II DV Rackmount mounts in a rack space 2U tall, and is only 16.5 inches deep, making it ideal for use in a wide range of popular mobile racks, carts, and rack cases, and in server rooms as well. Its enclosure is formed of heavy-duty steel to provide secure mounting for the Echo II DV module and protection for the PCIe cards installed inside, and to support maximum airflow for cooling, regardless of where you install it in a rack.
The Echo II DV Module, the core component of the Echo II DV Rackmount, takes up one half of the rackmount enclosure, leaving room for an additional Sonnet expansion module to customize the system for your specific needs. If your computer, like the Mac Studio or M2 Pro Mac mini, has four Thunderbolt buses, you can add another Echo II DV Module to fully harness your system’s capabilities, allowing four high-performance PCIe cards to run at full bandwidth. Alternatively, you can opt for the Echo III Module, which enables you to connect three full-height, full-length cards through a single Thunderbolt cable. If you're looking to secure a previous generation Mac mini in a rack, consider the xMac mini Module (2018-2023), which allows you to mount your mini and integrates a Thunderbolt SSD storage dock (add up to 16TB of storage) — all within a compact 2U rack space.
Echo II DV Rackmount includeds adjustable rackmount extension rails to enable the 2U enclosure to be installed securely in a variety of racks from 16 to 24 inches deep.
Featuring dual Noctua fans, Echo II DV Rackmount is designed to deliver ultra-quiet operation so that it can be comfortably used in noise-sensitive environments. Rated at 17.1dBA — below the 20dBA ceiling prescribed for use in recording and broadcast studios — the fans spread the spectrum of their noise to minimize the impact at any single frequency. To further ensure negligible noise levels, the fans are temperature-controlled, automatically speeding up and slowing down smoothly as needed, and the enclosure is engineered to optimize airflow over the installed cards to effectively and efficiently cool the system.
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.
Whether noisy PCIe card fans make it impractical to use the Echo II DV Rackmount in a noise-sensitive environment, or because securing it in another room is required, you may find it necessary to put some space between the chassis and computer. No problem! Thunderbolt optical cables (sold separately), available in lengths from 5 to 50 meters, enable you to locate your equipment where you need and connect the pieces without loss of functionality. These thin, lightweight, and tough fiber optic cables are easy to route, and support high-speed data transmission equal to copper Thunderbolt cables.
Sonnet Thunderbolt products feature a high-speed Thunderbolt interface that delivers PCIe bandwidth needed to support data transfers at full speed.
Choose between Echo II DV Rackmount and Echo II DV Desktop to suit your workflow needs. Echo II DV Desktop is wrapped in a rugged, yet lightweight aluminum outer shell, resulting in a system light enough to carry without weighing you down, yet sturdy enough to securely protect the installed PCIe cards.
Echo II DV Module is also available as part of xMac Studio, the Sonnet 3U rackmount enclosure with Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion system for Mac Studio computers. Combine the power of an Echo II DV Rackmount with an xMac Studio/Echo II DV to connect four bandwidth-hungry PCIe cards to a Mac Studio, each to a separate Thunderbolt port for maximum bandwidth to each card.
Echo II DV Module is compatible with our DuoModo family of modular Thunderbolt expansion systems, comprised of interchangeable modules and enclosures so you can quickly and easily interchange modules depending on your workflow.
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