I have been using a TS3 plus with my 13 inch 2017 MBP since the summer of 2020. Love the one cable solution so far, being able to connect all my MIDI controllers + external drives + monitor + PD and *still* having a TB3 input to spare feels like magic. I did however notice two relatively minor issues with it: 1- My MBP runs a bit hotter when powered through the dock compared to using Apple's cable+brick. I still manage to keep it between 65 and 80 C when under heavy workload by manually maxing out the fans with iStats (Apple's default fan curve is trash)... 2- There is sometimes interference with my sound card (which is NOT connected through the dock, it is directly plugged into the MBP through the other TB3 input). Once in a while, I'll hear faint (sometimes mildly loud) glitchy noises from the data transfer of its neighbouring port through my monitors. There doesn't seem to be a logic or pattern as the when this occurs, it's pretty random and can be annoying/distracting when recording or writing music. Looking forward to seeing how the TS4 performs. Might upgrade next year if it's worth it, but one thing's for sure: i'm never getting a 2k$ laptop with only two measly TB3 ports ever again. Great content btw, love to see a fellow Canuck on TH-cam!
I purchased a TS3 Plus last year from the Apple Store, It quit working already after seeing very limited use. I went to their site, download firmware, drivers, etc, etc, nothing worked. I tried to call, but using the COVID excuse they no longer answer phones. Left a massage, they never returned my call. I sent an e-mail, no response. I called again, no answer, tried to use the chat option and there is no-one there to chat either. It powers off and on, disconnecting and reconnecting my drives. This of course is damaging. I have other equipment dating back almost 10 years that is still working fine, outdated of course but still works. I also have a OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock that I purchased at the same time, that still functions flawlessly. I will never buy CalDigit Again. $300.0 to $400.00 a year is more than I am willing to spend for a dock.
What a piece of junk my CalDigit TS3a Hub is. One of the most UNRELIABLE hardware kit I currently own, but will soon dump. This is a very helpful video - thank you. Love that you have a hackintosh. Ethernet on the TS3a is unreliable - full stop. Ethernet is not rocket science any longer, but Caldigit has not been keeping up it seems. I have been connecting computer equipment since 1978 and even got to meet Prof Metcalfe once briefly thru his friend Pat McGovern founder of IDG and a great fellow who passed away too soon.
New sub and fellow TH-camr, I’m just starting and loved the vibe of your video. Ive seen so many mixed reviews about caldigit hubs but also it’s all tech reviewers push.
I've also had my devices disconnect without warning. I thought I was the only one, but this makes me realize that, though this device does what it says it does, reliability is poor and is probably damaging my devices. Unfortunately, I think this is the last CalDigit product I'll be buying. I'll be looking for an alternative soon.
So I'm using Mac in this case, you can download the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to check the speed of your connected hard drives from the App Store for free: apps.apple.com/ca/app/blackmagic-disk-speed-test/id425264550?mt=12 If you're looking for something that monitors your system (including network speeds, temperatures & disk speeds in realtime), I use iStat Menus which you can purchase here as a one-time purchase: bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/ iStat Menus is also available via SetApp which is a subscription service that gives you access to a lot of apps for a low monthly price. If you prefer that option, you can find iStat Menus via SetApp here: setapp.com/apps/istat-menus?ci=737183467&adgroupid=41332913467&adpos=&ck=istat%20menus&targetid=kwd-316486841748&match=e&gnetwork=g&creative=659252795663&placement=&placecat=&accname=setapp&extensionid=&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4bipBhCyARIsAFsieCzTk4TYHgB2ksXG1sWSI-YMFgE-H90lKoWtGrlfHPBonyvFnBO3jGUaAqDrEALw_wcB Hope this helps!
I've been experiencing the same issue where the drives unmount if I breathe too hard. I've reached out to Caldigit support but after watching your video, I've lost confidence in them as a company. Do you recommend a similar hub from another manufacturer?
So interestingly enough, I had a 2017 MacBook Pro which had a similar issue with its ports. Apple replaced it after multiple butterfly keyboard replacements and it shipped with USB-C/Thunderbolt ports that are much tighter in terms of tolerance. A part of me wonders if that was first gen USB-C woes. I’m hoping the TS4 from Caldigit is much better. I’m very hesitant to order one due to the issues I had with the TS3+. I do have friends with the TS3+ that had no issues with theirs, and I know for a few months after Caldigit replaced my TS3+, it was working flawlessly without any cable issues. Other hubs/docks seem promising like offerings from OWC, but I’ll tell you now, don’t purchase anything from Hyper/SANHO. Their products seemed good, but their customer relations is in a word, trash. It’s almost worth doing a video about given a lot of things I’ve seen in the last few months. I wish I could give you a definitive answer here, but as of right now, I don’t have one sadly.
My usb A ports aren’t powering any of the card readers that I have plugged into them. Basically have a couple card readers that have their own power supply but when I put a card into them nothing happens.
Yeah, those small blue LEDs tend to burn out after 2-3 years. I used to have some devices with an array of these SMD LEDs, they all went bust after 2 years. This seems like an issue with blue SMD LEDs in general, because the red ones I have work to this day.
