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Echo (4th Gen) | With premium sound, smart home hub, and Alexa | Charcoal
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
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Purchase options and add-ons
- PREMIUM SOUND – Rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room. Supports lossless HD audio available on select streaming services such as Amazon Music HD.
- VOICE CONTROL YOUR MUSIC – Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and more. HD requires a compatible music streaming service.
- SMART HOME HUB – Built-in hub to voice control compatible lights, locks, and sensors. Easily set up compatible Zigbee and Matter devices or select Ring Smart Lighting solar lights and bulbs.
- ALEXA IS READY TO HELP – Set timers, reminders, and alarms. Alexa answers questions like "Alexa, what time is it?"
- START YOUR ROUTINES WITH MOTION – Turn on compatible lights, play your Flash Briefing, or turn on the coffee maker when you walk into the room.
- FILL YOUR HOME WITH SOUND – With multi-room music, play synchronized music across Echo devices in different rooms. You can also pair your Echo with compatible Fire TV devices to feel scenes come to life with home theater audio, or extend wifi coverage with a compatible eero network so you can say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering.
- CONNECT WITH OTHERS HANDS-FREE – Call friends and family who have the Alexa app or an Echo device. Instantly drop in on other rooms or announce to the whole house that dinner's ready.
- PRIVACY CONTROLS – Designed to protect your privacy – Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls including a mic off button.
We want you to know:
HD music requires a compatible streaming music service, including an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.
eero Built-in – add up to 1,000 sq ft of wifi coverage to a compatible eero network.
Smart home devices for you
"Alexa, turn on the lights."
Control the lights with your voice.
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- Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn more
PRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
Reducing CO2 products reduce their carbon footprint year after year. Certified by the Carbon Trust.
Meet Echo |
Talk about well-rounded. Echo combines premium sound, a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, and a temperature sensor. Powerful speakers deliver clear highs, dynamic mids, and deep bass for rich, detailed sound that adapts to any room. |
Just ask Alexa to play music, answer questions, make calls, and tell you the news, sports scores, weather, and more. |
More music in more rooms
Use your voice to play a song, artist, or genre through Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and others. With multi-room music, you can fill your whole home with music, radio stations, podcasts, and Audible using compatible Echo devices in different rooms. You can even pair your Echo with compatible Fire TV devices to feel scenes come to life with home theater audio.
Built-in smart home hub with simple setupThe built-in smart home hub lets you easily set up and manage Zigbee and Matter compatible smart devices. Just power on compatible lights, plugs, sensors, and locks and say, “Alexa, discover my devices.” The hub also works with select Ring Smart Lighting solar lights and bulbs. Learn more about the different ways you can connect your smart home device. |
Alexa is happy to helpMake your life easier at home. Set timers, ask questions, add items to lists, and create calendar events and reminders. Check the traffic and weather, or play the news. Access tens of thousands of Alexa skills. You can even bring new life to game night with Song Quiz, Jeopardy!, Common Knowledge, and more. |
Stay connected and in syncInstantly drop in on other rooms in your home or make an announcement to every room that has a compatible Echo device. Let everyone know dinner is ready, or remind the kids that it’s bedtime. You can also stay in touch with friends and family with hands-free calling. |
Alexa for kids
|
Alexa can help kids learn and grow—while having fun along the way. And with free parental controls from Amazon Kids, Alexa will automatically give kid-friendly responses, filter explicit songs and block shopping. Children’s privacy is important to us. Discover how kids can use Alexa, watch helpful how-to videos, get answers to FAQs, and more. |
Haven’t tried Amazon Kids+? Click here to start your 1-month free trial. Amazon Kids+ is an all-in-one subscription that unlocks thousands of hours of kid-friendly videos, interactive games, educational skills, and Audible books starting at $4.99/month. |
Designed to protect your privacy
Alexa and Echo devices are built with multiple layers of privacy protection. Echo smart speakers have a microphone off button that electronically disconnects the microphones. You also have control over your voice recordings and can view, hear, or delete them at any time. Alexa uses ultrasound motion detection with select features, such as Occupancy Routines. Ultrasound does not emit on your device unless a feature is enabled that uses motion detection to properly function. You can turn motion detection off at any time. Learn more about motion detection.
