I love how easy the Echo Dot makes it to listen to music, search for the news, add items to your grocery list, and do so much more. The device’s sound quality isn’t terrible, but if you’re looking for more than just low-level background music while you work or do chores, I prefer to pair it with compatible speakers for a better audio experience. Sonos is known for its powerful hi-fi speakers, but it makes the dream of owning them a little more accessible with the One SL.
Not only is this the most affordable wireless speaker the company offers, but it also produces impressive sound quality and looks stylish to boot.
It features a midrange woofer and a tweeter powered by their own amplifier. You’ll find that it pairs beautifully with the Echo Dot and other Alexa-enabled devices, so you can control music by merely giving a voice command.
If you want, you can purchase two of these speakers and set them up in the same room to provide a stereo audio experience. Technically, Wi-Fi gives a better sound experience, but some might find the lack of connection options to be a downside.
Similarly, you’ll find an Ethernet port on the backside for a better internet connection. Lastly, the Sonos One SL is intended to be a permanent fixture that’s plugged in at all times, so it doesn’t have a built-in battery for portable use. Despite its small size, it offers decent audio that rivals more expensive devices. Choose from blue, white, orange, red, and of course, black to spice up any room.
As far as construction goes, the middle is cased in plastic while the edges are covered with a soft rubber that feels good to the touch. The 3.5mm headphone jack and micro USB port are protected behind a rubber flap.
You usually can’t go wrong with Anker, an electronics company that’s proven its worth, especially when it comes to power banks. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos means you’ll also get a 3D-like experience from just one single speaker, with audio that truly immerses you. The best part about this speaker is that it will work seamlessly with the Echo Dot, using the same app and easy setup process. Pair both to the system for Alexa control, then you can use them together or play music from the Dot when you’re working away.
The Sonos Five is pricey, but it provides beautifully deep bass and crisp sound thanks to the three high-excursion woofers and two tweeters it employs. Setting it up with your Echo Dot is easy, so you’ll be listening to your favorite songs via voice commands in no time.
This speaker is pretty compact and will look good on your shelf or entertainment center, considering what it offers.
A built-in sensor adjusts sound quality accordingly, no matter which way the device is oriented. On the backside, you’ll find a 3.5mm jack so you can plug in a compatible device and listen to music that way. This speaker supports Bluetooth and high-quality connections via Wi-Fi or Ethernet to pair with other devices.
However, if you already own a fancy speaker system and want to connect your Alexa device with it, this is a good option. You’ll find inputs and outputs for both digital and analog devices on the backside of the amp.
Best Alexa speakers 2021: the best Alexa-enabled smart speakers
Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 25 x 23 x 17 Features: Alexa inbuilt, Bluetooth, music over wi-fi, rotating screen arm, Zigbee smart hub inbuilt Weight: 2560g Display: 10.1-in touchscreen, 13MP camera TODAY’S BEST DEALS £169.99 View at argos.co.uk £169.99 View at argos.co.uk Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Large, responsive touchscreen + Added security camera functionality + Ease of use Reasons to avoid – Can be beaten for sound quality – No YouTube ‘skill’ support But when you consider that its 10.1-in Full HD screen can now tilt and twist to follow you around the room, and that both the speaker and camera performance have been significantly improved from the previous-generation model, that price hike begins to look entirely reasonable. Physically, it’s a bit of a beast (think CD-sized speaker barrel with tablet attached) and it needs some room to rotate (kitchen islands are ideal), but the headline grabber is of course is its ability to track around so you can always see the screen.
At first, it is a little disconcerting, because the Echo Show 10 locates you via its camera as well as sonically – a bit like HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey – but this neat perk also enables features such as ‘dropping in’ while you’re out, to pan around your room (or simply spy on your cat).
Although the Echo Show 10 isn’t about to become your new sound system (we expected a little more sonically) if it’s a fantastic Alexa device with a touchscreen you’re after, we enjoyed this one very much indeed. Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation) The new Echo Dot is the most compelling and affordable case for choosing Alexa Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 10 x 10 x 8.9 Power: 15W Features: Alexa inbuilt, Bluetooth, music over wi-fi Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS £28.99 View at argos.co.uk £28.99 View at Currys £34.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Packed with features + Premium design Reasons to avoid – No JBL Connect support – Fussy over placement
But by updating its most popular and affordable Echo device with this degree of skill, Amazon has laid down the most compelling case yet for choosing Alexa. Regardless of the Marmite aesthetic (yes, it looks like a little Magic 8-Ball) Alexa’s responses are slightly quicker, the answers are much (much) clearer, and the sonic performance is better than ever.
Alexa feels present and useful but not imposing, the Alexa app support makes placement and multi-room configurations a breeze, and the sound quality, while a step down from superb, easily passes the sound-per-pound value test for a smart home hub of such modest price.