Thank you for this video, I'm glad to know I'm not the only person having these issues! I can't connect drives to mine; they simply disconnect randomly. SSD, HDD, USB-C, USB-A, doesn't matter, the dock hates drives. The headphone jack was producing very noticeable noise when using my headphones, though that problem stopped on its own randomly. The light on mine goes out regularly as well. It disconnects my wired keyboard randomly. At first, I thought this was just a problem after my laptop went to sleep, but the disconnects started happening WHILE I was using the computer. Today was the first time that my external monitor didn't wake up with my laptop. I had to pull the power from the dock before the monitor could reconnect. My relatively cheap Anker non-thunderbolt hub works flawlessly. Frustrating.
I use an aggregate audio device on my MacBook Pro. There is a problem with this dock where if you restart the computer or unplug the computer and plug it back in, the caldigit audio and all the devices connected to it appear as new audio devices and I have to re-add them to the aggregate audio device. It’s annoying and infuriating and bypassing the caldigit solves the problem. It’s so close but no cigar.
Which device is it? My Apollo X4 works fine on my M3 Max MacBook Pro, my i9 MacBook Pro and my i9 Hackintosh with a gigabyte modded Thunderbolt 3 PCIE adapter. Maybe it’s the vendor that needs to update the driver? (Although, this being a Caldigit issue doesn’t surprise me at all)
It’s called an Axe I/O, I use it for guitars while I use the Volt 276 for microphones. I think you’re right, I think there is something in the firmware that is not uniquely identifying the device so every time it registers MacOS is giving it a new ID. It’s annoying but it’s not game breaking. Just kind of irritating to add it back to the aggregate every time. The caldigit audio out also has to be added every time and I’m so over it 😂
TS4 - Caldigit have a new power supply coming for the TS4 which will resolve some issues with noisy units, they are updating firmware on a regular basis to combat the known issues, heat is a side effect of charging so if you use the dock on a laptop expect it to get hot, if you use the dock on a desktop (M1 Mini for example) then that doesn't draw power so the dock stays cool. All this came from Caldigit when I asked about the 'issues' being detailed in Vlogs and reviews. For the vast majority of users the TS3+ will suffice, but for some having the latest, greatest, fastest etc etc is a mandatory requirement, for a few having the faster ports is a need but like 2000+gb/s SSD's in a lot of cases it's just a sales pitch to convince us that we need the new toy, when reality is that the apps we use don't or won't benefit from the extra speed. Nice video and good to hear that the TS3+ was still working when you posted this video, my comment is 3 months on from you posting, did you twist or stick?
Caldigit just offered to send me another replacement unit! (Like yesterday) so I’m going to post a quick update video to that. Currently working on my part 2 of my Bell fibre to the home video as we speak.
OMG THANK YOU! SO many things: - I have the Caldigit TS3 and the Element USB 4 on my PC. It was my goto on my mac and worked super solid so I may have gotten lucky with my copy. My issues started when I went from Mac to PC and I couldn't get anything to work consistently and had constant drops. I am using almost ALL the USB options I can on my setup which is a bit insane and I have been getting crashes. Unplugging things to rule out the PC or the docks is a long drawn out process and I've been really busy with other things. I wanted to chain to the element and Then to the TS3 but it was really strange and unreliable. Per their advice, Forget where I found it on their support, I am running the TS3 as the first in the chain and then to the Element 4 so to "charge a laptop" Since this is connected to my PC it doesn't really matter. The TS4 should have more bandwidth. My Asus Expansion Card was RMA'd but I think the new version is even worse with the port retention, slightest wiggle in cable and it fails. I'm using the short TS3 TB3 cable, my Cal TB4 cable seems unreliable as a source cord yet works fine when connecting periphrials (Shrug). That could just be how it connects to the expansion card (not sure yet). I need to try a shorter one and swap the chain around...but its working right now and the TS3+seems to be reliable so I don't want to touch it. I have had an issue with the port on my ASUS Thunderbolt EX (the port tolerance is not tight at ALL). I was trouble shooting and thought it was a cable the big thunderbolt cable, but ASUS USB 4 EX card is the only one rated for my Z690 Strix, and sadly on this second version it is garbage. Veritical ports would hold fine, but the horizontal port has not grip. I am using a jerry rigged fix of two 3M command velcro to hold a bend in the cable at just the right angle so it will tolerate subtle movements and keep a tight connection. Was going to move the PC but afraid of losing all my connectivity again. Thunderbolt life. Your Asus X89X router recommendation is straight on, I would like to add that I found that when I first got it it had an internal fan almost a deal breaker. But it aggregated my NAS so well. The software capability with the hardware is supreme. Currently I have a 2.5G Modem, plugged into the 2.5 GB WAN port, then used the Module Port 2.5G/ 10G (Fiber module to RJ45, i forget the module type). I am using the 2.5G to a 2.5 GB switch and then run 2.5 to all my network devices but my NAS it only supports 1G + 1G aggregate. I chose to not got 10G because of the heat. Thus bringing me back to the Fan. If I run the fan low vs normal, the router will start dropping with the 2.5G modules in it. I read that the 10G gets really hot and you MUST run the fan in the router on Full. So Great router, and if you are going to use it for a 10G home network, prepare accordingly. I believe the router can only handle 2.5G in from modem but still a great option is you don't want to build a PC to do 10G routing. Love your video and straight shooter approach. SUBSCRIBED!
