Wednesday, April 24, 2024

These are the best speakers to use with your Echo Dot!

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Are you searching for the best speakers for Echo Dot? I love how easy the Echo Dot makes it to listen to music, search for the news, add items to your grocery list, and do so much more. The device’s sound quality isn’t terrible, but if you’re looking for more than just low-level background music while you work or do chores, I prefer to pair it with compatible speakers for a better audio experience. There are hundreds, if not thousands, out there for you to choose from, and here are some picks that you’ll be sure to be happy with.

Best overall speakers for Echo Dot: Sonos One SL

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Sonos is known for its powerful hi-fi speakers, but it makes the dream of owning them a little more accessible with the One SL. Not only is this the most affordable wireless speaker the company offers, but it also produces impressive sound quality and looks stylish to boot. Since it’s so compact, it won’t take up a lot of space in your home. Both the black and the white version look good, so you can purchase the look you like best.

It features a midrange woofer and a tweeter powered by their own amplifier. You’ll find that it pairs beautifully with the Echo Dot and other Alexa-enabled devices, so you can control music by merely giving a voice command. If you want, you can purchase two of these speakers and set them up in the same room to provide a stereo audio experience.

One thing to note is that wireless connectivity runs through Wi-Fi. It doesn’t support Bluetooth. Technically, Wi-Fi gives a better sound experience, but some might find the lack of connection options to be a downside. Similarly, you’ll find an Ethernet port on the backside for a better internet connection. However, there is no 3.5mm auxiliary input, which some users might find limiting. Lastly, the Sonos One SL is intended to be a permanent fixture that’s plugged in at all times, so it doesn’t have a built-in battery for portable use. While this device does not have a microphone, its sibling, the Sonos One (2nd Gen), does.

Pros:

  • Two color options
  • Compact design
  • Easy to use
  • Can connect with other Sonos speakers
  • Wi-Fi connectivity

Cons:

  • No Bluetooth connectivity
  • No 3.5mm auxiliary input
  • Not portable

Best overall speakers for Echo Dot

Sonos One SL Microphone-Free Smart Speaker

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  • $200 at Best Buy
  • $275 at Walmart

A powerful compact speaker

Pair this Sonos speaker with your Echo Dot to make listening to music a more straightforward experience.

Best budget speakers for Echo Dot: OontZ Angle 3

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Now, if you’re looking for something quick and cheap, the Oontz Angle 3 is the speaker to get. Despite its small size, it offers decent audio that rivals more expensive devices. At higher volumes, the bass can struggle. One of the things we like about it is the number of colors it comes in. Choose from blue, white, orange, red, and of course, black to spice up any room. It will last up to 14 hours and work up to 100 feet away from the transmitting device.

As far as construction goes, the middle is cased in plastic while the edges are covered with a soft rubber that feels good to the touch. The 3.5mm headphone jack and micro USB port are protected behind a rubber flap. While it is water-resistant, it isn’t fully waterproof, so you’ll want to be careful when using it near a pool or bathtub. When it comes time, you can connect it to your Echo Dot using Bluetooth or a cable.

Pros:

  • Up to 14 hours of battery
  • Works up to 100 feet away
  • Five color options
  • Compact design
  • Easy to use
  • Inexpensive

Cons:

  • Bass isn’t the best
  • Isn’t fully waterproof

Best budget speakers for Echo Dot

OontZ Angle 3

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  • From $26 at Amazon
  • $52 at Walmart

A good, inexpensive speaker

This option is cheaper than many other speakers and still provides decent sound quality and connection options.

Best portable speakers for Echo Dot: Anker SoundCore 2

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You usually can’t go wrong with Anker, an electronics company that’s proven its worth, especially when it comes to power banks. Unsurprisingly, the Anker SoundCore offers one of the most extended battery life options we’ve ever seen in a portable speaker — up to 24 hours of music listening on one battery charge. What’s more, you won’t have to pay a fortune because it costs less than many other speakers of the same quality. However, the bass is known to have problems when handling higher volumes.

Connect your Dot wirelessly with Bluetooth or use the auxiliary input to connect the two devices with a cable. The wireless connection works up to 66 feet away, so you can take it with you from room to room without disturbing the link to the Dot. It’s also perfect for pool parties and outdoor activities since it’s waterproof. As with most speakers, it comes in classic black, or you can get it in blue or red if you want something with a bit more color.

Pros:

  • Up to 24 hours of battery
  • Inexpensive
  • Works with paired devices up to 66 feet away
  • Three color choices
  • Waterproof

Cons:

  • Doesn’t offer the best bass
  • Average quality speaker

Best portable speakers for Echo Dot

Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

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  • From $34 at Amazon
  • $34 at Newegg

A quality speaker at an affordable cost

Using a Bluetooth connection, it works up to 66 feet away from your Echo Dot, in or outside the house.

