Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock - A Connection for Every Situation

Being an Apple fan has its ups and downs. Though I may enjoy spending time with my MacBook, the two USB-C ports and 3.5mm headphone jack isn’t always enough for my productivity needs, especially if I’m using more than one monitor. 

Since this isn’t my first rodeo with a Mac, I knew I was going to need a dock from the start. There’s plenty on the market, but the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock stood out to me for a number of reasons, and it wasn’t just its features.

Delivering Power Through a Single Cable 

With any dock for Mac, there are naturally certain expectations. You plug in a single cable to your device and then you expect everything to start working. While many docks promise this, the Echo 20 SecureDock actually delivers. 

With a focus on Thunderbolt 5 technology, the device is capable of far more bandwidth than prior generations. The device offers 80 Gbps bi-directional throughput, and those with higher video workloads are able to push it up to 120Gbps. Spending a good amount of time with the dock, running multiple peripherals at once was a breeze, even with my daily workloads. 

Running a triple-screen display was no sweat, and even adding multiple USB devices and an external storage drive was no issue. Sonnet promises that the device is twice as fast as the previous Thunderbolt 4 model, and in my experience, I am inclined to agree. However, anyone interested is likely concerned with its connection offerings, so let’s take a close look at what's under the hood. 

A Port for Every Occasion 

Connectivity is the name of the game for the Echo 20, and there’s a solid amount of options with this device. One feature that stood out to me was its 10GbE networking capabilities, which allows for fast connection to NAS systems and other high-speed networks through Cat6 or Cat6A. Even better, you don’t even need an adapter-It's included. 

That’s just the start, however, as the Echo 20 also includes:

• One  Thunderbolt 5 computer port (also supports Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4; provides 140W charging power to laptops)
• Two  Thunderbolt 5 peripheral ports (supports Thunderbolt 3, 4, 5, and USB devices)
• Two 10 Gbps USB-C ports with 7.5W charging
• One 10 Gbps USB-C port with 15W charging
• Two 10 Gbps USB-A 7.5W ports
• One 10 Gigabit Ethernet port
• HDMI Output with 8K, 60Hz display support
• DisplayPort output for 4K 144Hz display

Of course, there’s actually even more, including SD and microSD card slots, but suffice it to say there’s more than enough ports to make sure you’re connecting nearly anything you want. With a combination of front and rear options, I liked that I was able to keep my longer-lasting connections to the back of the device while saving the front for things I would just need quick access to. 

Full Power and Security on Display

Along with being able to connect more peripherals than I actually had around my house and office, the Echo 20 can also deliver up to 140W of charging power to your MacBook. That’s a lot of power, which means it’s capable of charging higher-end MacBook Pro models. While some may find it to be a small detail, it really harkens back to the “single cable” experience the dock aims to provide. 

Security is also a major part of the Echo 20—It puts the ‘secure’ in SecureDock, after all. One unique feature for this device is that it's designed around environments that restrict or prohibit internal storage. This means those who need a secure workspace can be compliant. It’s not something you always see in a consumer product, and it’s a nice addition. The device also includes a Kensington lock slot,which means it's good for shared environments or enterprises. 

Taking these security features and combining them with the port options, multi-display support, 140W, Thunderbolt 5 support, and MacBook charging, I was really impressed with my experience. Throughout my use, the Echo 20 kept silent, which is expected  considering it's fanless. It’s a simple experience that eliminated a lot of cable clutter for me, and I appreciated the lack of troubleshooting. 

The Final Word: Is the Echo 20 Right for You? 

Something to keep in mind is that the Echo 20 Thunderbolt 5 SecureDock isn’t about minimalism. While it remains straightforward and is easy to use, this is a dock that’s trying to be complete. Overall, it succeeds. I found it to be fast, and its connectivity options were far beyond my typical needs. The device was capable of simplifying my setup without creating new headaches. 

With an MSRP of $449.99, it may be more suited for enterprises and other managed IT environments, but there’s certainly plenty for personal use, as well. 

It’s not going to be overkill for everyone, but those looking for flexibility, reliability, and performance should consider this dock for their needs. Whether you’re trying to achieve 4K monitor support or plug in virtually every USB device you’ve ever owned, you’re going to be able to do it, and you’re still going to have room for powering your MacBook and connecting to Ethernet.