Thanks for the compliment and comment! Going to respond more thoroughly shortly! Also, part 2 of the Bell video finally went up today: th-cam.com/video/iVROIfxi1oI/w-d-xo.html I do want to go further into this comment and respond accordingly.
so for dual monitors you need to use the display port dock and the thunderbolt dock? the usb-c ports don't support video, but they can if you use a usb-c to displayport cable? I didn't understand that part
On the back of the dock there’s a DisplayPort output and there’s a 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports. Also, there’s another 2 USB-C ports. However, you can only get display out from the DisplayPort connector or the 2nd Thunderbolt port: The remaining USB-C ports cannot output video. To use the 2nd Thunderbolt port as a display out, you need either a monitor which accepts USB-C or, use a USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter, in the 2nd Thunderbolt port.
The sound is ok, aurelex bass traps from some place like SweetWater I think might make a big difference. The reverb I'm hearing almost sounds like a reflection off the monitor. I love the clarity of your mic, what are you using?
I just need a Mac Studio to justify the TS4 as a purchase. But the cost / quality issues has me too indecisive about it. I think I’d wait until I get a new Mac and then see what many have said about the TS4- that is, if they’re going to have any- the chip shortage is real 😭
Yikes. Have you tried e-mailing their support? My new one is somewhat working ok, but I purposely placed it on my desk under the AC vent for the summer so I don’t have any weird surprises. I think it’s a thermal issue that breaks these things over time. They get pretty hot.
I recently got a thunderbolt to hdmi cable for a secondary display and now everytime I turn my laptop on that monitor just shows a gray/black screen I have to reboot the computer everytime for it to show the screen. It didn't do that before when I ran the hdmi directly to the hdmi port on the laptop, it am not sure if it is because of the thunderbolt to hdmi cable, maybe the cable should be a straight hdmi to hdmi or what it is. I also have the exact same thing with moving the dock and everything disconnecting.
I suspect it’s the the Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. I had an Apple branded USB-C adapter (I actually had 2 and they both were flakey at best and both died)- I’m using a different 3rd party one and it’s been a lot better (mind you, I don’t use it with the dock- this is for when I need to output to a TV from my MacBook Pro) DisplayPort from the dock is a much better option if your monitor supports it. New update about my dock, the DisplayPort now flickers on and off and if I eject my drives for any reason, I have to play musical chairs with the USB ports to get connected again. Caldigit is sending another dock. (Their customer service is impeccable compared to other companies). I think the Thunderbolt disconnection is heat related over time. When I got this replacement device it was fine (super tight) but because it gets so hot and the air conditioning in my room is directly over the desk, the constant heat expansion and contraction, over time, has probably messed with the tolerance of the Thunderbolt port.
@@TechMixr I got a Samsung 49inch monitor and a BenQ 34 inch monitor. The BenQ monitor is using the display port on the dock so I was trying to get the Samsung monitor to use a port on the dock to keep from running to the hdmi on the laptop. But the hdmi to the laptop was working with zero issues before I started using the hdmi to thunderbolt cable. I will probably just go back to using it until I can figure out a better way or get another dock. I contacted their support about the dock disconnecting everything maybe they will send me a new one, I never would have thought they would send a new one because it was doing that.
@@jamesvelopmenthagood8998the reason my first dock got replaced was because of the disconnection issue. Their support team is top-notch. I'd EVEN go as far as to say top 5 in the world. No joke.
Thanks for the review. I nearly got one of these used but have now decided to get something cheaper and split the difference on an old LED cinema display. Just one qn though... How can SPDIF sound bad? It's digital? 🤔
That was my exact thought when I tried it too. It just clips the output. It has a really harsh sound and it isn’t adjustable in terms of how it’s sending audio. Really a shame because it would have come in clutch in certain situations. But no matter which computer I used, no matter what I did, it just sounded super terrible.
Oh wow.. my TS3 Pro has the same problem. Look at it wrong, touch, or even have a cable bang it, everything goes out. I never contacted support though and is well over its warranty period
It’s definitely still worth contacting. I will say that even with the issues with the dock, their customer service team does try really REALLY hard to make it right. If their quality control matched their customer service, they’d be unstoppable. They helped me even after the warranty period. I can’t guarantee anything so your mileage may vary, but it’s worth sending an email. Just be nice about it.
@@official_wutnot Their customer service is absolutely stellar. Their QC has hopefully gotten better since this video but their customer service is what makes them a standout brand. 👌🏾
In most cases this is true, but I’ve seen some weird stuff with Thunderbolt 4. The “spec” says it’s able to be backwards compatible- but some manufacturers take hacky shortcuts and I’ve seen a few devices that don’t work sadly.
@@adriancoanda9227 a few things show up as a Thunderbolt 4 device in all the preference windows- even have Thunderbolt 4 certifications, but refuse to work with Thunderbolt 3 computers. Again, some manufacturers are doing weird things with some products. It’s supposed to work, the spec is designed to work, but in a real life scenario, some items just don’t function as they should.
Love the video. Was wondering if you knew whether the Ts3 is compatible with usb 3.2 gen 2 port equipped laptops or is it only compatible with thunderbolt port equipped laptops? Seeing as you've got a lot of experience with it.
If I needed the 10 GbE port I’d be all over this. But I needed more USB-A ports and have dual 10GbE on board. Also, I don’t use CFExpress in any applications which is why I’m leaning towards the TS4, but, quality control and shortages have me worried.
