Sonnet Echo Express ($599) and Express Pro ($799) Shipping

Sonnet Technologies Inc. announced that its Echo Express and Echo Express Pro Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis for PCIe cards are shipping and available for purchase.

The two devices enable the use of PCIe adapter cards with any computer equipped with a Thunderbolt port.

"Today’s ultralight notebooks, minis, and all-in-one desktop computers now have tremendous processing power, but lack expansion slots for installing specialty PCIe cards to connect video and audio inputs, process data, and access high-speed storage and networks," said Greg LaPorte, VP of sales and marketing at Sonnet. "With our Echo Express and Echo Express Pro chassis, our customers can take advantage of the groundbreaking performance of Thunderbolt technology to connect high-performance expansion cards to their computers without expansion slots."

The standard Echo Express supports one half-length (up to 7.75 inches long), full-height, double-width, x16 (x4 mode) PCIe 2.0 card, while the Pro model supports two standard-width, full-length cards, or one double-width, full-length card. Both models support an I/O bracket. The standard model includes a built-in 100W universal power supply, and the Echo Express Pro includes an integrated 150W universal power supply. Both systems enable the use of compatible full-size professional video capture, audio interface, SAS and SATA HBA, 8Gb FC, 10GbE, and RAID controller cards with iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro computers.

Both systems are backed by five-year warranty.

They require the use of Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe expansion cards. Compatible cards fall into numerous categories including pro audio, Ethernet, FC, SAS/SATA RAID controllers, and video capture and editing. The list, which is available on Sonnet’s website, is continually expanding as more cards are tested and certified.

Echo Express (part number ECHO-EXP1H) and Echo Express Pro (part number ECHO-EXP2F) are available for $599 and $799, respectively.