Sonnet Echo Express III R

Connect Three Full-Length PCIe Cards to any Computer with a Thunderbolt 3 Port

For pros working in the creative fields, a computer’s processing power alone is not enough to get the job done. A prime example is the latest MacBook Pro®, which, while offering great performance, lacks the PCIe expansion slots necessary to support specialty cards that connect pro video and audio inputs, transcode data, and connect to high-speed storage and networks. Instead of slots, these computers include ultra high-performance Thunderbolt™ 3 ports to support peripherals. Sonnet’s Echo™ Express III-R (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) leverages the Thunderbolt 3 ports’ PCIe data to connect PCIe expansion slots outside of a computer. This desktop Thunderbolt-to-PCIe card expansion chassis enables you to connect three professional PCIe cards—including video capture, audio interface, SAS or SATA HBA, 16Gb or 8Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and RAID controllers—at the same time to any computer with Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The Echo Express III-R (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) features a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface, which offers double the PCIe bandwidth and connectivity of Thunderbolt 2, and yields up to 2750 MB/s of bandwidth, enabling it to support 4K video capture and processing cards at high frame rates, and 16Gb FC cards and dual-port 10GbE cards at full performance⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾. With the ability to handle multiple demanding, highest performance PCIe cards, support for connecting two 4K displays @ 60Hz or one 5K display @ 60Hz⁽³⁾, and support for a vast array of Thunderbolt⁽⁴⁾ and USB⁽⁵⁾ devices, Thunderbolt 3 is a leap forward in every way.

Three PCIe 3.0 Slots, No Compromise

Sonnet’s Echo Express III-R supports three full-size PCIe cards, up to 12.28 inches (full-length) long. The III-R integrates a universal 300W power supply and includes a 75W PCIe power connector for cards that require supplementary power, such as the RED® ROCKET-X.

Connect computer to one port on the Echo Express III-R (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) and daisy chain up to 5 additional Thunderbolt devices
(plus two 4K monitors, one 5K display, or one USB 3.1 device)

40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 —
The USB C That Does It All

The Echo Express III-R (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports; the first is used for connection to your computer, while the second supports daisy chaining of up to five additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices to a single port on your computer⁽⁴⁾. The III-R includes 10Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2 support, meaning you can connect a USB device to the second port using the proper cable or adapter. The III-R also provides full support for connecting two 4K displays @ 60Hz or one 5K display @ 60Hz⁽³⁾. For connected peripherals requiring extra power, 15 watts is provided to connected bus-powered devices.

All-Around Smart Design

The Echo Express III-R's enclosure is formed of heavy-duty steel to provide secure mounting for the inner assembly and protection for the PCIe cards installed inside, and to support maximum airflow for cooling, regardless of where you install it in a rack.

Quiet Operator

The Echo Express III-R is remarkably quiet—comfortably used in noise-sensitive environments, it is one of the quietest Echo systems available. The natural convection of warm air through the PCIe cards is assisted by ultra-quiet, temperature-controlled, variable-speed fans, and vented out of the chassis with reduced air velocity and turbulence, resulting in little fan noise.

Every Thunderbolt 3 Compatible
PCIe Card Supported

The Echo Express III-R (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) supports three single-width, full-length PCIe cards, or one double-width, full-length card plus one single-width card, enabling it to support every Thunderbolt 3 compatible PCIe 1.1, PCIe 2.0, and PCIe 3.0 card available.

RED ROCKET Supporter

Sonnet designed the Echo Express III-R to accommodate the RED ROCKET or RED ROCKET-X and its BNC connector bracket (for HD-SDI output) card/bracket pair in a single slot.

Designed for BNC Connector Cables

Echo Express III-R’s back panel has two BNC connector mounting holes, enabling the use of a RED ROCKET card without the need to install the BNC connector bracket that would normally occupy a valuable PCIe slot.