Do you use one of the hot new laptops or mini desktops with ultra-high-performance Thunderbolt™ 5 ports in your creative pro workflow? Without PCIe expansion slots, those computers’ onboard processing power alone is probably not enough to get your job done. You still need the specialty cards that add needed video and audio I/O, transcode data, and connect to high-speed networks and shared storage.
Sonnet Echo™ II DV T5 Rackmount eliminates the limitation. This professional Thunderbolt 5 to PCIe card expansion system connects two full-length, single-width PCIe cards to your computer, each to a separate Thunderbolt port for maximum bandwidth to each card — it’s the ultimate solution for connecting cards with high bandwidth requirements.
Some of the latest computers — including MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/M4 Max) , Mac mini (M4 Pro), Mac Studio (M3 Ultra/M4 Max), and select Windows PCs — offer multiple Thunderbolt 5 ports, each with its own independent bus delivering 6000 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth. Echo II DV T5 Rackmount is designed to fully exploit that speed. Instead of sharing bandwidth across slots, it uses a dedicated Thunderbolt 5 interface for each slot, delivering full PCIe bandwidth to both cards at the same time. This means you can run two high-demand PCIe cards at full performance simultaneously — perfect for DV I/O, ultra-fast NVMe storage, and multi-port 10 and 25Gb Ethernet workflows.
Echo II DV T5 provides full Thunderbolt PCIe bandwidth to each slot when connected to two computer Thunderbolt ports that also provide independent PCIe bandwidth — 6000 MB/s with Thunderbolt 5 computers, and 2880 MB/s with Thunderbolt 4 and 3 computers.
with M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M3 Ultra Macs and a few pro Thunderbolt 5 PCs
with Intel Macs, and PCs with Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps) Ports
Because each PCIe card slot’s Thunderbolt 5 interface includes two Thunderbolt ports, you can connect the interfaces to each other to enable Echo II DV T5 Rackmount to plug in to your computer with a single Thunderbolt cable.
with Intel Macs or PCs with only Two Thunderbolt Ports
Connects two high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards via one or two Thunderbolt cables to your computer without expansion slots.
Supports full Thunderbolt 5 PCIe bandwidth (6000 MB/s) to each installed card.
One interface per PCIe 4.0 slot enables maximum performance from two cards at the same time.
Two ports connect to the computer for maximum performance; secondary ports support daisy-chaining of Thunderbolt interfaces to enable single-cable connection to the computer.
Every Thunderbolt compatible, single-width, non-GPU card supported regardless of length or height.
Each Echo II DV T5 PCIe slot operates independently of the other, enabling you to connect them to separate computers.
Two 75W auxiliary PCIe power connectors for power-hungry cards; secondary Thunderbolt ports provide 15W of power each to connected peripherals.
Dual temperature-controlled, variable-speed Noctua fans rated at 17dBA automatically and quietly cool the cards.
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 4, or USB4 ports.
Supports Linux computers with Thunderbolt 5 or 4, or USB4 ports.
Founded in 1986 in Orange County, Southern California — long recognized as a vibrant hub of technology and engineering — Sonnet has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly four decades. We’ve introduced award-winning products that expand performance and connectivity for Mac, Windows, and other industry-standard computers. Many of our team members have been with us for more than 20 years, bringing unmatched expertise across both current and legacy products. Should you ever need technical support, you can count on our knowledgeable staff to provide the help you need.
Echo II DV T5 Rackmount features two x16 PCIe slots with support for a wide variety of cards. For power-hungry cards, Echo II DV T5 integrates a universal 400W power supply and includes dual 75W auxiliary power connectors (one for each card slot) for cards that require extra power, including AJA Kona 5, Blackmagic DeckLink 8K Pro G2 (with main board [SDI ports] only), and Avid Pro Tools | HDX. Designed without a power switch, Echo II DV T5 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 T5 Rackmount supports Thunderbolt compatible, single-width, non-GPU PCIe 4.0, 3.1, 2.0, and 1.1 cards including video capture, streaming and transcoding; SSD storage; audio DSP; multi-port 10Gb and 25Gb Ethernet; SAS or SATA host bus adapter; and other specialty types.
Not sure if a card you own or are considering is compatible? We’ve put together a compatibility list that identifies many cards conforming to Thunderbolt technology requirements and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems.
Echo II DV T5 Module — the core component of Echo II DV T5 Rackmount — occupies half of the rackmount enclosure, leaving space for an additional Sonnet expansion module to customize the system for your specific needs. If your computer (such as the M4 Max or M3 Ultra Mac Studio) has four Thunderbolt 5 buses, you can install a second Echo II DV T5 Module to fully harness your system’s capabilities, enabling four high-performance PCIe cards to run at maximum bandwidth. Alternatively, choose the Echo III Module to connect three full-height, full-length cards through a single Thunderbolt cable.
Occupying a rack space 2U tall, the 16.5-inch deep Echo II DV T5 Rackmount is ideal for use in a wide range of popular mobile racks, carts, and rack cases, and in server rooms, too. Its heavy-duty steel enclosure provides secure mounting for the Echo II DV T5 Module and protection for the PCIe cards installed inside, and supports maximum airflow for cooling, regardless of where you install it in a rack.
Echo II DV T5 Rackmount can be comfortably used in noise-sensitive environments. Delivering ultra-quiet operation, its dual Noctua fans operate at below the recommended 20dBA limit for recording and broadcast studios and spread their noise across a range of frequencies, reducing the impact at any one frequency. To further guarantee trivial noise levels, the fans are temperature-controlled, automatically speeding up and slowing down smoothly as necessary, and the enclosure supports optimized airflow over the installed cards to effectively and efficiently cool the system.
Echo II DV T5 Rackmount includes adjustable rackmount extension rails to enable the 2U enclosure to be installed securely in a variety of racks 16 to 24 inches deep.
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.
Echo II DV T5 Desktop
Decide between Echo II DV T5 Rackmount and Echo II DV T5 Desktop to suit your workflow needs. Echo II DV T5 Desktop consists of Echo II DV T5 Module wrapped in a rugged, yet lightweight aluminum outer shell. The design results in a system light enough to carry without weighing you down, yet sturdy enough to securely protect the installed PCIe cards.
Echo II DV T5 Module is the foundation of Sonnet’s powerful, maximum bandwidth Thunderbolt expansion systems. It is available as part of xMac mini (2024+) and xMac Studio rackmount Thunderbolt enclosure systems, enabling flexible, high-performance integration with Mac mini and Mac Studio computers.
xMac mini (2024+)/Echo II DV T5
Choose xMac mini (2024+)/Echo II DV T5 configuration to install and connect one or two M4 Pro Mac minis to an Echo II DV T5 Module.
xMac Studio/Echo II DV T5
For ultimate expansion, pair an Echo II DV T5 Rackmount with an xMac Studio/Echo II DV T5 to connect up to four bandwidth-hungry PCIe cards to a Mac Studio (M3 Ultra or M4 Max) — each through a dedicated Thunderbolt port for maximum performance.