@@TechMixr Hey!!! Good to hear from you :). I bought a TS3 in early June & a TS4 in early July. And, literally because of your video, I attached them to an articulating laptop tray. I can rotate them upside down etc. And the way i strapped them keeps.them from directly touching the tray.. The tray is well vented with drilled holes.. The docks are venting ridiculously well. They're not getting hot. But, even with all that venting space they're still a bit warm LOL. YOU ROCK!!! Thanks soooOOOooo SOOOOOOO much for making this video. This video saved me from getting into an overheating situation that I'm betting would have eventually crackled the board connections. And I need these running 24x7.
These all get hot. Dell, Lenovo, etc, all the Thunderbolt docks. Wtf are people thinking? These are high speed, high bandwidth device, it charges - it'll get hot/warm. That's just common sense. That being said Dell Thunderbolt dock has fan, I received it for free from work so I'm not complaining.
I feel your pain with CalDigit. Mine worked well for 2 years, then half the functionality suddenly stopped. External monitors and thunderbolt would work, but no USB, Sd card, or even audio worked. Just dead like the ports had no connections. Customer service wasted a ton of my time having me swap out cables, computers, resetting pram etc etc. I specifically asked if there was perhaps a common power bus for those items that may have died. I tried to get some sort of technical information from them. They wouldn’t answer technical questions. Then after multiple emails back and forth they had the nerve to say “If your CalDigit product has served you well, we would encourage you to possibly look into purchasing another.” You gotta be f-ing kidding me. It cost nearly $400 when I got it. It should at least last 3 years. NEVER AGAIN. Gonna look to OWC or maybe even roll the dice on Belkin.
Almost exactly the same experience (and fault) for me. I won't be buying another CalDigit product again. I was happy to have my product repaired for a fee but was told this was also not an option as they no longer offer repairs - totally inexcusable given how this product costs, the environmental impact and the high profile of right to repair. As an aside I've also had CalDigit's active TB cable fail on me.
Bought mine 2 years ago. What a piece of junk my CalDigit TS3a Hub is. One of the most UNRELIABLE hardware kit I currently own, but will soon dump. Do not care that it is in a nice case. Many forums on this CalDigit product have found tons of problems: thunderbolt device disconnects, ethernet failure, overheating so bad it melts plastic tabletops .... etc. Never purchasing Caldigit again. This is an honest review - thank you. Also like that he has a hackintosh. Ethernet on the TS3a is unreliable - full stop. Ethernet is not rocket science any longer, but Caldigit has not been keeping up it seems. I have been connecting computer equipment since 1978 and even got to meet Prof Metcalfe once briefly thru his friend Pat McGovern founder of IDG and a great fellow who passed away too soon.
Personally, if I reboot my MacBook Pro while it’s connected to my TS3 Plus with dual monitors connected, my MBP restart with a kernel panic error message. It’s a known issue by Apple and CalDigit and they don’t fix it. 😌
I got another replacement unit and it’s been really good. Mind you, it’s only been a few months so I’ll have to update after a significantly longer period to gauge whether or not it’s actually fixed now.
@@abolfazlsaravani2214 believe me, after the amount of hassles I had, I wish I bought a different brand. You’re not wrong at all for wanting to go with an alternative.
Fair point. My only gripe is the movement issue with this dock. I'm hoping this is something that got address when designing the TS4. The extra Thunderbolt daisy-chain port would be clutch, and having access to 10 gbit USB-A & USB-C ports would be amazing as well. I have a fast NVME I'd like to throw in an enclosure as a video scratch disk not to mention some other drives that are faster than the 5 gbit speed the TS3 provides. But also my TS4 'Plus' conspiracy theory is in my head 😂 - If they are planning on releasing a better version of it, I don't think it's worth buying the TS4 at the moment.
If you use Thunderbolt docks or hubs, how have you liked it so far? If you have Thunderbolt and don’t use it, what has stopped you?
I have been using a TS3 plus with my 13 inch 2017 MBP since the summer of 2020. Love the one cable solution so far, being able to connect all my MIDI controllers + external drives + monitor + PD and *still* having a TB3 input to spare feels like magic. I did however notice two relatively minor issues with it: 1- My MBP runs a bit hotter when powered through the dock compared to using Apple's cable+brick. I still manage to keep it between 65 and 80 C when under heavy workload by manually maxing out the fans with iStats (Apple's default fan curve is trash)... 2- There is sometimes interference with my sound card (which is NOT connected through the dock, it is directly plugged into the MBP through the other TB3 input). Once in a while, I'll hear faint (sometimes mildly loud) glitchy noises from the data transfer of its neighbouring port through my monitors. There doesn't seem to be a logic or pattern as the when this occurs, it's pretty random and can be annoying/distracting when recording or writing music.
Looking forward to seeing how the TS4 performs. Might upgrade next year if it's worth it, but one thing's for sure: i'm never getting a 2k$ laptop with only two measly TB3 ports ever again. Great content btw, love to see a fellow Canuck on TH-cam!
Was about to buy one but saw all the problems so walked away. Thank-you
I purchased a TS3 Plus last year from the Apple Store, It quit working already after seeing very limited use. I went to their site, download firmware, drivers, etc, etc, nothing worked. I tried to call, but using the COVID excuse they no longer answer phones. Left a massage, they never returned my call. I sent an e-mail, no response. I called again, no answer, tried to use the chat option and there is no-one there to chat either. It powers off and on, disconnecting and reconnecting my drives. This of course is damaging. I have other equipment dating back almost 10 years that is still working fine, outdated of course but still works. I also have a OWC Thunderbolt 4 dock that I purchased at the same time, that still functions flawlessly. I will never buy CalDigit Again. $300.0 to $400.00 a year is more than I am willing to spend for a dock.
