Sonnet Echo III Desktop and Rackmount With 3-Slot Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe Card Expansion Systems

Sonnet Technologies, Inc. announced the Echo III Desktop and Echo III Rackmount, members of the company’s family of Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe card expansion systems.

Echo III Desktop open

The Echo III Desktop is a full-size desktop chassis that enables the use of up to 3 PCIe cards with computers equipped with Thunderbolt ports, while the Echo III Rackmount offers the same support and features in a rack-mountable 2U enclosure. Replacing the Echo Express III-D and III-R (including HDX Editions), these Echo systems have been upgraded with the addition of a mode switch that enables the use of multiple Avid Pro Tools|HDX PCIe cards and cooling fans for quieter operation. Both of these units have been Avid-qualified.

Echo III Rackmount open

“Following in the path of Sonnet’s previous gens of Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion systems, the Echo III Desktop and Echo III Rackmount are the latest to receive the Avid qualified stamp of approval. Sonnet collaborated with Avid on these highly anticipated replacements for the Echo Express III-D and III-R Thunderbolt 3 HDX Edition systems to improve design elements throughout. The resulting products are simple to set up and remarkably quiet in operation. They are ideal for use with Avid Pro Tools | HDX systems, allowing up to 3-card configurations for massive mixing performance and up to 192 channels of simultaneous I/O, using multiple DigiLink I/O interfaces such as Pro Tools | HD I/O, Pro Tools | MTRX or Pro Tools | MTRX Studio.” said Francois Quereuil, director, product management, Pro Tools, Avid Technology, Inc.

Echo III Desktop and Rackmount expansion systems enable users to connect 3 PCIe cards to computers lacking PCIe card slots. The Echo III module used in both systems features one x16 and two x8 PCIe 3.0 slots; accommodates up to full-height, full-length (up to 12.28 inches long) PCIe cards; and connects them to a computer’s Thunderbolt port via the included 0.7-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb/s) cable. The module integrates a 400W power supply and includes a 75W auxiliary power connector for non-GPU cards that require extra power.

The Echo III module provides 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, with one for connection to the computer, while the second supports daisy-chaining of up to 4 additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices plus 2 4K monitors (or one 5K display), or a single USB device. The system provides up to 15W of power to any connected peripheral or host.

In general, computers lack the ports and specific data processing capabilities needed for pro audio and video workflows, forcing users to add internal or external interfaces to support I/O, audio digital signal processing, and video capture and playback. While desktop workstations, like the Mac Pro, can be outfitted with PCIe adapter cards to add what’s needed, the portable, mini desktop, and all-in-one computers (such as the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac) often favored by pro users require the use of Thunderbolt-connected expansion.

The Echo III Desktop and Echo III Rackmount expansion systems enable users to save space and money by mounting up to 3 PCIe cards in a transportable desktop or 2U rackmount enclosure, respectively, and connecting them to their computer through a single Thunderbolt 3 cable.

Echo III Rackmount

With the inclusion of the company’s HDX mode switch, Pro Tools users can install up to 3 HDX PCIe cards into the Echo III Desktop or Echo III Rackmount without the additional parts or adapters previously needed to enable their use. Echo III expansion systems feature dual Noctua NF-R8 redux-1800 fans with low-noise operation, making the chassis more suitable for use in noise-sensitive environments. The company designed Echo III expansion systems with flexibility in mind – not only are the systems available in two form factors, but the company will also offer desktop and rackmount enclosures for purchase separately, enabling users to move one Echo III module (with PCIe cards installed) between enclosures. Additionally, the Echo III Rackmount has mounting space for another Echo III module (also available separately) or for future expansion modules coming soon.

The Echo III Desktop (part number ECHO-3D-T3) and Echo III Rackmount (part number ECHO-3R-T3) will be available at suggested retail prices of $799.99 and $899.99, respectively.