Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation)

[What Hi-Fi?]

Amazon’s Echo Dot is up against some stern competition in the smart speaker market, but all evidence shows that it’s up to the task.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) : Read more

 

[DREADZONE]

Amazon’s Echo Dot is up against some stern competition in the smart speaker market, but all evidence shows that it’s up to the task.

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) : Read more

So what about OUTPUTS? I suspect there is still no DIGITAL OUT? . . . otherwise your article would have celebrated this. Is there just a 3.5mm stereo jack output socket?

 

[Eirinnm]

There is no 3.5mm output anymore on this 5th gen model. The fact that this review doesn't mention it, and gives it 5 stars, is embarrassing.

 

[DREADZONE]

There is no 3.5mm output anymore on this 5th gen model. The fact that this review doesn't mention it, and gives it 5 stars, is embarrassing.

Oh dear! I agree. I wonder which product Amazon are trying to direct us towards then?
I use stereo LINE OUT to 2RCAs from a 3rd Gen Dot to my HiFi system (and assume I'm getting 16bit/44MHz?) to access Amazon Music Unlimited via Alexa; sound is acceptable, but a step down from Amazon Music direct to my amp via OPTICAL.

 

[DREADZONE]

. . . Actually, is there any Amazon Echo device that outputs digital/optical? If not, why not?

 

[Dave_]

. . . Actually, is there any Amazon Echo device that outputs digital/optical? If not, why not?

The Echo Link does

 

[AlastairB]

I wish whathifi reviewers would consider overall usefulness, functionality, of products, beyond just assessing audio quality and throwing in a few glib quotes from vendor marketing blurbs

Specifically, in the case of Amazon echo products, buyers would want to know that the setup and app UI is monstrously incomprehensible for multi-room use, that the user documentation vs actual behaviour is riddled with bugs/errata, and that full integration with anything other than Amazon products is, apparently intentionally, pretty much crippled.

In summary, I wish that whathifi was a reliably useful source of product reviews. It is NOT.

 

[AlastairB]

The Echo Link does

I've been thinking of buying an Echo link.

Do you actually own one? And does it work?
Or, are you just citing Amazon's claims?

(My experience is that Amazon's "Big Claims" fall apart after 17 hours of searching for details... (on Reddit..)
Some might think that Amazon are operating a "bait and switch" game.
"I couldn't possibly comment, Maddie")

 

[AlastairB]

I've been thinking of buying an Echo link.

Do you actually own one? And does it work?
Or, are you just citing Amazon's claims?

(My experience is that Amazon's "Big Claims" fall apart after 17 hours of searching for details... (on Reddit..)
Some might think that Amazon are operating a "bait and switch" game.
"I couldn't possibly comment, Maddie")

I bought a 2nd hand Echo flex on ebay, and managed to configure it to output from its 3.5mm stereo socket to my Ruark MR1 Mk2s. And to get that to play nice with "Alexa, shuffle <music> to Everywhere". Result.
TBH, I'm surprised: I expected Amazon to have made that not work.