What a piece of junk my CalDigit TS3a Hub is. One of the most UNRELIABLE hardware kit I currently own, but will soon dump. This is a very helpful video - thank you. Love that you have a hackintosh.
Ethernet on the TS3a is unreliable - full stop. Ethernet is not rocket science any longer, but Caldigit has not been keeping up it seems. I have been connecting computer equipment since 1978 and even got to meet Prof Metcalfe once briefly thru his friend Pat McGovern founder of IDG and a great fellow who passed away too soon.
New sub and fellow TH-camr, I’m just starting and loved the vibe of your video. Ive seen so many mixed reviews about caldigit hubs but also it’s all tech reviewers push.
I've also had my devices disconnect without warning. I thought I was the only one, but this makes me realize that, though this device does what it says it does, reliability is poor and is probably damaging my devices. Unfortunately, I think this is the last CalDigit product I'll be buying. I'll be looking for an alternative soon.
Yeah- I have a replacement unit now and it’s working…… for now. But it gets uncomfortably hot and I’m hoping to find a better alternative.
CalDigit - horrible junk
Yesterday I connected my new TS3 Plus, the inspection light does not light up...
So does the dock actually work? Also, did you try swapping Thunderbolt 3 cables or reach out to Caldigit?
May I ask you what is the app you use to monitor the transferring speed?
So I'm using Mac in this case, you can download the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to check the speed of your connected hard drives from the App Store for free: apps.apple.com/ca/app/blackmagic-disk-speed-test/id425264550?mt=12
If you're looking for something that monitors your system (including network speeds, temperatures & disk speeds in realtime), I use iStat Menus which you can purchase here as a one-time purchase: bjango.com/mac/istatmenus/
iStat Menus is also available via SetApp which is a subscription service that gives you access to a lot of apps for a low monthly price. If you prefer that option, you can find iStat Menus via SetApp here: setapp.com/apps/istat-menus?ci=737183467&adgroupid=41332913467&adpos=&ck=istat%20menus&targetid=kwd-316486841748&match=e&gnetwork=g&creative=659252795663&placement=&placecat=&accname=setapp&extensionid=&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4bipBhCyARIsAFsieCzTk4TYHgB2ksXG1sWSI-YMFgE-H90lKoWtGrlfHPBonyvFnBO3jGUaAqDrEALw_wcB
Hope this helps!
I've been experiencing the same issue where the drives unmount if I breathe too hard. I've reached out to Caldigit support but after watching your video, I've lost confidence in them as a company. Do you recommend a similar hub from another manufacturer?
So interestingly enough, I had a 2017 MacBook Pro which had a similar issue with its ports. Apple replaced it after multiple butterfly keyboard replacements and it shipped with USB-C/Thunderbolt ports that are much tighter in terms of tolerance. A part of me wonders if that was first gen USB-C woes.
I’m hoping the TS4 from Caldigit is much better. I’m very hesitant to order one due to the issues I had with the TS3+. I do have friends with the TS3+ that had no issues with theirs, and I know for a few months after Caldigit replaced my TS3+, it was working flawlessly without any cable issues.
Other hubs/docks seem promising like offerings from OWC, but I’ll tell you now, don’t purchase anything from Hyper/SANHO. Their products seemed good, but their customer relations is in a word, trash. It’s almost worth doing a video about given a lot of things I’ve seen in the last few months.
I wish I could give you a definitive answer here, but as of right now, I don’t have one sadly.
My usb A ports aren’t powering any of the card readers that I have plugged into them. Basically have a couple card readers that have their own power supply but when I put a card into them nothing happens.
The QC on these docks are all over the map. My replacement has been great, but for how long is the question. How long have you had yours?
Yeah, those small blue LEDs tend to burn out after 2-3 years. I used to have some devices with an array of these SMD LEDs, they all went bust after 2 years. This seems like an issue with blue SMD LEDs in general, because the red ones I have work to this day.
Thank you for this video, I'm glad to know I'm not the only person having these issues! I can't connect drives to mine; they simply disconnect randomly. SSD, HDD, USB-C, USB-A, doesn't matter, the dock hates drives. The headphone jack was producing very noticeable noise when using my headphones, though that problem stopped on its own randomly. The light on mine goes out regularly as well. It disconnects my wired keyboard randomly. At first, I thought this was just a problem after my laptop went to sleep, but the disconnects started happening WHILE I was using the computer. Today was the first time that my external monitor didn't wake up with my laptop. I had to pull the power from the dock before the monitor could reconnect. My relatively cheap Anker non-thunderbolt hub works flawlessly. Frustrating.
th-cam.com/users/shortsk74V64dunOA?feature=share - here’s my answer 😂🤦🏾♂️🤬 (this short is specifically about your comment) thank you for watching 🙏🏾
I use an aggregate audio device on my MacBook Pro. There is a problem with this dock where if you restart the computer or unplug the computer and plug it back in, the caldigit audio and all the devices connected to it appear as new audio devices and I have to re-add them to the aggregate audio device. It’s annoying and infuriating and bypassing the caldigit solves the problem. It’s so close but no cigar.