Arguably the best all-round smart speaker you can currently buy, the Sonos One sounds superb for the money and has all the functionality you’re likely to need. There’s Spotify and Tidal integration, the ability to chat with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the option to build a multi-room system around it using other Sonos speakers or AirPlay 2. Available for the price of an Addon C5 plus the cost of an Amazon Echo product bolt-on, it brings the whole package into one tidy, easy-to-set-up box.
And with that same Award-winning sound, this is the ideal combination for those who want an excellent Alexa wireless speaker that can be expanded into a full-blown multiroom system. Sound quality is limited, given its size, but this is so much more than a standard wi-fi/Bluetooth speaker, allowing you to stream audio and video from compatible services with just a few simple spoken commands. For the money, it’s a clever box of tricks that manages to merge the worlds of audio, video and virtual assistants in one easy-to-live-with package.
Specifications Virtual assistant: Alexa Wi-fi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Battery life: 16hrs Dimensions: 23.7 x 8.8cm Inputs: Micro USB TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 338 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Dynamic, detailed sound + Goes really very loud + Excellent build and design Reasons to avoid – Presentation is slightly lean – Not fully featured just yet More crucially, the Megablast joins the brand’s portfolio of five-star Bluetooth speakers that are simply fun to use and listen to. On top of this, you’ve got all the other features that an Alexa-powered speaker offers, including setting reminders and alarms, playing music and controlling other smart home devices.
The 5 Best Alexa Speakers – Fall 2021 Reviews
That said, it lacks some low-bass, so you can’t feel the deep thump and rumble typically present in bass-heavy music. Unfortunately, while it can get pretty loud, there are some compression artifacts present at max volume that can affect the clarity of your audio during louder listening sessions.
7 Best Speakers for Echo Dot (Dec. 2021)
You won’t have sound distorting because quality speakers can handle high volumes while keeping the music crystal clear. Both low and high frequencies will be accommodated, making it a practical unit no matter your preferred music genre.
You’ll enjoy the speaker for a long time because the impressive brands such as Bose use top class, durable components. You’ll have a more versatile user experience in terms of battery life, connection options and features.
So it’s about getting more satisfaction from your Echo Dot, enjoying your music setup and making sure the new speaker will fit in with your lifestyle (how you use it for work or play). It should be relatively simple to keep it near a power supply, and if it’s a unit that can play while charging – you won’t even have downtime.
However, if you primarily need a mobile, portable unit for use outside or far from a power source, you need a long battery life (such as the JBL fiving you 12 hours) for Bluetooth speakers. And Echo Dot connects you with music and information that could be vital to your work, hobbies or recreational time.
For many scenarios, you’ll transport your gear with you and if your speaker for Echo Dot is too heavy you won’t want to add it to your luggage. If your gear is set on a shelf, counter or your studio work station you don’t want the new speaker to rob you of space or cause it to feel cluttered. Also consider the specific dimensions of your speaker—with the range of options available you’re bound to find one that fits in perfectly in the space you have available today. If that’s where you want yours to work (listening in the shower where it’s extremely humid or using it for outdoor events) you’ll need a waterproof unit.
Music aficionados won’t appreciate any distortion and all users usually enjoy listening at high volumes when a favorite track starts playing. If not (and if quality is a priority for you) a classically designed unit playing in one direction may be a better option that won’t disappoint once you switch it on at home. Your speaker for your Echo Dot will be part of your lifestyle (that’s what they’re made for) and that means traveling with it, and often putting them through heavy duty handling: kids may drop it, it may be pushed into a back pack and it will be moved often. Since most speakers for Echo Dots undergo rough handling as portable units, this should be high on your priority list.
Which Amazon Echo or Alexa Speaker Is Best for You?
Amazon has dialed in its digital signal processing and sound quality over the previous three Echos, and the rounded edges here help fidelity.
The best Alexa speakers in 2021
Amazon and other third-party audio companies offer a large range of Alexa-enabled smart speakers and displays that cater to different use cases. But not all the best smart speakers are made the same — that’s why we’ve spent hundreds of hours testing dozens of options for your buying convenience. All are good choices for new and veteran Alexa users alike, although we’re particularly fond of the $60 Echo Dot with Clock for the visuals.
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock The best Alexa speaker overall Specifications Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches Speakers: 1.6 inch speaker Ports: 3.5mm line in/out Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Alexa TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Affordable + Useful LED display + Sounds good for the price + Seamless Alexa integration Reasons to avoid – Empty List Not only does the spherical shape of the device improve the fullness of the Echo Dot’s sound compared to the 3rd-generation model, but it makes the display a bit easier to read, too. An added LED display brings more functionality to the Echo Dot, beyonds Alexa’s superpowers.
