Sonnet Technologies has introduced four new Thunderbolt 5 PCI Express (PCIe) expansion systems: Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Module, Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Desktop, Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Rackmount, and xMac Studio/Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5. These systems provide dual PCIe card support at full performance for Mac Studio, MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max, Mac mini with M4 Pro, and other computers with Thunderbolt 5 ports. The new models double PCIe bandwidth per slot, delivering up to 6,000 MB/s, compared to previous Thunderbolt PCIe expansion chassis.

The Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Module serves as an upgrade option for Sonnet’s modular rackmount enclosures and the xMac Studio Pro 3U rackmount system. The Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Desktop is a standalone expansion unit, while the rackmount version provides space for an additional expansion module. The xMac Studio/Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 is a preconfigured system featuring the Echo II DV module.

At the core of all models, the Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Module connects two PCIe cards to a computer via Thunderbolt 5. It includes two x16 PCIe 4.0 slots, each with its own Thunderbolt interface, and supports full-height, full-length PCIe cards (up to 12.28 inches long). The module also features a 400W universal power supply and two 75W auxiliary power connectors for non-GPU cards requiring additional power.

Designed for professional audio and video users, these expansion systems accommodate I/O cards, digital signal processing, video capture, and playback solutions. With dual Thunderbolt interfaces, users can install two full-size PCIe cards in a single desktop or rackmount enclosure, saving space and cost while maintaining high performance. The systems also offer flexibility for shared workspaces, allowing users to connect the expansion units to different computers as needed.

Mac computers with M4 Pro, M4 Max, and M3 Ultra chips—including the Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and Mac Studio—feature two or more 120Gbps Thunderbolt 5 ports, each providing 6,000 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth. The Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 systems are designed to maximize this bandwidth, enabling high-performance applications such as digital video I/O, NVMe SSD storage, and multiport 25Gb Ethernet adapters.

Pricing:
Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Module (DM-MOD-E2DV5) – $999.99
Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Desktop (ECHO-2DDV-TB5) – $1,099.99
Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 Rackmount (ECHO-2RDV-TB5) – $1,199.99
xMac Studio/Echo II DV Thunderbolt 5 (XMAC-STD-IIDV5) – $1,549.99