The Amazon Echo Studio firmly occupies the top end of the company's smart speaker lineup.
It offers top-notch sound quality, access to Amazon's digital assistant Alexa, and a Zigbee smart home hub, all wrapped up in a cylindrical shape.
While it's the most expensive smart speaker from Amazon, is it that much better than other speakers in the lineup like the Echo and Echo Dot? We'll examine if it's worth the extra cash.
Amazon Echo Studio: A Familiar Design
In appearance, the Amazon Echo Studio resembles Apple’s now-discontinued HomePod. Both have a trash can shape as cylindrical devices that conceal speaker drivers behind dark mesh fabric covers.
Amazon Echo Studio offers a bass aperture. That's a narrow cutout at the bottom, which improves bass and doubles as a handle.
Amazon's speaker measures in at a whopping 8.1 inches high and 6.9 inches in diameter. It's an imposing speaker, and that's something you need to consider before you get it. It's going to need a lot of space in your home.
Just like other Echo speakers, it sports a light ring that glows whenever Alexa is engaged. It has four physical buttons for controls, including Alexa’s wake button and the power button. Seven standby mics listen to your voice commands.
Any question that you could usually ask Amazon Alexa, you can ask the Amazon Echo Studio. You can also use it to interact with the huge world of Alexa skills.
What Does the Amazon Echo Studio Offer?
To use Amazon Echo Studio, you need to download the Alexa app for Android or iOS and then sign in using an Amazon account. The speaker accommodates streaming music from Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Apple Music, and more.
A unique feature of the Amazon Echo Studio is how it automatically adjusts the sound output depending on the surroundings. Depending on the room the device is placed, the smart speaker automatically analyzes the room's acoustics and customizes the music playback.
The built-in Zigbee smart home technology allows the Amazon Echo Studio to instantly communicate with neighboring compatible smart home devices without needing additional hardware.
If you don't want her to listen to you, there's a button you can press and electronically disconnect the microphones. Other Amazon Echo speakers have that same button, so this isn't a new addition. You can also remove all traces of the voice recordings using the Alexa app by going to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History.
High-Quality Sound
Users agree that the Amazon Echo Studio is the company's best-sounding smart speaker and an excellent value for money.
For a smart speaker, the sound Amazon Echo Studio delivers is impressive. It leans a bit bass-heavy but manages to fill a room and offers compatibility with all of the major music services. You can pair also pair the speaker with a Fire TV for a more immersive TV experience.
The device has five speakers: three midrange 2-inch speakers, a 1-inch tweeter, and a sizable 5.25-inch woofer.
The Amazon Echo Studio features Dolby Atmos sound, and it's the first smart speaker to feature it. Dolby Atmos ensures you get a top-notch, multi-dimensional listening experience, taking music beyond the simple mono and stereo. It delivers music with clarity and depth, allowing you to immerse yourself in the sound.
To experience Dolby Atmos on the Amazon Echo Studio, you should subscribe to Amazon Music HD. Once you do, you can ask Alexa to play the best of Dolby Atmos music enjoy.
The Amazon Echo Studio also offers 3D music, which requires an Amazon Music HD subscription as well. Users have noted that 3D audio can initially sound distorted, so don't forget to adjust the settings, ensuring it's as crisp as can be. You can find songs in 3D audio marked with a 3D badge.
A subscription to Amazon Music HD will cost you $14.99 per month or $12.99 per month if you have an Amazon Prime membership. It's worth it if you want to experience music in the best possible way using the smart speaker.
How Much Does Amazon Echo Studio Cost?
Amazon Echo Studio is the most expensive smart speaker in the Echo lineup. It costs $199.99, and if you want it in tandem with an Echo Sub, it rises to $329.98. The Echo Sub is a subwoofer that costs $129.99 on its own.
For reference, the newest Echo Dot costs $34.99, and the fourth-generation Echo is $79.99.
Amazon occasionally offers discounts on its Echo smart speakers. But even non-discounted prices are still affordable.
Amazon Echo Studio: The Best Home Hub?
A smart home hub ensures communication between smart gadgets and gives you room for automation as a security feature. For example, whenever you leave home, the Amazon Echo Studio hub can automatically communicate with your smart devices. It can lock the door, the lights to turn off, and turn down the thermostat. The list goes on.
Amazon Echo Studio is one of the best hubs in the industry for Alexa users. With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Zigbee, the Echo Studio can connect to many low-power smart home devices making your life easier.
Is the Amazon Echo Studio Better Than the Echo or Echo Dot?
If you're looking for an Echo smart speaker, you might be wondering if there is a significant difference between the Echo Studio and the less expensive Echo and Echo Dot.
The answer is yes. There is a definite improvement.
The sound quality is undoubtedly an upgrade. Amazon Echo Studio produces a far superior audio performance than the smaller models, and the ability to adapt the sound to different rooms and environments gives it an even bigger edge.
Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Echo may be less expensive, but they cater to different needs than the Echo Studio model. Both significantly lack when it comes to sound, particularly in bigger spaces.
Amazon Echo Studio has all the features of its predecessors, and it's more advanced. It's the far better choice if you can stomach the price difference.
Is the Amazon Echo Studio Worth the Extra Cash?
The Amazon Echo Studio is definitely worth the buy. It gives you access to Alexa and everything it has to offer. As solely a speaker, it produces excellent sound and is among the best Amazon has to offer.
The biggest downside of the Amazon Echo Studio seems to be its size. If that's not a deterrent for you, it's definitely worth grabbing. But if you prefer something that takes less space, you'd better reach for one of the smaller Amazon Echo speakers available.