Which device is it? My Apollo X4 works fine on my M3 Max MacBook Pro, my i9 MacBook Pro and my i9 Hackintosh with a gigabyte modded Thunderbolt 3 PCIE adapter. Maybe it’s the vendor that needs to update the driver? (Although, this being a Caldigit issue doesn’t surprise me at all)
It’s called an Axe I/O, I use it for guitars while I use the Volt 276 for microphones. I think you’re right, I think there is something in the firmware that is not uniquely identifying the device so every time it registers MacOS is giving it a new ID. It’s annoying but it’s not game breaking. Just kind of irritating to add it back to the aggregate every time. The caldigit audio out also has to be added every time and I’m so over it 😂
Ahhhhh that’s the worst
TS4 - Caldigit have a new power supply coming for the TS4 which will resolve some issues with noisy units, they are updating firmware on a regular basis to combat the known issues, heat is a side effect of charging so if you use the dock on a laptop expect it to get hot, if you use the dock on a desktop (M1 Mini for example) then that doesn't draw power so the dock stays cool. All this came from Caldigit when I asked about the 'issues' being detailed in Vlogs and reviews.
For the vast majority of users the TS3+ will suffice, but for some having the latest, greatest, fastest etc etc is a mandatory requirement, for a few having the faster ports is a need but like 2000+gb/s SSD's in a lot of cases it's just a sales pitch to convince us that we need the new toy, when reality is that the apps we use don't or won't benefit from the extra speed.
Nice video and good to hear that the TS3+ was still working when you posted this video, my comment is 3 months on from you posting, did you twist or stick?
Caldigit just offered to send me another replacement unit! (Like yesterday) so I’m going to post a quick update video to that. Currently working on my part 2 of my Bell fibre to the home video as we speak.
OMG THANK YOU! SO many things:
- I have the Caldigit TS3 and the Element USB 4 on my PC. It was my goto on my mac and worked super solid so I may have gotten lucky with my copy. My issues started when I went from Mac to PC and I couldn't get anything to work consistently and had constant drops. I am using almost ALL the USB options I can on my setup which is a bit insane and I have been getting crashes. Unplugging things to rule out the PC or the docks is a long drawn out process and I've been really busy with other things.
I wanted to chain to the element and Then to the TS3 but it was really strange and unreliable. Per their advice, Forget where I found it on their support, I am running the TS3 as the first in the chain and then to the Element 4 so to "charge a laptop" Since this is connected to my PC it doesn't really matter. The TS4 should have more bandwidth. My Asus Expansion Card was RMA'd but I think the new version is even worse with the port retention, slightest wiggle in cable and it fails. I'm using the short TS3 TB3 cable, my Cal TB4 cable seems unreliable as a source cord yet works fine when connecting periphrials (Shrug). That could just be how it connects to the expansion card (not sure yet). I need to try a shorter one and swap the chain around...but its working right now and the TS3+seems to be reliable so I don't want to touch it.
I have had an issue with the port on my ASUS Thunderbolt EX (the port tolerance is not tight at ALL). I was trouble shooting and thought it was a cable the big thunderbolt cable, but ASUS USB 4 EX card is the only one rated for my Z690 Strix, and sadly on this second version it is garbage. Veritical ports would hold fine, but the horizontal port has not grip. I am using a jerry rigged fix of two 3M command velcro to hold a bend in the cable at just the right angle so it will tolerate subtle movements and keep a tight connection. Was going to move the PC but afraid of losing all my connectivity again. Thunderbolt life.
Your Asus X89X router recommendation is straight on, I would like to add that I found that when I first got it it had an internal fan almost a deal breaker. But it aggregated my NAS so well. The software capability with the hardware is supreme. Currently I have a 2.5G Modem, plugged into the 2.5 GB WAN port, then used the Module Port 2.5G/ 10G (Fiber module to RJ45, i forget the module type). I am using the 2.5G to a 2.5 GB switch and then run 2.5 to all my network devices but my NAS it only supports 1G + 1G aggregate. I chose to not got 10G because of the heat. Thus bringing me back to the Fan. If I run the fan low vs normal, the router will start dropping with the 2.5G modules in it. I read that the 10G gets really hot and you MUST run the fan in the router on Full. So Great router, and if you are going to use it for a 10G home network, prepare accordingly. I believe the router can only handle 2.5G in from modem but still a great option is you don't want to build a PC to do 10G routing.
Love your video and straight shooter approach. SUBSCRIBED!
Thanks for the compliment and comment! Going to respond more thoroughly shortly! Also, part 2 of the Bell video finally went up today: th-cam.com/video/iVROIfxi1oI/w-d-xo.html
I do want to go further into this comment and respond accordingly.
so for dual monitors you need to use the display port dock and the thunderbolt dock? the usb-c ports don't support video, but they can if you use a usb-c to displayport cable? I didn't understand that part
On the back of the dock there’s a DisplayPort output and there’s a 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports. Also, there’s another 2 USB-C ports. However, you can only get display out from the DisplayPort connector or the 2nd Thunderbolt port: The remaining USB-C ports cannot output video.
To use the 2nd Thunderbolt port as a display out, you need either a monitor which accepts USB-C or, use a USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter, in the 2nd Thunderbolt port.
@@TechMixr thanks! I’ll just wait for the ts4 to get back in stock because there’s 2 extra thunderbolts
This sounds great !