Best hifi match for the Echo Dot: Echo Studio – Hi-fidelity smart speaker with 3D audio and Alexa

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There’s no better match for the Amazon Echo Dot than the Echo Studio, designed to enhance sound via high-fidelity, 3D audio with, of course, Alexa voice assistance, to boot. With five speakers total, you’ll get powerful bass along with favorable midrange and highs. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos means you’ll also get a 3D-like experience from just one single speaker, with audio that truly immerses you.

The best part about this speaker is that it will work seamlessly with the Echo Dot, using the same app and easy setup process. But you can use it in a room where you want an improved sound experience. It even automatically senses the acoustics in the room and fine-tunes playback accordingly.

It comes with a built-in smart home hub, so you can also use it to control Zigbee-compatible devices. Using the Studio with the Echo Dot is as simple. Pair both to the system for Alexa control, then you can use them together or play music from the Dot when you’re working away. You can also swap to the Studio using voice control if you want a more immersive experience. If you want to go the wired route, it does have a 3.5mm line-out connection.

Pros

  • Seamless wireless experience
  • Control other smart home devices
  • HiFi quality audio

Cons

  • Fairly large
  • Might be more than you need

Best hifi match for the Echo Dot

Echo Studio – Hi-fidelity smart speaker with 3D audio and Alexa

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  • $200 at Amazon

Totally immersive experience

If you’re looking to transform from background music to something totally immersive, the Echo Studio is a match made in heaven.

Best splurge speakers for Echo Dot: Sonos Five

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The Sonos Five is pricey, but it provides beautifully deep bass and crisp sound thanks to the three high-excursion woofers and two tweeters it employs. Setting it up with your Echo Dot is easy, so you’ll be listening to your favorite songs via voice commands in no time.

If the sound quality isn’t enough, then there’s also the sleek design. This speaker is pretty compact and will look good on your shelf or entertainment center, considering what it offers. Since it’s a high-end speaker, it would be nice if it came with a remote, but it doesn’t. You’ll have to rely on Alexa or an app to control it from a distance.

One of the nice things about it is that you can stand it up vertically or horizontally to fit your home better. A built-in sensor adjusts sound quality accordingly, no matter which way the device is oriented. You can even pair it with another Sonos Five5 to create stereo sound in your home. On the backside, you’ll find a 3.5mm jack so you can plug in a compatible device and listen to music that way. This speaker supports Bluetooth and high-quality connections via Wi-Fi or Ethernet to pair with other devices.

Pros:

  • Excellent sound
  • Looks good
  • Simple setup and pairing
  • Bluetooth and 3.5mm audio jack
  • Wi-Fi connectivity

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Doesn’t come with remote
  • Not compatible with Play:5

Best splurge speakers for Echo Dot

Sonos Five Wireless Smart Speaker

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$550 at Best Buy

A superior speaker for music lovers

The Sonos 5 features three high-excursion woofers and two tweeters for deep bass and beautiful, crisp sound.

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Alright, alright, this definitely isn’t a speaker, and it doesn’t come with one. However, if you already own a fancy speaker system and want to connect your Alexa device with it, this is a good option. You’ll find inputs and outputs for both digital and analog devices on the backside of the amp. This means it works with a vast number of speakers.

The design of the box isn’t anything special. I mean, it only comes in one color and doesn’t have anything exciting about it. However, it’s so simple and compact that it is easier to store on a shelf next to other electronics or decor. It sets up in minutes. Just use the proper cables to hook it up to your speakers, internet, and Echo Dot. Then you’ll be good to go.

Pros:

  • Super compact
  • Works with several speakers
  • Easy to setup

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a speaker
  • Only one color option

Best speaker enhancement for Echo Dots

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$200 at Amazon
$200 at Best Buy

Connect your fancy speakers with an Echo Dot

This little box allows you to connect Alexa devices like the Echo Dot to your existing speaker setup.

Big boom

When you’re looking for the best speakers for Echo Dot, which is already a great Alexa device, you’ll want something that gives you superior sound quality and added convenience for a reasonable price. There are hundreds to choose from, so we researched and created a list of the best ones compatible with the smaller Echo.

One of the best options out there is the Sonos One SL speaker. Its compact and stylish design makes it look good in any room without taking up too much space. You’ll be able to set it up and pair it with your Echo Dot in no time. Best of all, it’s decently priced, given the caliber of quality it provides.

Of course, the Echo Dot is a speaker and might suffice if you just want quiet background music while you work or do chores. If you’re going to use it on its own, consider getting a good Echo Dot mount to keep it secured in place as a new member of the family.

Credits

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Rebecca Spear loves keeping up-to-date with the latest and greatest electronics. She is a life-long gamer and a writer who has written hundreds of online articles over the past four years. On any given day, you’ll find her drawing with her Wacom tablet, playing video games, or reading a good book.

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Jeramy Johnson is proud to help Keep Austin Weird and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. When he’s not writing about smart home gadgets and wearables, he’s defending his relationship with his smart voice assistants to his family. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.

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