Simple to set up and use
1. Plug in Echo and connect to the internet with the Alexa app.
2. Just ask Alexa for music, weather, news, and more.
3. For simple setup with compatible smart home devices, say, “Alexa, discover my devices.”
Every day is an earth day
You don’t have to be an environmental scientist to make sustainable choices. We considered sustainability in the design of this device. Here’s how:
Materials
50% post-consumer recycled plastics
100% post-consumer recycled fabric
100% recycled die-cast aluminum
Device, cable and adapter included
Clean Energy
Amazon is building new wind and solar farms to produce clean energy equivalent to the electricity used by this device.
Low Power Mode
To reduce its energy consumption, this device will enter Low Power Mode when it is idle. Low Power Mode is not available for certain user configurations. To learn more, see Low Power Mode Restrictions.
Compare Echo devices
Price | From: $39.99 | From: $49.99 | From: $64.99 | From: $199.99 |
Ratings | 4.7 out of 5 stars (44,176) | 4.7 out of 5 stars (101,174) | 4.7 out of 5 stars (145,203) | 4.5 out of 5 stars (41,440) |
Release Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 |
Alexa built in | ||||
Speakers | 1.95” front-firing speaker | 1.73" front-firing speaker | 3.0" neodymium woofer and dual front-firing 0.8" tweeters | 30 mm tweeter, three 2.0" mid-range speakers, and 5.3" woofer |
Audio support | Lossless High Definition | Lossless High Definition | Lossless High Definition, Dolby audio | Lossless High-Res, Dolby Atmos |
Line in/out | 3.5 mm line in/out | 3.5 mm (analog) or mini-TOSLINK (optical) line in | ||
Screen | LED display on Echo Dot with clock | |||
Privacy Controls | Built-in microphone off button and in-app privacy controls | Built-in microphone off button and in-app privacy controls | Built-in microphone off button and in-app privacy controls | Built-in microphone off button and in-app privacy controls |
Motion Detection | ||||
Temperature Sensor | ||||
Built-in Zigbee smart home hub | ||||
Dimensions | 3.9”W x 3.3”D x 3.6”H | 3.9”W x 3.9”D x 3.5”H | 5.7”W x 5.7”D x 5.2”H | 6.9”W x 6.9”D x 8.1”H |
Technical details
Echo (4th Gen)
Size |
5.7” x 5.7” x 5.2” (144 x 144 x 133 mm) |
Weight |
34.2 oz (970 g) Actual size and weight may vary by manufacturing process. |
Wifi connectivity |
Dual-band wifi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) wifi networks. |
Amazon Sidewalk |
A shared network that helps compatible devices work better at home and beyond the front door. If wifi is lost, Sidewalk enables certain devices to stay connected. Also, Sidewalk helps devices like water sprinklers and pet locators work over longer distances. Sidewalk uses a small portion of your internet bandwidth to provide these benefits to you and your neighbors via Sidewalk Bridges (participating Echo and Ring devices), and is turned on for your device unless you have previously turned off the setting. You can turn off Sidewalk at any time. Learn more about Sidewalk. |
Smart home hub |
Zigbee + Sidewalk + Matter + Thread Border Router |
eero Built-in |
Your wifi network must use a compatible eero router and your Echo device must stay in range of a compatible eero device. You will need to link your eero and Amazon accounts and manage eero Built-in from the eero mobile application to use this feature. eero Built-in compatible Echo devices support up to 1,000 sq. ft. of additional coverage, speeds up to 100 Mbps, and 10 or fewer connected devices. Actual performance can vary and certain eero, Echo, or Alexa features may be incompatible with eero Built-in. Learn more about eero Built-in performance, availability and compatibility. Use of eero and eero-related products and services, including eero Built-in, requires creation of an eero account and agreement to eero’s Terms of Service. Review eero’s Privacy Notice. |
Bluetooth connectivity |
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from your mobile device to Echo or from Echo to your Bluetooth speaker. Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of connected mobile devices. Hands-free voice control is not supported for Mac OS X devices. Direct control of BLE Mesh. Bluetooth speakers requiring PIN codes are not supported. |
Audio |
3.0” (76.2 mm) neodymium woofer and two 0.8” (20 mm) tweeters. |
Alexa app |
The Alexa app is compatible with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices. Supported operating systems. |
Accessibility features |
To enable features that personalize Alexa to your abilities, go to Settings → Accessibility in the Alexa App. |
Warranty and service |
1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year extended warranty available for U.S. customers sold separately. Use of Echo is subject to these terms. |
Setup technology |
Amazon wifi simple setup enables customers to connect smart devices to their wifi network in a few easy steps. Wifi simple setup is another way Alexa is always getting smarter. Learn more about wifi simple setup. |
Included in the box |
Echo (4th Gen), glacier white power adapter (30W), and Quick Start Guide. |
Generation |