The sound is ok, aurelex bass traps from some place like SweetWater I think might make a big difference. The reverb I'm hearing almost sounds like a reflection off the monitor. I love the clarity of your mic, what are you using?
MKH 416 with an Apollo X4 - apparently I don’t like holding onto my money 😭😭
@@TechMixr OMG ok, I got nothing, that setup is just sick. That's why your voice sounds great! Great hardware that is used a lot has good value.
Love that Tee, where can I get one?
It used to be available on teepublic but I can’t seem to find it anymore 😢
Sounds great. I need to work on my acoustics in my office.
Do it! Get the new Caldigit TS4 and I’ll live vicariously through you 😂.
I just need a Mac Studio to justify the TS4 as a purchase. But the cost / quality issues has me too indecisive about it. I think I’d wait until I get a new Mac and then see what many have said about the TS4- that is, if they’re going to have any- the chip shortage is real 😭
@@TechMixr 🤔 so a Mac Studio. Let’s make this happen.
My Caldigit 3 plus just went dead on me. What do I do? 😢
Yikes. Have you tried e-mailing their support? My new one is somewhat working ok, but I purposely placed it on my desk under the AC vent for the summer so I don’t have any weird surprises.
I think it’s a thermal issue that breaks these things over time. They get pretty hot.
I recently got a thunderbolt to hdmi cable for a secondary display and now everytime I turn my laptop on that monitor just shows a gray/black screen I have to reboot the computer everytime for it to show the screen. It didn't do that before when I ran the hdmi directly to the hdmi port on the laptop, it am not sure if it is because of the thunderbolt to hdmi cable, maybe the cable should be a straight hdmi to hdmi or what it is.
I also have the exact same thing with moving the dock and everything disconnecting.
I suspect it’s the the Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. I had an Apple branded USB-C adapter (I actually had 2 and they both were flakey at best and both died)- I’m using a different 3rd party one and it’s been a lot better (mind you, I don’t use it with the dock- this is for when I need to output to a TV from my MacBook Pro)
DisplayPort from the dock is a much better option if your monitor supports it. New update about my dock, the DisplayPort now flickers on and off and if I eject my drives for any reason, I have to play musical chairs with the USB ports to get connected again. Caldigit is sending another dock. (Their customer service is impeccable compared to other companies).
I think the Thunderbolt disconnection is heat related over time. When I got this replacement device it was fine (super tight) but because it gets so hot and the air conditioning in my room is directly over the desk, the constant heat expansion and contraction, over time, has probably messed with the tolerance of the Thunderbolt port.
@@TechMixr I got a Samsung 49inch monitor and a BenQ 34 inch monitor. The BenQ monitor is using the display port on the dock so I was trying to get the Samsung monitor to use a port on the dock to keep from running to the hdmi on the laptop. But the hdmi to the laptop was working with zero issues before I started using the hdmi to thunderbolt cable. I will probably just go back to using it until I can figure out a better way or get another dock.
I contacted their support about the dock disconnecting everything maybe they will send me a new one, I never would have thought they would send a new one because it was doing that.
@@jamesvelopmenthagood8998the reason my first dock got replaced was because of the disconnection issue. Their support team is top-notch. I'd EVEN go as far as to say top 5 in the world. No joke.
@@TechMixr thanks for the info, I appreciate it.
Wonderful review my Brother on Caldigit TS3 plus. I am going to stay away for Caldigit TS3 plus for real. Wow,
Thanks for the review. I nearly got one of these used but have now decided to get something cheaper and split the difference on an old LED cinema display. Just one qn though... How can SPDIF sound bad? It's digital? 🤔
That was my exact thought when I tried it too. It just clips the output. It has a really harsh sound and it isn’t adjustable in terms of how it’s sending audio.
Really a shame because it would have come in clutch in certain situations. But no matter which computer I used, no matter what I did, it just sounded super terrible.
Oh wow.. my TS3 Pro has the same problem. Look at it wrong, touch, or even have a cable bang it, everything goes out. I never contacted support though and is well over its warranty period
It’s definitely still worth contacting. I will say that even with the issues with the dock, their customer service team does try really REALLY hard to make it right.
If their quality control matched their customer service, they’d be unstoppable. They helped me even after the warranty period. I can’t guarantee anything so your mileage may vary, but it’s worth sending an email. Just be nice about it.
@@TechMixr That is great advice. I’ll reach out and see what they say.
@@TechMixr As a quick update, they replaced my TS3 outright, and was given a shiny new TS4 in it's place. No more issues, so I am quite happy.
@@official_wutnot Their customer service is absolutely stellar. Their QC has hopefully gotten better since this video but their customer service is what makes them a standout brand. 👌🏾
You won't lose anything if you conect a thunderbolt 4 dock to thunderbolt 3 device because thunderbolt is backwards compatible
In most cases this is true, but I’ve seen some weird stuff with Thunderbolt 4.
The “spec” says it’s able to be backwards compatible- but some manufacturers take hacky shortcuts and I’ve seen a few devices that don’t work sadly.
@@TechMixr well that means it is not a thunderbolt device it is something else
@@adriancoanda9227 a few things show up as a Thunderbolt 4 device in all the preference windows- even have Thunderbolt 4 certifications, but refuse to work with Thunderbolt 3 computers. Again, some manufacturers are doing weird things with some products. It’s supposed to work, the spec is designed to work, but in a real life scenario, some items just don’t function as they should.
