Part No. ECHO-2RDV-T5

Max DV Performance via Thunderbolt 5

Echo II DV T5 Rackmount

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 – Simultaneously Run Two High-bandwidth Cards at Full 6000 MB/s

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.

Designed for Maximum Performance: Two PCIe 4.0 Slots with 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.

Two Times 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.

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 PCIe Cards Compatibility Chart that identifies cards that are Thunderbolt compatible and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems.

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.

Module Expansion Options

Echo III Module: Three PCIe Card Expansion

Connect three full-height, full-length high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards via one Thunderbolt cable. Perfect for integrating Avid Pro Tool | HDX cards.

xMac mini (2024+) Module: CurrentMac mini Expansion

Want to rack and configure one or two 2024+ Mac minis for your workflow? Go with the xMac mini (2024+) Module for seamless integration.

xMac mini (2018-2023) Module: Previous-generationMac mini Expansion

For previous-generation Mac minis (2018–2023), the xMac mini Module lets you securely rackmount your system while integrating a Thunderbolt SSD storage dock with up to 16TB of storage — all within a compact 2U enclosure.

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 17 dBA

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 20 dBA 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 Rails Included
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.

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 5 – Tomorrow’s Technology. 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 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:

• Connect Up to Four Additional Thunderbolt Devices

The secondary port supports Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3 peripherals; you can even connect additional self-powered Thunderbolt devices in a daisy chain.

• Supports 80 Gbps, 40 Gpbs, 20 Gbps, and 10 Gbps USB Peripheral

Connect an ultra-fast USB device to each secondary Thunderbolt port using the proper cable or adapter.

• Power Peripherals

15 watts is provided to bus-powered devices requiring extra power through the secondary Thunderbolt port.

• Supports Connecting One 8K Display

Maximize the utilization of one computer Thunderbolt port, connecting the highest resolution display supported by your computer.

Key Features & Specifications

• 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 Support – Every Thunderbolt compatible, single-width, non-GPU card supported regardless of length or height. For card compatibility, refer to Sonnet’s PCIe Cards Compatibility Chart.
• 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)
• Compatibility – Compatible with macOS 14+ Mac with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt/USB4, or Thunderbolt 3⁽¹⁾ ports; Windows 11 computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4⁽²⁾ ports; and Linux 6.1 or 6.12 computer with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4 ports. See official product page Tech Specs for latest computer, OS, and support compatibility information.
• 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).
• Package Contents –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; two ThunderLok-A connector locks; and documentation.
• Warranty – 2-year product warranty.
• Customer Support – Lifetime technical support.
• The Sonnet Advantage –Innovating technology since 1986.

Technical Notes

(1) Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports require macOS 15+.
(2) USB4 support requires that your computer have a “USB4 Host Router (Microsoft)”. Navigate to Device Manager and expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers category to confirm.

Note:Computers and accessories featured in photos are not included with the product. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

Product Marketing and Technical Info
Visit: Official Product Page

Pre-sales Questions?
Contact: sales@sonnettech.com

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