Echo (4th Gen) - 2020 release |
Privacy features |
Wake word technology, streaming indicators, microphone off button, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings, and more. Visit the Alexa Privacy Hub to explore how Alexa and Echo devices are designed to protect your privacy. |
Language |
Alexa speaks English and Spanish |
Alexa Skills & Features |
Alexa makes your life easier, more meaningful, and more fun by letting you voice control your world. Alexa can help you get more out of the things you already love and discover new possibilities you've never imagined. Discover and learn what Alexa can do. |
Software Security Updates |
This device receives guaranteed software security updates until at least four years after the device is last available for purchase as a new unit on our websites. Learn more about these software security updates. If you already own an Amazon Echo, visit Manage Your Content and Devices for information specific to your device. |
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were reduced compared to similar products or previous models.
The Reducing CO2 label applies to products certified by the Carbon Trust, that are lowering their carbon emissions year after year for the full lifecycle of the product. The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001 and introduced the world’s first carbon label in 2007. It produces its certifications to global leading and independently verified standards. The Carbon Trust has a mission to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low carbon economy.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the music compatibility, quality and ease of setup of the digital device. They mention that it's great for playing music, works as a great speaker phone and that it provides convenience, entertainment and an overall enhanced experience. They are also happy with appearance, and sound quality. However, some customers have reported issues with performance and connectivity. Opinions are mixed on voice recognition and connectivity, as well as the appearance.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the digital device. They mention that the sound is pretty decent, and it does well with multi-room audio. They also say that the speaker is loud, and the larger size touts better premium sound. They say that it can be raised in the Alexa app, and that it transforms their living space into an acoustic haven.
"...Sound is really diminished if you are behind it or immediately to it's side but comes barrelling at your ear drums when you are any angle in front..." Read more
"...There is a button to turn the microphone off if desired. The sound is pretty decent; not Hi-Fi but certainly good enough for my purposes and..." Read more
"...By themselves, they sounded crystal clear, great mids (I’m a live sound man, mids are critical..after drums). But the low end was obviously lacking...." Read more
"...It adds an extra tweeter, and seems to produce more sound than previous versions...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the digital device. They say it's good enough for their purposes, works as a great speaker phone, and has great mids. They also say it performs great and is easy to install. Some customers also mention that it'll be a good investment and worth its weight in gold.
"...It's louder, more clear, and much more advanced when it comes to being able to utilize Dolby Atmos playback...." Read more
"...The sound is pretty decent; not Hi-Fi but certainly good enough for my purposes and better than the portable Bluetooth speakers I initially looked..." Read more
"...By themselves, they sounded crystal clear, great mids (I’m a live sound man, mids are critical..after drums). But the low end was obviously lacking...." Read more
"...variant isn't just a device; it's an aesthetic addition that enhances your living space, seamlessly blending in with your decor to create a stylish..." Read more
Customers find the setup of the digital device easy. They mention that it's simple, convenient, and easy to use. They appreciate the seamless smart home integration and the reliability of Alexa. Customers also mention that the dual Echo configuration is completely seamless.
"...I had not planned to use the Echo as a smart device, but found it so easy and convenient that I am using it fairly often for weather forecasts, to..." Read more
"...THE GOOD:Setup was incredibly simple. I just powered the device on, and the Echo announced that it was ready for setup...." Read more
"...It's a versatile companion, offering superior sound, seamless smart home integration, and the reliability of Alexa...." Read more
"...and they have enhanced my life in ways that are special, rich and convenient...." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the digital device. They say it has a simple design, yet is solidly built. They also describe the product as a modern matte black classy looking softball sized sphere. Customers also say the technological design is amazing with so many amazing features. They mention the top-half of the sphere is a nice color and the buttons are pleasantly.
