Sonnet Echo Express SE II | 2-slot Thunderbolt 2 Expansion Chassis for PCIe cards

Review:
MachMachines: Best Thunderbolt 2 Expansion Chassis

To conclude this Thunderbolt 2 expansion chassis review, we will say that the Sonnet Technologies Echo Express II is a definite go, not because it is the only available expansion chassis that supports Thunderbolt 2 but because it is a pretty good expansion chassis that will match your demanding mobile recording work requirements very well. Moreover, Sonnet Technologies is a company that has been around a while, being an Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 expansion partner to big names like Adobe, Apple, ATTO, CalDigit and Lynx.Review by Michelle Smith
Goto review

• Provides PCIe Card Expansion — Use high-performance PCIe card with Thunderbolt-equipped computers
• Thunderbolt 2 Interface — Maximum performance with computers with 20Gbps Thunderbolt 2 technology, backward compatible with 10Gbps Thunderbolt technology
• Two PCIe Slots — Support two half-length+ (up to 7.75" long), full-height, single-width cards
• Two Thunderbolt Ports — Daisy chain up to six devices to a single port on the host computer
• Temperature-Controlled, Fan — Automatically operates slowly and quietly with cooler cards, provides better cooling for hot cards
• Energy Saver Mode — Powers on/off automatically with the computer
• Sufficient Power — 80W power supply handles any combination of cards
• Aluminum Housing — Portable protection for any environment
• AVID Qualified for Media Composer/Symphony
• Thunderbolt Cable & ThunderLok Included - Includes Thunderbolt cable and ThunderLok Thunderbolt connector retainer clip to secure cable from accidental disconnections

Mac Compatibility

• Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port
• Mac with a Thunderbolt 3 port with an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
• OS X® 10.8.5+
• macOS Sierra compatible

PC Compatibility

• PC with a Thunderbolt 2 port
• Windows® 10, 8, 7

Use Up to Two PCIe Cards With Computers Lacking Expansion Slots

Sonnet's Echo Express SE II enables you to connect two high-performance, professional pro video capture and processing, digital audio interface, DSP accelerator, FireWire, RAID controller, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, eSATA, and other PCIe cards to any Mac® with a Thunderbolt port.

Accommodating cards up to 7.75" long, this compact Thunderbolt 2-to-PCIe card expansion chassis supports nearly every Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe card on the market, including double-width (PCIe card + daughter card) cards. Measuring just 6.5" wide by 4.6" tall by 11" long, the Echo Express SE II takes up little space wherever you work, be it in the studio, on location, at your desk, or in the edit suite. Like all Echo Express chassis, the SE II has two Thunderbolt ports that support daisy chaining of up to six devices to a single port on your computer.

Built for Speed

20Gbps Thunderbolt 2 technology-equipped computers are here. The original 10Gbps Thunderbolt interface provided breakthrough bandwidth for external expansion, more than sufficient to support the maximum performance of most PCIe cards. However, some high bandwidth cards such as 16Gb Fibre channel, multi-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet cards, or multiple bandwidth-hungry cards require more than 10Gbps. Thunderbolt 2 removes this barrier by providing more bandwidth for demanding applications. The Echo Express SE II's Thunderbolt 2 interface takes full advantage of this increased bandwidth to ensure optimum performance from installed cards when the chassis is connected to a Thunderbolt 2-equipped computer. Need to connect to a computer equipped with 10Gbps Thunderbolt? No problem, the SE II is fully compatible with earlier generation Thunderbolt computers as well.

Two PCIe 2.0 Slots Plus Space for a Daughter Card

The Echo Express SE II's PCIe 2.0 x8 slots support two half-length+, full-height, single-width PCIe cards, or one single-width card plus one double-width card. Double-width? Some specialty cards, such as RME's HDSPe MADI FX card, Blackmagic Design's DeckLink 4K Extreme, and the Lynx AES16e 50, include a daughter card that mates with and provides additional external connections to the main card. The daughter card occupies the adjacent PCIe card space without filling a slot. The Echo Express SE II accommodates a daughter card's installation without wasting a slot.

Cool Design Outside and In

The Echo Express SE II's aluminum outer shell securely protects the cards inside and helps transfer heat away from them. The large and quiet, temperature-controlled fan automatically speeds up and slows down smoothly as needed, so there's no guesswork in deciding which switch position to select. The enclosure is ventilated front, back, and bottom to facilitate airflow over the cards.

Nearly Every Thunderbolt-Compatible Card Supported

With its ability to accommodate cards up to 7.75" long, The Echo Express SE II supports nearly every Thunderbolt-compatible card available. PCIe 1.1, PCIe 2.0, and PCIe 3.0 cards are supported.

Thunderbolt Cable and ThunderLok™ Included

Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable to connect the Echo Express SE II to your computer, and a ThunderLok Thunderbolt connector retainer clip⁽³⁾ to secure the cable to the Echo chassis. Thunderbolt connectors are held in place by friction, which works well in situations where equipment remains undisturbed while operating. But when there’s a chance of movement nearby, there’s a chance the Thunderbolt cable can be unintentionally unplugged, possibly leading to loss of your work or data. Sonnet’s ThunderLok prevents accidental cable disconnections from the Echo chassis, and is easy to install and use—just slide it over one end of the cable, and then plug in the connector and secure it to the chassis by turning a thumbscrew. Because of its unique design, ThunderLok does not attach to the connector, but remains on the cable so it won’t get lost when not in use.

Strong Link in the Chain

These Sonnet solutions support daisy chaining of additional Thunderbolt technology-enabled peripherals such as an additional Echo Express, the Apple® Thunderbolt Display, video capture devices, and data storage devices. For connected devices requiring extra power, 10 watts is provided through the daisy chain port to peripherals.

• Spec Sheet
• Instruction Manual
• Apple Accessories from Sonnet
• Download HiRes Images

• Echo Express SE II Thunderbolt 2-to-PCIe Card Expansion System⁽¹⁾
• Universal power adapter
• Power cord
• Thunderbolt cable
• ThunderLok
• Documentation

Note: PCIe cards sold separately