Sonnet Echo III Desktop Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe Expansion System – 3 Slots, 400W Power | ECHO-3D-TB3

Expand Professional Workflows with High-Speed PCIe Connectivity, Ultra-Quiet Cooling & Avid HDX Support

Creative Expansion
Echo III Desktop
Desktop 3-slot Thunderbolt to PCIe Card Expansion System for Computers with Thunderbolt or USB4 Ports

Connect Three Full-length PCIe Cards to Computers with Thunderbolt Ports
For creative pros using the latest portable, mini desktop and all-in-one computers in their workflows, onboard processing power alone is not enough to get the job done. While these Mac, Windows, and Linux computers include high-performance Thunderbolt™ ports to support peripherals, what they lack is PCIe expansion slots to install specialty cards that add needed video and audio inputs, transcode data, and connect to high-speed shared storage and networks. Sonnet offers an innovative solution with Echo™ III Desktop, a professional Thunderbolt expansion system that allows you to connect up to three full-length (12.28 inches) PCIe cards simultaneously.

Thunderbolt Technology
Fast Interface Connection
Three Slot Professional Desktop PCIe Card Expansion – when connected to one of your computer’s Thunderbolt ports, Echo III enables you to connect professional PCIe cards (three full-height, single-width cards, or one double-width card plus one single-width card).

PCIe Card Support
Supports Thunderbolt Compatible, Non-GPU PCIe Cards
Echo III Desktop supports every Thunderbolt compatible, non-GPU PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 card available including video capture and transcoding; audio DSP; 6Gb or 12Gb SAS or SATA host bus adapter; 10Gb or 25Gb Ethernet; SSD storage; and other specialty types to your system.

Do you have a card in mind but aren’t sure it’s compatible? We’ve put together a compatibility list that identifies cards conforming to Thunderbolt technology requirements, and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems. 

Avid Pro Tools Compatible
Ready for Up to Three Pro Tools | HDX PCIe Cards – No Extra Parts Required
At the flick of a switch, the Avid qualified Echo III Desktop system is instantly optimized to support up to three Pro Tools | HDX PCIe cards, with no extra parts necessary! This system has been tested and is qualified by Avid Audio group for use with Avid Pro Tools HD 2020 software, and Avid Pro Tools HDX and HD Native systems.

Key Features

Adds Connectivity and Capabilities
Connects up to three high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards via a Thunderbolt cable to your computer lacking expansion slots.

Avid Pro Tools | HDX Compatible
HDX compatibility mode enables use of up to three Pro Tools | HDX PCIe cards with no additional parts needed.

Broad PCIe Card Compatibility
Every Thunderbolt compatible, non-GPU card supported regardless of length or height.

Three PCIe 3.1 Slots
One x16 plus two x8 slots support three full-height, single-width cards, or one double-width card plus one single-width card.

Pro Power
Integrated 400W power supply with 75W auxiliary power. Saves energy by powering on/off automatically with the computer.

Remarkably Quiet
Dual temperature-controlled, variable-speed Noctua fans rated at 17 dBA automatically and quietly cool the cards.

Thunderbolt to PCIe Device
Offers full PCIe bandwidth for the installed cards.

Connect Additional Thunderbolt Devices
One port connects to computer; second port supports daisy-chaining of additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices.

Rugged Aluminum Housing
Provides robust and secure protection.

Computer Compatibility
Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. See Tech Specs for details.

Three PCIe 3.1 Slots
Power to Spare for Power-hungry Cards
Echo III Desktop features one x16 and two x8 PCIe 3.1 slots, enabling it to support a wide variety of cards at the same time. To support really power-hungry cards, it integrates a universal 400W power supply and includes a 75W auxiliary power connector for non-GPU cards that require extra power, including the Avid Pro Tools | HDX. Designed without a power switch, the Echo III 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!

Dual Fans
Ultra-quiet Operation for Noise Sensitive Environments
Featuring dual Noctua fans, Echo III Desktop is engineered for ultra-quiet operation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments. Rated at just 17 dBA — below the 20 dBA threshold prescribed for recording and broadcast studios — the fans distribute sound across a broader frequency range to reduce the impact of any single tone. Temperature-controlled for smooth, gradual speed adjustments, the fans work with an airflow-optimized enclosure design to keep installed cards cool while maintaining exceptionally low acoustic levels.

Secure Connections for High Performance
Thunderbolt Cable and ThunderLok Included
Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable that supports Thunderbolt’s maximum bandwidth and is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3 computers. Sonnet also provides ThunderLok, a Thunderbolt connector cable lock, that prevents accidental cable disconnections.

ThunderLok Advantage
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.

Thunderbolt Technology
Fastest External Interface Available
Sonnet Thunderbolt products feature a high-speed Thunderbolt interface that delivers PCIe bandwidth needed to support data transfers at full speed.

Connect Additional Thunderbolt Devices
One port is reserved for connecting to your computer; the second port enables connection of additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices in a daisy chain.

10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Support
10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 support allows you to connect a USB device to the second Thunderbolt port using the proper cable or adapter.

Provides 15W of Power
For peripherals requiring extra power, 15 watts is provided to bus-powered devices through the secondary Thunderbolt port.

Supports Connecting Up to One 8K Display
Maximize the utilization of one computer Thunderbolt port, connecting the largest display supported by your computer.

Pro Expansion
Designed for the Fastest Connection to Thunderbolt Computers
Echo III Desktop is purposely designed with a Thunderbolt 3 controller and its four lanes of PCIe (not available in a Thunderbolt 4 peripheral) to achieve maximum simultaneous ingest speeds. Watch this video to learn more about the performance benefits.

Rackmount Version Available
Choose between Echo III Rackmount and Echo III Desktop to suit your workflow needs. Echo III Rackmount mounts in a rack space 2U tall, and is only 16.5 inches deep, making it ideal for use in a wide range of popular mobile racks, carts, and rack cases, and in server rooms as well. Echo III Rackmount even offers space for an optional expansion module.