"...Easy to setup, easy to use, responsive, sounds good, portable, and looks good...." Read more
"...This Echo variant isn't just a device; it's an aesthetic addition that enhances your living space, seamlessly blending in with your decor to create..." Read more
"...The fabric mesh that covers the top-half of the sphere is a nice color, the buttons are pleasantly tactile but quiet, and the circular grip on the..." Read more
"...The sound is still amazing and we really enjoy the beautiful new package that it is wrapped in...." Read more
Customers like the music compatibility of the digital device. They mention that the music is well-integrated, great for playing life-like sounds, and enjoyable to listen to while relaxing around the house. Some appreciate the excellent sound and great music selection via Amazon Music. They also mention that it plays all genres of music really well and that it can play music simultaneously out of all speakers.
"...clear, and much more advanced when it comes to being able to utilize Dolby Atmos playback...." Read more
"...And improved it is. Music is easily better, more complex and effortless...." Read more
"...I use if for so many reasons,... great music selections, my grocery list, the weather, information look ups, The Pacer basketball schedule, etc." Read more
"...Tonight, I finally am able to play music at the same time on all my Echo speakers. I definitely will be putting these all over. Love...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the digital device. Some mention that the Alexa intelligence and usefulness is there, in a great sounding package. They say that there are so many convenient features through Alexa, and that it's your reliable companion. However, others say that the Echo Show would not pair with the speakers, has intermittent connection issues, and doesn't directly connect.
"...They now clearly pick up my questions or commands from across the room and quickly cancel out the other Echo Dot I have on the far side open floor..." Read more
"...They don’t directly connect, so if your router is two rooms awa with a fridge in the way, you’ll be dropping signal, same as your laptop..they need..." Read more
"...updates, daily news, or playing your favorite tunes, Alexa is your reliable companion, making your Echo experience not just smart but incredibly user..." Read more
"...The app menu setup is totally unintuitive. It's hard to believe this app was written and distributed by a modern tech company...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the voice recognition of the digital device. Some mention that the voice control is a huge plus, and the onboard voice capabilities make response faster. However, others say that it won't respond to voice commands and keeps playing the playlist it was last on. The voice recognition can be spotty, and it sometimes does not recognize questions correctly or give off the mark answers. The microphone does not capture commands as first generation did.
"...AZ1 Processor. This new Amazon processor promises better voice recognition and faster Alexa responses...." Read more
"...Oh, also the voice recognition can be spotty. I swear Alexa never understands me when I speak commands in an angry tone 🤣 Very weird...." Read more
"...a big house... What attracted me to this generation was that onboard voice capabilities that makes response faster and sure, who doesn’t want even..." Read more
"...Setting Alexa up was very simple, and it recognized our voice and responded easily. This item really makes life so easy...." Read more
Customers have negative opinions about the performance of the digital device. They say that saying a custom word does not always work, one of them completely stopped working, and nothing works to fix it. Customers also say that the sidewalk bridge simply isn't working and isn’t reliable. They mention that it stopped working with all recipes, the stereo function doesn't work when you are playing anything via a Bluetooth connection, and frequently would not play a song after a request.
"...This is the 5th time now to attempt a connection, and it won't take...." Read more
"...Most of the time, we have trouble getting it to work because it won't even stay connected to the wifi...." Read more
"This is my 3rd. Echo None of them have worked right. Your lucky to get a response when given a command. There about usless...." Read more
"...I noodled with the software for 2 hours, and it just refused to work. This seems to be a known issue...." Read more
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I actually purchased two 4th Gen Echoes to create a Home Theater Group with the FireTV Stick 4k latest variant. I'll include notes about that as well.
Sound Quality Pros: I really enjoy music from different genres and I like to tinker with equalizer settings so that I get the fullest sound out of even a cheap speaker. I also like when a speaker(s) can pull double duty as a surround sound system for my television as well. That's what attracted me to the new Echoes.
