If you’re invested in Amazon’s smart home ecosystem, and you’re looking for an Echo speaker that gives you more than the Echo Plus, the Amazon Echo Studio deserves to be at the top of your list. Sure, there are other Alexa-enabled smart speakers around the same size that have better sound quality, but the Echo Studio is still a great-sounding speaker for the price. It also packs a hell of a punch.
Amazon Echo Studio
5/5
✔ Pros
- Easy to setup
- Strong bass
- Can stream audio from Bluetooth devices
- Pairs with Fire TV for audio
- 3D audio fills the room
- You can pay in installments through Amazon.com
✖ Cons
- Only comes in one color
- Space at the bottom of the speaker looks odd
- Needs a subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited to use 3D audio
Design
Echo Studio has 3 mid-range speakers, 1 forward-firing tweeter and 1 downward-firing woofer. There’s a large opening near the bottom of the speaker on both sides to accommodate the woofer. The space is a bit odd looking, but considering that this aspect of the Echo Studio’s design is what helps it deliver such big bass, it’s a fair tradeoff.
The Echo Studio is the largest Echo speaker to date, measuring 8.1″ tall and 6.9″ wide. It was also surprisingly heavy when I first picked it up, weighing in at 7.7lbs. Now that we know what Amazon managed to fit into the Echo Studio’s frame, we’re not surprised at its heft.
Setup
The setup process for the Echo Studio is similar to all other current-generation Echo Speakers. All you need to do is power it on, then use the Alexa app to add the Echo Studio to your Amazon account.
If you opted in for Amazon’s “Frustration-Free Setup” during checkout, then setting up your Echo Studio is even easier. All you need to do is power it on and the Echo Studio takes care of the rest.
For more info on setting up your Amazon Echo speaker, read How to set up your Amazon Echo Speaker: An easy-to-follow guide.
Use with Fire TV
Just like the Echo Plus, the Echo Studio can be used as a speaker for your Fire TV device. If space at home is limited, being able to use your Eco speaker this way adds a lot of value. You can easily get away with using the Echo Studio as the only speaker for your Fire TV device. It’s a step up from your TV’s built-in speakers, and with dolby audio and big bass, you don’t really need a dedicated speaker system.
Bluetooth audio streaming
Using the Echo Studio to stream audio from a smartphone is up there with Fire TV compatibility on our list of favourite features. Amazon Music Unlimited isn’t the most widely used music streaming service, so being able to stream audio from another device is incredibly useful. Streaming through Bluetooth also lets guests play audio from their devices without the need to be tied to someone else’s account.
3D audio
3D audio sounds intriguing, so what does it actually mean? Simply put, 3D audio provides an immersive listening experience, similar to what you’d get with a proper surround sound system. The difference is that 3D audio gives the surround sound system effect without the need of placing multiple speakers around you.
The next important question to ask is, “is 3D audio any good?”. The answer to that question is “yes”. Currently, you can only take advantage of 3D audio if you subscribe to Amazon Music, which is a bummer. Although, if you don’t already subscribe to a music streaming service, and want to give 3D audio a try, you can get the first 3 months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free if you subscribe. Afterward, the cost is $7.99/month for Prime members or $9.99/month for non-Prime members.
Our Verdict
If you’ve made it this far through the review, you likely know what the verdict is. The Amazon Echo Studio is a powerful speaker that produces high-quality sound. With features like Fire TV compatibility, Bluetooth streaming and immersive 3D audio, the Echo Studio provides a lot of value at just under $200.
