Sonnet has unveiled its latest offering, the Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock, marking a significant development in dock technology. This new product comes equipped with four Thunderbolt 5 ports alongside various other I/O options. If you own a Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip, or a MacBook Pro featuring the M4 Pro or M4 Max processors, you’ll benefit from the enhanced bandwidth provided through Thunderbolt 5. However, the Echo 13 is also fully compatible with older Macs utilizing Thunderbolt 3 or 4.
The latest dock from Sonnet includes an M.2 SSD that supports data transfer speeds of up to 6,100 MB/s, available in NVMe SSD options of 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB, which are sourced from Kingston. Additionally, it boasts a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection and can deliver up to 140W of power to devices such as the MacBook Pro.
Below is a summary of the I/O options on the Echo 13:
- Four Thunderbolt 5 ports – 1 upstream and 3 downstream
- Four USB 3.2 Type-A ports
- 2.5Gb Ethernet (RJ45) port
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- SD and microSD card slots
Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 Compatibility
The standout feature of the Echo 13 is undoubtedly its Thunderbolt 5 compatibility, with Sonnet providing four physical ports. Thunderbolt 5 represents a substantial advancement over its predecessor, offering double the bandwidth at a full 80Gbps bi-directional data rate, which facilitates simultaneous high performance across multiple ports.
Furthermore, Thunderbolt 5 introduces bandwidth boost technology for displays, allowing for increased single-direction bandwidth of up to 120Gbps. Sonnet’s dock fully embraces this technology, ensuring compatibility with future high-end display solutions, such as the anticipated LG UltraFine 6K Display.
In terms of display support, the Echo 13 can handle up to two 8K displays, two 6K displays, or three 4K displays, depending on the host computer’s capabilities.
If you don’t have a Mac that supports Thunderbolt 5, there’s no need to worry. Each port is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3, allowing you to connect various accessories and peripherals. Additionally, these ports are capable of supporting USB 4 V2, USB4, and USB3 devices alongside USB displays.
It’s important to note that two of the Echo 13’s downstream Thunderbolt ports, positioned at the back of the unit, can provide up to 15W each for charging and powering peripherals. The third downstream port, located on the front alongside the 140W upstream port, offers up to 60W for rapid charging of modern tablets and smartphones.
Moreover, the four USB 3.2 Type-A ports included in the Echo 13 are noteworthy as well. Three of these ports support data rates of 10Gbps and can provide 7.5W of power, even when the dock’s computer is powered off.
Sonnet Echo 13 Availability
Sonnet intends to start shipping the Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock with the 4TB SSD in limited quantities this month, followed by increased availability in mid-March 2025. The expected MSRP for this model is $669.99. For those who do not need as much storage, the 1TB and 2TB options will also be available in mid-March, priced at $399.99 and $499.99 respectively.
I have always admired Sonnet’s previous products, particularly their docks. I still use their robust 20-port SuperDock (review) regularly, which provides an impressive array of I/O options. I am eager to put the Echo 13 through its paces with a Thunderbolt 5 Mac. What are your thoughts? Feel free to share in the comments below.
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