Amazon Echo (3rd Generation)

The Amazon Echo (3rd Generation) has Good overall sound quality. Bass has good impact but is a bit prominent, somewhat boomy and deep bass is lacking. Midrange is fairly even but is a bit hazy, grainy and congested and has a noticeable "shimmery" quality. (Can sound compressed with some content) Treble is smeared, and upper treble is muted. Does a so so job of recovering room ambience, is a bit congested, and lacking in detail. The unit is monophonic. There was no significant difference between Wifi and Bluetooth sound quality, at the same tone settings line-in treble is less muted but the sound quality score remains the same. Provides a decent volume level in a medium sized room but gets compressed sounding at louder volumes. As a stereo pair they can be placed to provide better stereo separation than many other models.

Versatility is excellent. It's a monophonic speaker, with multi-room support but has stereo pairing support with another Echo (3rd Gen). Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and this unit has Bluetooth and can output to another speaker but lacks speakerphone functionality. Communications: Has support for calling and messaging - called "Drop In". Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated switch to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones. Audio Connections: Has a switchable analog audio input/output jack. Audio Tailoring: Has 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, Apple 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.

Overall ease of use of the Amazon Echo (3rd Generation) is very good. Wireless setup: Setup requires an app downloaded to a mobile device, easy and intuitive - need instructions (may be included in app), may or may not involve inputting WiFi network password and account setups. Console controls: Volume controls are prominent +/- control buttons with non-persistent graphical position markings of volume level is easily repeatable via verbal commands and easy to actuate. Audio mute: Lacks a mute. Microphone mute: Dedicated control but the marking is not the most obvious, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Requires app to be installed, app installation is straight forward. Once app is installed switching between wireless sources is fairly intuitive within the app. Can't select Bluetooth but Bluetooth can be connected by verbal command to previously paired device - and then ready to play. App remote: Volume control symbol, then volume slider, lacks index markings so not easily repeatable, but easy to actuate. Shown for currently playing streamed WiFi music. Mute: (Remote) 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.