Regarding music streaming from Amazon Music HD, I must say the sound is really smooth and crisp. I adjusted the equalizer settings for the individual devices in the Alexa app to boost the mid most, followed closely by the treble and a moderate bass setting (if they are paired in a stereo pair or Home Theater, adjusting one device automatically adjusts the other). I have my Echoes placed about 12 feet away in front of my primary seating spot on the sofa and the are spaced about 8 feet apart flanking the television. They are situated about 4 feet off the ground on book shelves. This positioning has been perfect for the accoustics in my 15x18 living room with tall ceilings. The speakers really fill up the space. And I am most impressed with how the sound bounces off of the walls and truly feel as if it surrounds me and immerses my eardrums into it.
This holds even more true for when I watch a movie with the Dolby Atmos setting on. I can hear the channels fairly well and it really seems like I own my own private movie theater in my living room. There's been times that there's a sound affect so specific to one channel and reproduced so clearly that I've actually muted the show thinking that I was hearing some noise from outside or in the hallway of my apartment building.
These two devices together get pretty loud without any noticeable distortion. Now I haven't played much bass heavy music but I do love action and sci-fi movies that are sound effect laden and peppered with bass booming explosions etc. The new 4th Gen Echoes keep up very nicely.
In contrast, though I thought I really loved the Echo Plus 2nd Gen, I now find that I really can't enjoy music or movies as much on it. I think that this is because the main speaker fires downward and the rest of the sound is omni directional. This sounds good on paper but in practice, at least for my uses, that type of speaker just seems muffled and really a waste of sound waves. Let me explain. How often to you place the Echo device in the center of a room to benefit from an omni-directional speaker? Most people don't have floor outlets under their coffee tables so it sits on an end table or bookshelf. It's usual home in a bedroom is on the end table. Even in a kitchen, unless placed on the island, the Echo rests with it's back to a wall. So, why then, would you want (let's say) 40% of the sound waves to be directed to a big slab with no ears to appreciate it?
The directional sound setup of the new Echo 4th Gen is ideal, really, for it's positioning in most homes. Sound is really diminished if you are behind it or immediately to it's side but comes barrelling at your ear drums when you are any angle in front of it. It's louder, more clear, and much more advanced when it comes to being able to utilize Dolby Atmos playback. I definitely choose the 4th gen over the 2nd Gen Plus any day. I almost feel bad for unloading the Plus onto my parents when I bought the 4th Gen. I'll upgrade them this Christmas. Lol.
The omni-directional speaker would be a benefit if it were placed in the center of a patio for a gathering or party, but again, where's your outlets? Not in the middle of the concrete or deck floor. So chances are, even on the patio, it will be placed backing up to an exterior wall. So the myth of the omni-directional speaker advantage is busted in my book.
Voice Recognition:
At first, I felt there was a noticeable difference with the Plus having the upper hand when I comes to summoning Alexa. However, I believe there have been some fairly large software updates recently that included fine tuning adjustments to the mics on the 4th Gen devices. They now clearly pick up my questions or commands from across the room and quickly cancel out the other Echo Dot I have on the far side open floor plan nearest the kitchen. Before, with the Plus, it was a toss up as to which one would respond because I firmly believe the best mics are still on the Echo Dot 3rd Gen with clock variant. Hands down. If only the echo show 5 in my bedroom would be even half as good, I'd be happy ( that unit is by far the worst with just 2 lack luster mics vs the 4 on the Dot and Plus).
Alexa is also quicker to respond on the 4th Gen too. Now that's a combination of the 450-ish gbps internet speed I am fortunate enough to have but I understand it's also due to a better processor and improved software.
And let me just say one thing... I don't know anyone who buys their smart home devices with Zigbee compatibility being the #1 consideration. Who cares? I have bought the best reviewed for the price smart bulbs, TV, and plugs etc not giving a thought to Zigbee because the latest generation smart devices don't require a hub.
All of my smart home devices work just fine by enabling the skill on the Alexa app with that of the manufacturer's chosen app and linking the accounts. The biggest issue I have is trying to remember what I named each lamp and group to turn on and off the lights. First world problems, I know.
For what it's worth, the big 3 smart home apps which seems to be used by these el cheapo devices are Kasa, Govee, and Smart Life. I have devices on all three and the Alexa integration is seemless. Except the darn ceiling fan speed control. Still haven't completely figured that one out entirely.
Setting up the devices and Grouping:
Both the Echo Plus and 4th Gens are very easy to set up initially. The Alexa app, though not entirely user friendly regarding the UI, does all the work and guides you through the process fairly quickly. The oddball thing that's a bit more challenging is knowing what the difference is between a stereo pair, a home theater and a speaker group.
