
Echo I Desktop (1-slot PCIe Card Expansion for Full Size Cards)
Part No. ECHO-1D-TB3
Echo I Desktop
1-slot Desktop Thunderbolt to PCIe Card Expansion System for Computers with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 Ports
Connect One Full- or Half-length, Single- or Double-width PCIe Card to Computers with Thunderbolt™ 4 or Thunderbolt 3 Ports. For many creative pros relying on recent portable, mini desktop and all-in-one computers to get their jobs done, their computers’ onboard processing power alone is not enough. While these Mac®, Windows®, and Linux® computers include high-performance Thunderbolt ports to support peripherals, they lack PCIe expansion slots to install a specialty card that adds needed storage expansion, video or audio inputs, transcodes data, or connects to high-speed shared storage and networks. Sonnet has a solution — the Echo™ I Desktop. This professional Thunderbolt to PCIe card expansion system enables you to connect one up to full-length (12.28 inches long) single- or double-width PCIe card to your computer via a single cable.

Supports Every Type of Thunderbolt Compatible PCIe Card
Echo I Desktop supports every type of Thunderbolt compatible 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.
List of Supported PCIe Cards (PDF)
Add a x16 PCIe Card Slot to Your Computer with Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 Ports, Including Mac Studio
Space and Power to Spare
The Echo I Desktop features one x16 PCIe 3.0 slot, enabling it to support a huge variety of cards, whether single- or double-width, low-profile or full-height. To support power-hungry cards, it integrates a universal 400W power supply and includes a 150W 8-pin (6+2 pin) auxiliary power connector for cards that require extra power (including the Avid® Pro Tools | HDX). The Echo I 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.
Featuring dual Noctua fans, the Echo I Desktop is designed to deliver ultra-quiet operation so that it can be comfortably used in noise-sensitive environments. Rated at 17.1dBA — below the 20dBA ceiling prescribed for use in recording and broadcast studios — the fans spread the spectrum of their noise to minimize the impact at any single frequency. To further ensure negligible noise levels, the fans are temperature-controlled, automatically speeding up and slowing down smoothly as needed, and the enclosure is engineered to optimize airflow over the installed card to cool the system effectively and efficiently.
Key Features
- Adds Connectivity and Capabilities
- Broad PCIe Card Compatibility Support – List of Supported PCIe Cards (PDF)
- One PCIe Slot – x16 Slot Supports One Half- or Full-height, Single- or Double-width Up to Full-length PCIe Card
- Supports an Avid Pro Tools | HDX Card
- Pro Power – Integrated 400W Power Supply with 150W Auxiliary Power
- Remarkably Quiet – Noctua Fans Rated at 17dBA
- 40Gbps Thunderbolt System
- Thunderbolt 3 for Maximum Performance – Provides Four Lanes of PCIe 3.0 Bandwidth to the Card Slot
- Rugged Aluminum Housing
- Apple® M1 Series Compatible (with Supporting Drivers)
- Intel® Mac Compatible
- Windows Compatible
- Linux Compatible
- 2-year Product Warranty
- Free Lifetime Customer Technical Support
- Designed and Made In the USA
The Secure Connection for High Performance – 40Gbps Thunderbolt Cable and ThunderLok 3 Included
Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable that supports Thunderbolt's full 40Gbps bandwidth, and is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 computers. Sonnet also provides a ThunderLok™ 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clipthat prevents accidental cable disconnections — 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 remains on the cable so it won’t get lost when not in use.
WARNING: California's Proposition 65
Product specifications and information subject to change without notice. Computer hardware and accessories featured in photos that are not included with product are shown for illustration purposes; items sold separately.

Learn Why Sonnet's Pro Products Rely on Thunderbolt 3 Technology for Maximum Performance