The Best-sounding Echo for $199.99
Amazon just announced Echo Studio, their best-sounding and largest wireless smart speaker. It is also the first smart speaker to deliver an immersive three-dimensional (3D) audio experience using Dolby Atmos and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio.
Native 3D music will be available on Echo Studio with a subscription to Amazon Music HD, a new tier of the highest quality streaming audio available. Coming next year, it will also be available through TIDAL HiFi. To sample native 3D music on Echo Studio and Amazon Music, simply ask “Alexa, play the best of 3D music.”
One or two Echo Studio devices can be paired with select Fire TV devices for audio playback with multi-channel sound and support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio 5.1, and stereo audio.
Design
Echo Studio combines five built-in directional speakers and a 330-watt amplifier inside a cylinder that’s both taller and wider than Apple’s HomePod. There is one 5.25-inch woofer, one 1-inch tweeter and three 2-inch midrange speakers. A bass port at the bottom maximizes airflow and bass output from the woofer. Plus, it has a 24-bit DAC and a power amplifier with 100 kHz of bandwidth for high-res, lossless music playback, available via Amazon Music HD. Echo Studio also automatically senses the acoustics of your space and fine-tunes audio playback to deliver optimal sound—no matter where you put the device in the room.
Whole-home Control
Echo Studio also has a built-in Zigbee smart home hub which can be used to control compatible smart home devices such as light bulbs, locks, sensors, plugs, and in-wall switches. This feature was previously only available on Echo Plus, which was not updated for 2019, but does cost $50 less
Meet Echo Studio
“Echo Studio is the most innovative speaker we’ve ever built, said Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon Devices. “It produces unbelievable sound, with space, clarity, and depth. All you have to do is plug it in and the built-in Alexa microphones will automatically calibrate and model the room around you. And you’re ready to go. It works great with the music you’re already streaming today, but works even better with new 3D formats. It’s bold, incredible sound in a simple package.”
Price and Availability
Echo Studio will be released November 7, 2019 for $199 at Amazon.com. Pre-orders are now being accepted.