First, a stereo pair must be two identical models (I believe an Echo Sub woofer can be added as the one off) and the pairing is only for music streaming. Only one Echo will respond at a time when you are conversationally interacting with Alexa.
In a Home Theater grouping, one or more Echo devices of the same model can be joined with a FireTV device such as the Stick 4k. A sub can also be added. The crummy part at first, is that you can't include your existing sound bar into this Home Theater Group. Amazon devices only, folks. So you must choose which you want to listen to.
Now, I'm not horribly disappointed because the sound quality of the two 4th Gens on each side of the TV is really great so the sound bar isn't needed but I hate the thought of the wasted money sitting 32 inches wide in front of me producing no sound at all.
IF, you have a smart TV like a Vizio, there is a way to activate the sound bar and have the Amazon Home Theater working at the same time. And here it is: the sound bar must be hooked up to an optical cable and the audio setting on the TV must be set to PCM not automatic. Auto defaults to whatever device you are streaming on ie a FireTV Stick. Then, while playing your FireTV Stick, choose the Home Theater as your audio source on the Fire TV menu. So in essence, the TV thinks it must send sound to the sound bar only while the Stick thinks it should be using the Home Theater. Through whatever glitch, I now have all three speakers working in tandem. BUT ONLY while using the FireTV device. It does not work if I am using the smart TV streaming apps from the Vizio home screen. Which I don't do anymore except for a couple things that are not found on the Amazon App store.
FYI, I don't believe that the Fire Edition Insignia and Toshiba televisions sold here and at Best Buy have the capability to set up the Home Theater function with the Alexa app.
Finally, a speaker group is the best way to get unlike models to sync with each other to play music. However, there's a catch... You must ask for that group's every time at the end of your request to play music etc.
Meaning, with the stereo pair and home theater, music and movies are automatically played through those selected speakers by means of the Alexa app. You would simply make the standard request for Alexa to play a song or album with no extra added specification. But remember, you're limited to only pairing the same models together for this to work like that.
Now, with a speaker group, you can include your Echoes, Dots, Shows, Spots, Inputs, FireTVs, Tablets etc etc into that group and have them all going at the same time through out your home, so long as you name this all-Echo inclusive group something like "Every where" or "all speakers" or "whole house". Be creative :) "Echo Symphonic Orchestra", "Live from the Love Shack", or "on all decks of the Enterprise" (you can even call your individual room groupings for lights and sounds things like " the Bridge" -Living Room, "Ship's Galley" -Kitchen, "Ten Forward" - dining or rec room, "Shuttle Bay Two"-garage, " Engineering"-utility room/basement, and "Captain's Quarters"-master bedroom, "Risa" -backyard patio). Lol. Alexa groups can be named whatever you want! I digress though....
The point is you have to tell Alexa to play music AND include the name of the speaker group everytime or else music will just play from the device you speak into. Ex: "Alexa play the song Starships on all decks of the Enterprise" or (boring) "Alexa, play Mr. Robot-o, everywhere" or "Play a lullaby in the dirty diaper factory (nursry)". Get it?! I can sense your mind is starting to ignite like a solid rocket booster, now.
I really hope this helps someone. I know it's been a learning curve for me. And not always a lot of fun. Just wait til you first start exploring how to build your own custom routines or then decide to relocate devices into different rooms as you upgrade with new ones. It can be a labor of love...or regret.
Bottom line, if you are looking to upgrade but aren't entirely sure, try out the new Echo 4th Gen (especially in a pair for a Home Theater) and decide within 30 days if you really like them. Definitely explore the Alexa app and routines. And commit to replacing at least one bulb in each room with a color changing LED smart bulb to experience the fun you can have with this device. Also, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what many people say is a drawback about being a directional speaker is really a benefit for most user's needs, including yours.
Some people will find fault in anything and some will find that they can't have everything to their exact liking. There's not a perfect smart speaker out there, so figure out what you must have features are, your nice to haves, and your deal breakers are and make the choice.
