The most popular smart speakers from Amazon are the Amazon Echo and the Amazon Echo Dot. However, these voice assistants fall short in premium audio quality. Therefore, Amazon released the Amazon Echo Studio to counter the critiques and competitors such as Sonos or Apple.
The Echo Studio received an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 38,000 users. So what is the hype all about?
What is the Amazon Echo Studio?
The Echo Studio was released in 2019 and is Amazon’s high-end smart speaker that has ‘Alexa’ integrated. There is only one generation of Echo Studio. However, Amazon distributed a software update to optimise the Echo Studio in 2022.
Are the changes from the update worth the £200 for the smart speaker?
Design
The 2022 update came with the option to buy a Glacier white Echo Studio. In terms of size, the Amazon Echo Studio is significantly taller than the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot. The Echo studio is 20.5cm tall, 17.5cm in diameter and weighs 3.5kg. This means it is massive! Therefore, the Echo Studio will not easily fit into a shelf. It takes up space in a room and is visually present, which must be considered before purchasing.
Audio
The Echo Studio benefits from five powerful speakers. The Echo Studio has a 13.3 cm woofer, three 5 cm midrange speakers, and a 2.5 cm tweeter. These provide powerful bass, dynamic mids, and clear highs. Additionally, it features 3D audio and Dolby Atmos processing giving the audio greater clarity. Furthermore, the Echo Studio automatically records room acoustics and makes small adjustments in response. This optimizes the sound.
Since the update, the Echo Studio has better midrange clarity, deeper bass and improved separation in soundstages. In total, the spatial audio processing technology creates a wider and more enveloping sound stage that no other Amazon speaker can compete with.
Smart Home Applications
The Echo Studio uses the Amazon Alexa just like its smaller siblings Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot. The Echo Studio has a Zigbee home automation hub built-in, therefore, the speaker can control compatible devices. In terms of smart home application, the Echo Studio performs all actions and voice command just as the Amazon Echo generations. The Echo Studio simply has improved sound quality.
The focus of the update was to improve the spatial audio processing. The audio performance of the Echo Studio belongs to one of the best in the market. To compare, the Echo Studio is as loud as the Apple Homepod but remains significantly cheaper.
It is also possible to connect the Echo Studio with the FireTV. This brings the experience of watching movies to a new level. Additionally, songs can be streamed from various platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and more. To achieve the best audio quality, Amazon Music Unlimited must be licensed, which is the only drawback. Amazon Music Unlimited costs £8.99 per month or £89 a year. Music enthusiasts should consider a subscription, as it adds value to the audio experience. This gets the most out of the Echo Studio and will give you 3D sound.
Amazon Echo Studio – Price
Unsurprisingly, the increased audio quality makes the product more expensive. The Echo Studio costs £219.99 but it can be paid in 5 monthly installments.
This makes the Echo Studio twice as expensive as the Amazon Echo and four times as expensive as the Echo Dot. Nonetheless, for music and movie enthusiasts, the Echo Studio is a must-have and is worth the investment. Additionally, the Echo Studio is eligible for return, refund, or replacement within 30 days.
The Echo Studio is our Editor’s Choice, as it provides outstanding value for money and outranks previous audio experiences from Amazon.
