Sonnet Echo II DV T5 Rackmount PCIe Expansion System

Max DV Performance via ThunderboltBoost your high-bandwidth workflows with the Sonnet Echo II DV T5 Rackmount Thunderbolt 5 Expansion System, a professional 2U rack-mount solution that connects two full-length, single-width PCIe cards to Thunderbolt or USB4 computers for maximum performance of up to 6000 MB/s per slot. Featuring dual Thunderbolt 5 interfaces, broad non-GPU PCIe card compatibility, and a rugged steel enclosure with space for an additional Sonnet expansion module, this rackmount chassis delivers flexible, future-ready Thunderbolt 5 expansion for video, audio, and high-speed storage professionals.

Run Two High-bandwidth Cards at Full 6000 MB/s SimultaneouslyDo 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.

Two PCIe 4.0 Card Slots. Dual Thunderbolt 5 Interfaces for Double the Bandwidth.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.

Separate Thunderbolt 5 Interface for Each Card SlotEcho 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.

Two PCIe 4.0 Slots and Power to SpareEcho 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!

Supports Thunderbolt Compatible, Single-width, Non-GPU CardsEcho 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 Rackmount supports the types of PCIe cards you need for your workflow, ranging from the largest video I/O and audio transcoding cards, to the smallest Ethernet NIC and USB interface cards.

More Space, More Expansion PotentialEcho 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.

Built for Cool and Quiet Rackable ExpansionOccupying 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.

Dual Noctua FansEcho 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.

Thunderbolt 5 Cables and ThunderLoks IncludedSonnet includes two Thunderbolt cables engineered to deliver Thunderbolt 5’s full bandwidth and power delivery performance. The cables are fully compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3, and USB4 computers. Three Sonnet ThunderLok Thunderbolt connector locks are also included to prevent accidental cable disconnections. 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.

Tomorrow’s Performance. Today.Echo II DV T5 Rackmount is built with the features and quality you expect from a Sonnet expansion system, plus the Thunderbolt 5 interface you need for maximum performance. With 80 Gbps of bi-directional data speed — twice as fast as Thunderbolt 4 — and up to 120 Gbps for higher display bandwidth, you'll revolutionize your productivity.

More Than Just the Fastest External Interface AvailableEcho II DV T5 Rackmount features two dual-port, ultra-high speed Thunderbolt 5 interfaces that deliver the PCIe bandwidth needed to support most cards at maximum performance. While two ports are reserved for connecting your computer, the secondary ports enable connection of additional Thunderbolt or USB peripheral devices: