At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• 19 top-end ports
• Built-in M.2 NVMe SSD slot
• 2.5Gb Ethernet
• Dedicated HDMI 2.1 port
• 100W PD

Cons

• HDMI means simply two downstream TB4 ports
• 150W energy provide

Our Verdict

It’s bought extra top-end ports than another dock we’ve examined and a built-in SSD enclosure so you’ll be able to add as much as an additional 8TB of storage, but it is likely one of the most inexpensive docking stations obtainable.

Price When Reviewed

$299.99

Best Prices Today: Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock

$299.99

Is it a fowl? Is it a aircraft? No it’s SuperDock! But what makes Sonnet’s newest Thunderbolt 4 laptop computer docking station so tremendous?

The super-ness will not be the 19 top-end ports, though these are definitely spectacular. It’s not the two.5x sooner Ethernet connection. And it’s not the backward-compatible Thunderbolt 4 know-how that’s licensed to the very newest Intel requirements.

What makes the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock so tremendous is its built-in M.2 NVMe SSD slot which suggests you’ll be able to add as much as 8TB of SSD storage to your system with out connecting an exterior storage gadget to the dock or laptop.

But first, let’s take a look at the abundance of ports this dock boasts to attach gadgets at high velocity.

Foundry

Specs and options

The Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock has a copious 19 ports. The “20” within the Echo 20’s identify contains the ability provide port, which we don’t often rely in our port countdown.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One HDMI 2.1 video port
• Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• Four USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• Internal M.2 NVMe SSD slot
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (entrance)
• 3.5mm microphone jack (again)
• Two (proper and left channels) line out RCA jacks (again)
• 150W energy provide

The Echo 20 has extra ports than we’ve seen with any docking station. Even the Caldigit TS4 Dock has solely (!) 18, and it’s this sort of Thunderbolt 4 docks that Sonnet is gunning for. Read our fuller roundup of our different suggestions for the best Thunderbolt docks.

Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and USB-A ports  

All the Echo 20’s USB ports are a minimum of 10Gbps (twice the bandwidth of the various docks’ USB ports). The TS4 has as many (8) however the Echo 20 has another USB-C, whereas the TS4 has the additional USB-A. As extra gadgets eschew Type A for Type C, we applaud Sonnet for having as many USB-C as USB-A.

You can daisy-chain as much as six Thunderbolt gadgets by way of the 2 downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, though the gadgets related will likely be sharing the 40Gbps bandwidth upstream to the laptop computer.

Rather than add the utmost potential three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, Sonnet contains two plus a high-end HDMI 2.1 video port so the consumer can add a direct exterior show with out the necessity for an adapter.

If you propose to attach an HDMI show, that makes extra sense than a 3rd Thunderbolt 4 port.

Foundry

Adding inner storage

The Echo 20 doesn’t ship with an SSD, so it’s essential to buy one your self. A 1TB SSD could be discovered for underneath $50, 2TB for round $100, 4TB for $250. 8TB SSDs can price between $800 and $1,000.

It should be an M.2 NVMe SSD. With the fitting SSD, switch and entry information charges are as much as 800MBps.

Further studying: The best SSDs

Foundry

SSD set up is easy if you understand how to make use of a screwdriver and don’t have shaky arms. Unscrew the 2 screws securing a panel cowl on the again panel of the dock. Insert the SSD and re-secure the underside cowl.

However, we might have most popular Sonnet to incorporate the proper screwdrivers with the dock as what you want—a tiny crosshead—will not be within the common toolbox.

The Echo 20 isn’t heavy however even with its compact energy provide it’s not significantly transportable, so what you retailer on that SSD isn’t going with you while you disconnect the laptop computer from the dock. It’s nice for backups, archiving, and for big information you don’t want with you on the street.

There’s additionally a quick SD card reader for extra transportable storage…

Portable storage

The Echo 20 options only one SD card reader for transportable storage, whereas the TS4 has each SD and MicroSD readers.

Having each codecs presents extra flexibility, and the 2 slots can be utilized on the similar time, so the TS4 wins if you happen to desire transportable storage to be put in.

Most MicroSD playing cards include an SD adapter so the shortage of MicroSD doesn’t cease you from selecting between the 2 memory-card codecs on the Echo 20. MicroSD playing cards are often cheaper than full-size SD.

Tiny reminiscence playing cards have been as soon as the protect {of professional} customers corresponding to photographers who use them to rapidly switch information. However, anybody should buy a high quality 512GB card for round $75/£75, and so they supply an affordable method of upping the storage in your laptop computer and are tremendous transportable, too.

The Echo 20’s UHS II SD card reader is rated quick at 312MBps—the identical because the TS4’s.

As with different docks, if you happen to desire transportable storage there are different choices, too. For instance, you could possibly add a pocketable SSD enclosure, corresponding to Ugreen’s M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure Adapter, obtainable for round $30 (additionally not together with the SSD itself).

Foundry

Dock show choices

You can join an exterior show by way of the HDMI 2.1 port (with out the necessity for an adapter), and one other display by way of one of many Thunderbolt ports, or two by way of each the downstream Thunderbolt ports.

Dual-display assist means M1/M2 Pro, M1/M2 Max and M1/M2 Ultra Macs can hook up both a single 4K/5K/6K display or two HD/4K/5K/6K shows.

A Mac with an M2 Pro/Max/Ultra chip can assist as much as a single 8K show at 60Hz, or two HD/4K/5K/6K shows (each 4K at 60Hz).

Windows PCs and Chromebooks sporting Thunderbolt 4 can assist as much as a single 8K show at 60Hz, or two HD/4K shows at 60Hz.

An fascinating distinction between the Echo 20 (HDMI 2.1) and the Caldigit TS4 (DisplayPort 1.4) is the selection of video port.

HDMI is the extra well-liked port on shows however DisplayPort has historically been superior on the specs entrance. However, HDMI 2.1 has greater than caught up with DP 1.4 so is a nice choice even for high-end execs. HDMI 2.1 is an enormous leap up from HDMI 2.0, which is discovered on most different docking stations with a video port.

Audio ports back and front

Visuals aren’t the Echo 20’s solely power. There are 4 audio ports obtainable. At the entrance is a 3.5mm combo jack for both wired headphones or a microphone, and on the again are separate left/proper channel RCA line-out jacks that may ship a clear sign to powered audio system or an amplifier, plus an additional 3.5mm microphone jack.

The TS4’s three audio ports are all 3.5mm. While there isn’t any noticeable distinction in sound high quality between RCA and three.5mm connectors, numerous client A/V gear nonetheless helps RCA connectors, which additionally present a safer connection than 3.5mm connectors.

Audio fans would like a Digital Audio port to attach on to their amplifier, audio system, or residence theatre receiver for the highest-quality, pure audio playback, however the audio ports on the Echo 20 will likely be ok for many customers.

Super-fast Ethernet

Another bid for “Super” standing is the Echo 20’s super-fast 2.5Gb Gigabit Ethernet, which has the potential to be 2.5 instances sooner than normal Gigabit Ethernet. This once more matches the wired-network port on the TS4.

To reap the benefits of the two.5GbE velocity, you want a related gadget—corresponding to a router/community change—that’s 2.5GbE or above

The 2.5Gb Ethernet port is backwards and forwards suitable with different speeds of Ethernet, so will work with an ordinary Gigabit Ethernet community.

Docking energy

With 100W Power Delivery (PD), the Echo 20 can maintain even the biggest related laptop computer powered up in full use.

Each USB port on the Echo 20 has a minimal charging energy of seven.5W, and the downstream TB4 ports can supply 15W to energy related gadgets.

While that is spectacular, it’s one space the place the Caldigit TS4 has extra muscle. Its 230W energy provide is essentially the most powered-up docking station we’ve ever examined, and one of many entrance USB-C ports can cost at a beneficiant 20W–sufficient, for instance, for fast-charging an iPhone by way of USB-C.

The Echo 20’s 150W energy provide ought to, nonetheless, be highly effective sufficient to cost a 100W laptop computer and have sufficient left for just a few related gadgets.

Foundry

Design

Docking stations both lie horizontally, just like the Echo 20, or stand vertically, just like the TS4. Vertical docks save desk area however horizontal docks can supply a cleaner look.

Personally, I desire the vertical design, however most docks, if doing their job accurately, quickly mix into their desktop surroundings anyway.

Most docks place the upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (to the host laptop computer) on the entrance, which suggests a trailing cable messing up your desk. Both the Echo 20 and TS4 handily place the upstream port in the back of the dock.

The Echo 20 is jet black, whereas the TS4 is metallic grey, though that is unlikely to be a decider when selecting between these two glorious two docking stations.

Sonnet

Price

The Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock prices $299.99, which measures up very favorably towards the Caldigit TS4’s $399.99 and different Thunderbolt 4 docks corresponding to Kensington’s SD5700T ($369.99).

Given its top-end specs, that is simply the best-value Thunderbolt 4 dock we now have examined.

Note that there’s no SSD included with the Echo 20 so it’s essential to issue on this if you wish to add the interior storage, nevertheless it’s not even an choice with different docks so doesn’t spoil the comparability.

Even if you happen to don’t want the SSD enclosure now, the Echo 20 nonetheless represents nice worth for cash.

Verdict

We didn’t assume that Caldigit’s TS4 may very well be crushed however the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock is a really shut match for the quantity and high quality of ports however for $100 much less.

It lacks a MicroSD card reader and doesn’t supply as a lot multi-device energy, nevertheless it has different advantages—most noticeably the interior storage enclosure—and is specced excessive sufficient for many customers.

The 19 ports are all top-end—Thunderbolt 4, 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A, 2.5Gb Ethernet, HDMI 2.1—and the inclusion of the onboard M.2 NVMe SSD slot offers the Echo 20 our crown as the brand new Thunderbolt 4 docking station of alternative.

Editor’s be aware: This evaluate initially appeared on Macworld.com.