Rackmount 2-slot Dual Thunderbolt 5 Interface to PCIe Card Expansion System for Computers with Thunderbolt or USB4 Ports
Create a Broadcast Studio in a 2U Rack Space Run Two High-bandwidth Cards at Full 6000 MB/s – Simultaneously 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.
Connect Echo II DV T5 to Two Thunderbolt 5 Ports on Your Computer for Maximum DV Performance
2x 6000 MB/s Specially Designed to Support Maximum Performance from Two Cards 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.
2x the Bandwidth! Separate Thunderbolt 5 Interface for Each Card Slot 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.
Dual Thunderbolt 5 Ports Connection Option for Maximum Performance Connect Two DV I/O or Other High-bandwidth Cards Directly to Two Thunderbolt 5 Ports On Your Computer for Full 6000 MB/s PCIe Bandwidth to Each Card
Single Thunderbolt Port Connection Option Also Works with Computers with Only One Available Thunderbolt Port to Support Two Cards
Only One Available Thunderbolt Port? Or, Does Your Computer Only Have USB4 Ports? Daisy Chain the Thunderbolt Interfaces to Connect Two PCIe Cards Via One Cable 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.
Key Features
Adds Connectivity and Capabilities Connects two high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards via one or two Thunderbolt cables to your computer without expansion slots.
Thunderbolt 5 to PCIe Device Supports full Thunderbolt 5 PCIe bandwidth (6000 MB/s) to each installed card.
Dual Thunderbolt 5 Interfaces, Two PCIe 4.0 Slots One interface per PCIe 4.0 slot enables maximum performance from two cards at the same time.
Four Thunderbolt 5 Ports 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.
Broad PCIe Card Compatibility Every Thunderbolt compatible, single-width, non-GPU card supported regardless of length or height.
Connect to Two Computers Each Echo II DV T5 PCIe slot operates independently of the other, enabling you to connect them to separate computers.
Pro Power Two 75W auxiliary PCIe power connectors for power-hungry cards; secondary Thunderbolt ports provide 15W of power each to connected peripherals.
Remarkably Quiet Dual temperature-controlled, variable-speed Noctua fans rated at 17dBA automatically and quietly cool the cards.
Rugged 2U Steel Rackmount Housing + Optional Expansion Space Provides robust and secure protection in server and DIT racks; space for an additional Sonnet expansion module (sold separately).
Mac Compatible Supports all M series Macs, and Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Windows Compatible Supports Windows computers with Thunderbolt 5, 4, or USB4 ports.
Linux Compatible Supports Linux computers with Thunderbolt 5, 4, or USB4 ports.
Sonnet Support 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.
Performance Meets Possibility Two PCIe 4.0 Slots and Power to Spare 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!
Flexible PCIe Card Support Supports Thunderbolt Compatible, Single-width, Non-GPU Cards 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 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
Expand Without Limits More Space, More Expansion Potential 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.
The Coolest Thing In Your Rack Built for Cool and Quiet Rackable Expansion 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.
Dual Noctua Fans Ultra-quiet Operation Rated at 17dBA 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.
Rack Steady 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.
Secure Connections for High Performance Thunderbolt 5 Cables and ThunderLoks Included Sonnet 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.
More Than Just the Fastest External Interface Available Echo 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
Compatibility Computer System Requirements
To support maximum performance when using two bandwidth-hungry PCIe cards, Echo II DV T5 Rackmount requires the following:
Two connections between the Echo II DV T5 module and the host computer(s) with two Thunderbolt 5 ports with independent PCIe bandwidth. For example: Mac (M4 Pro, M4 Max, M3 Ultra series) Some pro Windows laptops with two Thunderbolt 5 ports Connecting each card to a different Thunderbolt 5 computer
Mac Compatibility
macOS 14+ Mac with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt/USB4, or Thunderbolt 3(1) ports macOS Tahoe compatible
Windows Compatibility
Windows 11 computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4(2) ports
Linux Compatibility
Linux 6.1 or 6.12 computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports PCIe Card Compatibility
For a list of compatible PCIe cards, see the following PDF
PCIe Card Compatibility Hardware
Part Number
ECHO-2RDV-T5
Warranty
2-year
Form Factor
2U Thunderbolt rackmount enclosure
External Connectors
Four Thunderbolt ports Power (C14-type) Thunderbolt 5 Computer Ports
Cables Supported Thunderbolt 5 or Thunderbolt 4 cables Cables Not Supported Thunderbolt optical cables Thunderbolt Peripheral Ports
(Note that the downstream ports are not necessarily Thunderbolt 5 ports; they are the same as the host ports (Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4).
Connectivity With USB-C connector Peripherals Supported Thunderbolt 5, 4, 3 devices USB4, 3, 2, 1 devices Thunderbolt 5, 4, 3, and USB-C monitors DisplayPort and HDMI monitors (Thunderbolt compatible adapter required, sold separately)
Internal Connectors
Two 6-pin auxiliary power; provide up to 75W of power each for PCIe cards that require supplemental power
Expansion Slots
Two x16 mechanical (x4 electrical) PCIe 4.0
PCIe Cards Supported
Two full-length, full-height, single-width PCIe cards
Power Supply
Universal 400W, 115-230V AC, 50-60 Hz
Operating Temperature
0ºC to 35ºC (32ºF to 95ºF)
Dimensions (WxDxH)
19 x 16.5 x 3.6 in. (48.3 x 41.9 x 9.1 cm)
Weight
23.15 lbs (10.50 kg)
Compliance
RoHS 3 (Directive 2015/863) IEC62368-1 and IEC62368-2
What's In The Box
Echo II DV T5 Rackmount System Region-specific power cable Two 6-pin PCIe auxiliary power cables (installed) Two 0.8-meter Thunderbolt 5 cables Three ThunderLok-A connector locks Two extension rails for rack depths 16-24 inches Documentation