Love the video. Was wondering if you knew whether the Ts3 is compatible with usb 3.2 gen 2 port equipped laptops or is it only compatible with thunderbolt port equipped laptops? Seeing as you've got a lot of experience with it.
Unfortunately it will only work with Thunderbolt 3 devices. There are USB-C docks you can get though!
Thanks for the love on the video!
@@TechMixrOh Thank! 😄
You should ask them to send one to review. Thank you for the video, and new sub.
@@jimd1968 I have a surprise for you ……
It’s the next video. It’s not Caldigit, but it’s really good 👌🏾
Video will be out soon
Hope you enjoy it: th-cam.com/video/3u5LaF-uiJU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7FoiWnfjkmd3zOcr
get the OWC pro 10gbe dock, ive had since they came out, no problems, and im on PC.
If I needed the 10 GbE port I’d be all over this. But I needed more USB-A ports and have dual 10GbE on board. Also, I don’t use CFExpress in any applications which is why I’m leaning towards the TS4, but, quality control and shortages have me worried.
OK. So, the second one they sent you was hot too? Right?
Yes, they all seem to get really hot.
@@TechMixr Hey!!! Good to hear from you :). I bought a TS3 in early June & a TS4 in early July. And, literally because of your video, I attached them to an articulating laptop tray. I can rotate them upside down etc. And the way i strapped them keeps.them from directly touching the tray.. The tray is well vented with drilled holes.. The docks are venting ridiculously well. They're not getting hot. But, even with all that venting space they're still a bit warm LOL. YOU ROCK!!! Thanks soooOOOooo SOOOOOOO much for making this video. This video saved me from getting into an overheating situation that I'm betting would have eventually crackled the board connections. And I need these running 24x7.
These all get hot. Dell, Lenovo, etc, all the Thunderbolt docks. Wtf are people thinking? These are high speed, high bandwidth device, it charges - it'll get hot/warm. That's just common sense.
That being said Dell Thunderbolt dock has fan, I received it for free from work so I'm not complaining.
I feel your pain with CalDigit. Mine worked well for 2 years, then half the functionality suddenly stopped. External monitors and thunderbolt would work, but no USB, Sd card, or even audio worked. Just dead like the ports had no connections. Customer service wasted a ton of my time having me swap out cables, computers, resetting pram etc etc. I specifically asked if there was perhaps a common power bus for those items that may have died. I tried to get some sort of technical information from them. They wouldn’t answer technical questions. Then after multiple emails back and forth they had the nerve to say “If your CalDigit product has served you well, we would encourage you to possibly look into purchasing another.” You gotta be f-ing kidding me. It cost nearly $400 when I got it. It should at least last 3 years. NEVER AGAIN. Gonna look to OWC or maybe even roll the dice on Belkin.
Almost exactly the same experience (and fault) for me. I won't be buying another CalDigit product again. I was happy to have my product repaired for a fee but was told this was also not an option as they no longer offer repairs - totally inexcusable given how this product costs, the environmental impact and the high profile of right to repair. As an aside I've also had CalDigit's active TB cable fail on me.
Bought mine 2 years ago. What a piece of junk my CalDigit TS3a Hub is. One of the most UNRELIABLE hardware kit I currently own, but will soon dump. Do not care that it is in a nice case. Many forums on this CalDigit product have found tons of problems: thunderbolt device disconnects, ethernet failure, overheating so bad it melts plastic tabletops .... etc. Never purchasing Caldigit again. This is an honest review - thank you. Also like that he has a hackintosh.
Ethernet on the TS3a is unreliable - full stop. Ethernet is not rocket science any longer, but Caldigit has not been keeping up it seems. I have been connecting computer equipment since 1978 and even got to meet Prof Metcalfe once briefly thru his friend Pat McGovern founder of IDG and a great fellow who passed away too soon.
Personally, if I reboot my MacBook Pro while it’s connected to my TS3 Plus with dual monitors connected, my MBP restart with a kernel panic error message. It’s a known issue by Apple and CalDigit and they don’t fix it. 😌
Which MacBook Pro? My 2019 Intel MacBook Pro seems fine. Is it an M1 issue?
Wanted to buy one in a few days. Indeed i'm gonna walk away
I got another replacement unit and it’s been really good. Mind you, it’s only been a few months so I’ll have to update after a significantly longer period to gauge whether or not it’s actually fixed now.
@@TechMixr in europe, the ts 3 plus 350 euros. I can buy 2-3 docks from other brands.
@@abolfazlsaravani2214 believe me, after the amount of hassles I had, I wish I bought a different brand.
You’re not wrong at all for wanting to go with an alternative.
Dont order you wont miss anything if youre correct workflow runs fine
Fair point. My only gripe is the movement issue with this dock. I'm hoping this is something that got address when designing the TS4.
The extra Thunderbolt daisy-chain port would be clutch, and having access to 10 gbit USB-A & USB-C ports would be amazing as well. I have a fast NVME I'd like to throw in an enclosure as a video scratch disk not to mention some other drives that are faster than the 5 gbit speed the TS3 provides.
But also my TS4 'Plus' conspiracy theory is in my head 😂 - If they are planning on releasing a better version of it, I don't think it's worth buying the TS4 at the moment.
i like sound
Thanks! ENGAGEMENT BAAAAABY! 😂
I hear if you wear a hat made of sound foam it will sound even better! :D
🤣🤣👌🏾
i just got mine and its a colossal piece of chet.