Sound QualityThe Amazon Echo Sub Bundle w/2 Echo(2nd Gen) has good overall sound quality. Bass has good impact and goes fairly deep but is a bit prominent and boomy. Midrange is fairly even, but is somewhat hazy and grainy and a bit plasticky. Treble is dry, smeared and upper treble is muted. Does a so-so job of recovering room ambience, is somewhat congested, and lacking in detail. As a stereo pair with Sub only WiFi streaming content is possible to be played at the time of testing. Provides a decent volume level in a medium to large sized room.
Versatility
Versatility is Excellent. As a combination Dual Echo (2nd Generation) with a Subwoofer It is a stereo speaker system, with multi-room support. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and although the Echo (2nd Generation) units have Bluetooth; as a paired system it audio cannot be streamed to the combined system. Communications: Has support for calling, texting and messaging - called "Drop In" but only to a single unit. Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated switch to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones - but each Echo speaker must be muted and unmuted individually. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio input but has an analog audio output. Audio Tailoring: Has Bass, Mid and Treble user tone controls. OS Support: Fire OS, Android and iOS. Other connections and features: Lacks a USB device port. Streaming by voice command: Supports voice command of many common streaming services such as Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-In, and iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Supports voice identity - a feature which allows the account holder with their "voice print" to access personal information.
Ease of Use
Overall ease of use of the Amazon Echo Sub w/2 Echo (2nd Generation) is fair. Wireless setup: Typical setup involves following the setup of the three devices separately with the subwoofer being last to setup. Setting up three devices is a tedious process - as triple the usual setup of a single unit then combining the three as a stereo pair with sub in the app. Bluetooth: It is currently unsupported with this combination of speakers. Console controls: Volume controls are prominent +/- with graphical indicators of volume level which are non-persistent and easily repeatable via verbal commands and easy to actuate. Audio mute: Lacks console mute or play/pause control. Microphone mute: Ambiguously marked, well placed, with clear indication when it is engaged. However, the mute function must be selected on both Echo 2nd Gen sepakers. Source selections: App can switch between wireless sources. App remote: The volume control symbol leads to a volume slider which lacks index markings so not easily repeatable, but easy to actuate. Shown while in menu selection for currently playing music (If multiple devices in account then the device may require selection). Mute: Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.