Regardless, enjoy these little glimpses of the future. Heck, they're even spherical shaped just like what the future devices and ships looked like in 2001: A Space Odyssey and Space Balls or a Borg scout ship, even. You gotta think that's at least a nice nod for sci-fi fans everywhere. Or if you are a devotee of mod design or simply a believer in form following function, then this ball of joy is sure to please. So, enjoy your new Echo; It's outta this world!
-Picard, out. Hailing frequencies closed.
My Echo arrived a few days ago and here is my review. Other smart speaker brands like Sonos, Bose, and Sony were way too expensive for my application and many were not fully compatible with all of the Alexa and Google features. That was a surprise. Plus, they were still mono speakers like the Echo and Nest.
Amazon immediately sent a link so I could start the setup process before receiving the Echo. That also gave me time to download and take a good look at the Alexa app on my Android phone. This initial setup process only took a few minutes. When the Echo arrived, I read the documentation, then plugged it in and finished the setup process using the app. There are a lot of possible settings, but many didn’t apply to me because I am not using any smart devices. This process also was easy.
I plugged my Walkman into the 3.5 mm jack and didn’t hear any audio. Later, I figured out that the jack can be configured as an output to another speaker or as an input from devices like my Walkman and the default is as an output. Problem solved.
The buttons on top of the Echo are clearly marked and are raised, so they are easy to identify and operate. The Echo has some weight to it that makes it stable when placed on my desk or workbench. It is light enough to make it portable. The Echo is not considered as a portable device because it must be plugged in, so I added a power supply ($15 on Amazon) in my garage and now I do consider it portable. The ring at the bottom turns blue when Alexa is connected. There is a button to turn the microphone off if desired. The sound is pretty decent; not Hi-Fi but certainly good enough for my purposes and better than the portable Bluetooth speakers I initially looked at. The Bluetooth connection between the Echo and my Walkman took less than a minute to create. That’s great because my Walkman has had issues trying to connect to external speakers in the past. The Echo also recognized a Bluetooth signal from other devices in my house, but I didn’t need to connect any of them.
I had not planned to use the Echo as a smart device, but found it so easy and convenient that I am using it fairly often for weather forecasts, to find out what channel a game is on, for current news, and other things. It’s fun and Alexa answers almost immediately. Some reviewers complained that they have to repeat requests or speak loudly to get a response from their Echo. I have not had any issues at all, even with Amazon Music playing and the volume up.
The best thing is that Amazon was selling the Echo for half price when I purchased it. I neglected to choose a color so my order defaulted to blue. It’s a soft blue and I like it. The only thing I don’t like, and other reviews have commented on this, is that regardless of the Echo color the power supply and cable are white. They should be same color as the Echo.
So far, I am thrilled with my purchase. Easy to setup, easy to use, responsive, sounds good, portable, and looks good. I can operate the Echo either directly through the speaker and buttons or through the Alexa app on my phone. Both work well. I started with my phone during setup, but now only use the speaker.
Update: Amazon replaced my Echo with a new one. The hum problem is now resolved. It is just as responsive and sounds just as good as the original echo that I returned had has no issues. Now that I have spent some time with the Echo I am glad I chose it over the Google Nest.
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2020
I can't even find any use or even mention of the zigbee hub. The one thing I love which is probably unimportant to most is the indoor temperature feature. Love knowing the temperature in my room by asking. This is extremely hard of hearing and never wakes up when I ask it to, yet wakes up when its dead quiet. Very strange experience this purchase. Hopefully Amazon can release a fix (OTA) for the hearing issue as its a major issue and walking to control the echo 4 defeats its purpose.
Update- no firmware updates have fixed anything yet, I love my echoes but I wish I had of bought another one with a screen as I find those ones 1000 times more useful. A Red ball is cool looking but that’s about it. Having a screen has spoiled me.
The voice recognition is poor, making me repeat Alexa often. Whisper mode works well, so I don’t understand why it does not wake when I say Alexa normal voice often.
It lost my Sengle smart light just after a month of working perfectly...also a mystery why. Now it will not recognize the light at all. I will have to talk to the nice amazon techies soon.
Reviewed in Canada on March 7, 2021
The voice recognition is poor, making me repeat Alexa often. Whisper mode works well, so I don’t understand why it does not wake when I say Alexa normal voice often.
It lost my Sengle smart light just after a month of working perfectly...also a mystery why. Now it will not recognize the light at all. I will have to talk to the nice amazon techies soon.