In fact, we wish more smart home companies took Amazon’s cue and make minor —yet effective — enhancements to already excellent devices. Compared to the 3rd-generation Amazon Echo, this one not only has improved audio, but a host of other features that make it one of the most convincing smart home devices around. The inclusion of a Zigbee hub lets this Echo lay a foundation for the rest of your connected products. Sonos One The best-sounding Alexa speaker Specifications Size: 4.8 x 6.4 inches Speakers: Dual amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 1 mid-woofer Ports: None Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz Smart assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Best Buy View at Walmart 2 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Excellent audio quality + Lets you control lots of music sources + Can pair more speakers for whole-house audio + Works with Alexa and Google Assistant Reasons to avoid – Doesn’t support all Alexa features
But what also makes the Sonos One great is its ability to stream audio from hundreds of sources across the company’s library: Not just Spotify and TuneIn, but SiriusXM, MLB, and much, much more. With the 4th generation Echo Dot, Amazon has once again delivered an inexpensive smart speaker that doesn’t skimp on features or quality.
The new spherical shape is an interesting deviation from the hockey puck, plus it lets audio sound fuller despite this Echo Dot having the same speaker hardware as the previous one. This way when you’re taking video calls with the 13MP camera, bouncing around the kitchen following Alexa’s recipes or managing multiple people in a single household, the display stays in your line of sight.
The large display also acts like a hub for your collection of smart home devices, so you can control them easily on a single interface. The third-generation Echo Dot has vastly improved sound over the previous generation and, with a fresh, cloth-covered design, looks better too. While the display can’t physically rotate to keep you in frame, the new wide-angle lens can center you like the Google Nest Hub Max and the Facebook Portal can. Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition Best Alexa speaker for kids Specifications Size: 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches Weight: 6.7 ounces Speakers: Single built-in speaker Battery Life: n/a Audio Out: Bluetooth, 3.5mm TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon Reasons to buy + FreeTime Unlimited is a good value + Lots of kid-friendly content + Strong parental controls, per kid, across devices Reasons to avoid – No FreeTime Unlimited app for iOS – Not always easy to discover content
The Echo Dot Kids Edition is the best Alexa speaker for children not because of its hardware, but for what extra features comes with it. When you purchase an Echo Dot Kids Edition, you get a year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited ($69/year), which gives you access to an exciting collection of kid-friendly content, such as audiobooks, and skills from sources such as Disney and Nickelodeon.
A parental dashboard also lets you keep track of what your child is doing with the Echo Dot, and allows you to restrict access or certain skills. It might not be the best entry-level Echo, but we found that it’s worth the $200 price tag if you’re looking for a great speaker that makes use of all Alexa’s features. UE Megablast The Alexa-packed UE Megablast is wireless and waterproof Specifications Size: 9.3 x 3.5 inches Speakers: 2 amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 1 mid-woofer Ports: None Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Alexa TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime Low Stock View at Amazon View at Walmart 1 Amazon customer review ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Alexa inside + Excellent all-around sound + Waterproof Reasons to avoid – Can’t do everything an Echo can The UE Megablast’s battery is good for up to 16 hours of playtime, which makes it an excellent companion for a backyard barbecue or a day at the beach.
As with most third-party speakers, the Megablast has almost all of Alexa’s capabilities, but Amazon reserves some features, such as drop-in, messaging, and calls, for its own devices. But if you find yourself smitten with the Echo Show 5’s adorably compact design, and like the idea of being able to ring up loved ones before you go to sleep, the smart display is worth considering.
Not to mention, the Kids Edition is a strong sell, providing a stationary Amazon Fire tablet alternative that doesn’t need to be recharged all the time. If you have a large family or spend a lot of time in the kitchen or other shared space, a smart speaker with a display is a better choice. When reviewing any of the best Alexa speakers (or any of the best smart home devices, for that matter) we consider several different factors before assigning it a final rating.
The 8 Best Wireless Speakers that Work with Alexa [2021 Update]
Amazon’s newest technology is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) device called Alexa. This versatile AI that works through Amazon Echo speakers is capable of controlling most of your home’s functions with your voice commands.
Like Google Now, and Apple’s Siri, this AI can browse the web, play tracks on Spotify, shop online, get weather reports, create to-do lists, and control other smart-home devices.
Alexa has become one of the trendiest products in the rapidly growing consumer AI market. Many companies are working hard to link their products to this amazing artificial intelligence device. Fortunately, it doesn’t require a degree in rocket science to take advantage of this technology at home. Amazon Echo works along with Alexa and has many uses, from controlling other devices to playing music.
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