88 AUGUST 2019|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE 378
reasonable music speakers; only the Echo
Spot falls flat in this regard. That said, they’re
no hi-fi rivals either,and even the standard
Echo model can benefit from using its 3.5mm
output to connect to abetter audio system.
The best Echo products, in sound fidelity
terms, are the Echo Plus and the Echo Show,
despitethe latter only having asingle driver.
These serve alot better at high volumes than
their stablemates, although if sound quality is
your absolutepriority,it’s worth looking at the
Sonos One instead. This trades off some of
the Echo family’s smart home prowess in
exchange forthe playback quality and
multiroom functionality you’d sooner expect
from an audio-focused brand like Sonos.
The downside is that the Sonos One is
relatively expensive,whereas the affordability
of Amazon’s own line-up is one of its strong
suits. Even the 2nd-gen Echo Plus is no more
expensive than the original Echo speaker.
However,remember that smart speakers
work best in anetwork, which means buying
multiple devices to spread throughout your
house.Ifyou take this route, you don’t have to
wastecash on multiple Echo or Echo Plus
units: the comparatively cheap Echo Dot and
Echo Input are ideal forextending the range
with which you can make voice commands
and control your smart home kit.
SPEAKHIGHLY
Alexaspeakers
Nowthatyou know howtoget themostout of an Alexa-enabledsmart
speaker, it’s time to decide whichmodel will best suit your needs
CONTENT REVIEWS
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AMAZONEcho2ndGeneration
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AMAZONEchoDot3rdGeneration
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AMAZONEchoInput
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AMAZONEchoPlus2ndGeneration
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AMAZONEchoShow2ndGeneration
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AMAZONEchoSpot
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SONOSOne
other keydifference is how the Echo Plus and
Echo Show both have built-in smart hubs.
The more significant differences therefore
come by wayofdesign, audio quality and
price,sothis buying guide will focus on these.
LOCATION,LOCATION,LOCATION
Keep in mind where your speaker will sit. For
those with adisplay, you’ll need to have them
on alower surface foreasy reading and touch
control access. Indeed, the Echo Spot is
designed specifically forplacement on a
bedside table or desk, while the Echo Show
feels most at home on akitchen countertop.
Forscreen-less speakers, it’s fine to keep
them on ahigher shelf,but you’ll want them in
aposition that won’t muffle the sound, and
ideally distributes it evenly around the room.
While far-field microphones mean you
don’t have to shout right intoanEcho device
forAlexa to hear you, amore central position
might help it pick up commands from
wherever you are in the room. Some Echo
devices have four microphones, but those with
seven or eight can be better at picking up
speech over long distances and with potential
disruptions (such as music) within earshot.
Generational hardware upgrades have
meant that most of the Echo range,even the
diminutive Echo Dot, can function as
THERE͙ĦNOĦHORTAGEof Amazon Echo
devices to choose from, and that’s not even
counting all the third-party speakers with
Alexa integration. To pick apart this selection,
we’ve tested all current-gen models in the
Echo range,aswell as the Sonos One,one of
the best Alexa speakers not made by Amazon.
There’s aremarkable amount of variation
here,but forbasic ‘smart’ use there’s not alot
of difference as theyall use Alexa. Only the
Sonos One is missing support forafew of
Alexa’s more specialised features, and the only
