From Sonnet, Echo Express SE IIIe Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe Card Expansion System

Sonnet Technologies, Inc. announced the launch of the Echo Express SE IIIe, member of the company’s Echo Express family of Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe card expansion systems.

The Echo Express SE IIIe is a compact desktop chassis that enables the use of up to 3 high-performance PCIe cards with computers equipped with Thunderbolt 3 ports. Replacing th Echo Express SE III, the SE IIIe supports AJA Video Systems, Inc.‘s family of Kona audio and video I/O solutions, including Kona 5, and has been upgraded with the addition of an auxiliary power connector to support cards that require more power to operate, and a new cooling fan for quieter operation.

“A portable video capture and playback setup is a necessity today for most video pros, and the Echo Express SE IIIe, with support for AJA KONA PCIe cards, provides great flexibility. The new auxiliary power connector is an exciting addition, allowing professionals to harness the power of Thunderbolt 3 connectivity with Aja Kona 5 with a smaller form factor PCIe card enclosure,” say Nick Rashby, president, AJA Video Systems.

What it does
The Echo Express SE IIIe enables users to connect 3 PCIe cards to computers lacking PCIe card slots. Its features 3 x8 PCIe 3.0 slots, accommodates full-height, half-length+ (up to 7.75 inches long) PCIe cards, and connects them to a computer’s Thunderbolt 3 port via the included 0.7-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb) cable. With the addition of the auxiliary power connector, the SE IIIe supports pro video I/O cards that were previously incompatible due to their extra power requirements. It provides two Thunderbolt 3 ports, with one reserved for connection to the computer, while the second supports daisy chaining of up to 5 additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices plus 2 4K monitors or 1 5K display, or a single USB device. The system provides up to 15W of power to any connected peripheral or host.

Why important
Many pro video and audio users depend on notebook and laptop computers for their work, relying on outboard equipment connected to their computer – such as video capture and playback and audio DSP devices, for example – for connecting additional inputs and outputs, and processing data. Frequently costing much less than standalone devices, PCIe cards – originally designed for use in desktop computers – often mirror the functionality of outboard equipment, but cannot be installed into a portable computer. The Echo Express SE IIIe enables users to save space and money by mounting 3 PCIe cards in a compact, portable enclosure, and connecting them to their computer through a single cable. It now features a Noctua NF-R8 redux-1800 fan for low-noise operation, making the Sonnet chassis more suitable for use in noise-sensitive environments.

How unique:
The Echo Express SE IIIe is the smallest multi-slot Thunderbolt-to-PCIe card expansion system available. It is also the only compact desktop Thunderbolt 3 expansion system with the auxiliary power connector required by certain PCIe cards – such as the Aja Kona 5 – in order to operate, a feature previously limited to company’s full-size Echo Express III-D.

The Echo Express SE IIIe (part number ECHO-EX-SE3E-T3) is available at the suggested retail price of $499.99.

Video: Sonnet Echo Express SE IIIe 3-Slot Thunderbolt 3 Expansion System Quick Product Overview