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Os smart speakers, or smart speakers in Portuguese, have gradually become an essential gadget for anyone looking to start a connected home. Through the practical use of voice commands (and, generally, a great sound system to handle any musical genre), they can function both as the control center for other gadgets, as well as being an effective replacement for other devices.
In addition to this, smart speakers occupy not only one room, but several environments in wireless communication, via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. One of the most popular examples since arriving in Brazil is the Amazon Echo, subdivided into specific models for a certain audience and certain investment plans. Their design suits the use and decoration, especially with the arrival of the new duo 4th generation echo, the smartest and most refined spheres you will find today.
In this review, we tell you what it was like to spend a few days using the Echo and Echo Dot as the main platform for music playback and the central hub of a smart home, via voice assistant control Alexa. In addition, we compared the duo to the last generation, in case those who are already familiar with the system better understand if it's worth switching to the 4th generation Echo duo.
Design and highlights
Echo
The larger model, named only Amazon Echo, has the dimensions of 14,4 cm by 13,3 cm, connection with P2 cable for audio, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connections, and has a trio of speakers: a 3 inch neodymium woofer e two 0,8 inch tweeters. By the way, to facilitate the understanding of the review, from here on I will use the terms “speaker/speaker” as a synonym for the product itself, not the speakers inside each one. About device connectivity, it is worth saying that anyone who wants to connect multiple devices will enjoy the technology ZigBee, present in it.
Available in white, blue and black, the Echo 4th generation will not fit in any “corner” of the house, but it has a design that will rarely go unnoticed by anyone in the room. It is undeniable that the new design of the smart speakers makes you feel in the presence of a futuristic product with a slight touch of elegance. In line with this, most of the materials that make up the packaging and the speaker itself are recyclable/recycled, an important point when thinking about a purchase of such gadgets.
Even with the ball shape, its sound is fired forward, a feature that completely changes (for the better) the logic of distributing a smart speaker in the room. If before you had to leave your Echo in the center of the room due to the 360º sound, now the most efficient way out is to place it in one of the corners, preferably close to the corner.
Furthermore, the Amazon Echo 4th generation has certain sensors to enhance the user experience. One of them is that of temperature, because you just ask Alexa and she will answer both the temperature of your region (via GPS) and the local environment. The weather forecast for the next few days is another pleasure. It also has the sensor for "spatial audio” which no, does not mean that the speaker came straight from the moon. In fact, it adapts to the acoustics of environments and is able to recognize the propagation of sound, optimizing reproduction.
The mesh that covers the ball has a design that makes it easier to understand where to “point” the case, in a more intuitive way than the previous generation – you only guessed the right side based on the power cable entry. The plastic finish is not impressive, but it appears to be quite sturdy. At the top, we have the quartet of buttons: activate for voice recognition (no activation word), put it on “mute” (i.e. without hearing anyone's voice), one to increase and one to decrease the volume.
In particular, perhaps it would be a better design choice to hide the buttons under the mesh. Who knows, if they were touch sensitive and LED lit, for example. The upper ledge breaks the ball's uniformity in a not very pleasant way. Since evolution also needs to take into account product design choices, I recognize this as being a "ball-out" by Amazon when designing this 4th generation.
Physical buttons prove to be very important, especially if you are tired of saying the “Alexa” wake word, or if you happen to need to say a sequence of commands while physically close to the Echo 4th generation. By the way, it's important to advance the information that the two Echo's only work connected to the socket. It seems like a pretty obvious fact, but it's not too difficult to confuse Amazon's line of speakers with a portable sound box (which, at least for us Brazilians, is still much more popular).
Echo Dot 4rd Generation
The miniature version of Echo It has a design very similar to the “big brother”, even if the buttons are the same size (and, consequently, are less discreet than the other). Also available in black, blue and white, the Echo Dot 4th generation has its main changes on the inside, with a single 1,6 inch speaker forward direction.
Due to its more compact size, measuring 10 cm by 8,9 cm, it is easy to place it in more practical places than the other Echo. It blends in well with the environment of those who have other dark devices, being a little smaller than the boxes of a standard home theater. There is also a connection via the P2 cable, the power cable input (on the back) and four buttons on the top of the device.
In Brazil, the version of the Echo Dot with clock, about 50% more expensive than the common version, at the current value standardized by the Amazon. For not having this one for testing, here we will only talk about the almost identical Echo Dot 4th generation “standard”. And really, except for the front LED display, below the mesh the models have the same technical specifications. So, consider this comparison as a reference for the two Echo Dot.
Audio
As is to be expected, the duo Echo 4th generation delivers once again with great sound quality. Even if there is an equalizer through the speakers partner app (Alexa for iOS e Android), straight out of the box we already have spectacular audio. starting with Echo Dot, it's fascinating to see how the single audio output can deliver an unparalleled range between mids and bass that I didn't particularly expect to hear.
As it becomes clear to anyone who has seen the technical specifications that I mentioned above, the power of the Echo is much higher than Echo Dot. With the sound shot up and the diagonals, we have something closer to a soundbar than a portable speaker. In both scenarios, with both devices, it is recommended to be at least 3 meters away from the Echo, at eye level. Soon, my case was reclined on the sofa facing him, which was on the TV rack.
I tested with songs from Amazon Music e Spotify, obtaining similar results. Even though Alexa understands “THIS IS” as a song (and not like playlists organized by Spotify about an artist), the song requests were spot on. Current pop compositions, instruments and inspiration from the 80s, such as The Weeknd and Dua Lipa, had the rhythmic beat of drums and synthesizers in the foreground with good clarity.
With other genres, in Echo, I tried to see the range limits in various music genres. Hip-hop duo Run The Jewels had the instrument distortions nicely; whole lotta love, from Led Zeppelin, brings the double bass as it should always be; in acoustic compositions, more intimate with voice and guitar, the rich sound delivers a clean and full-bodied quality, without defects.
Funny that if I left the volume above 80%, I would potentially hear complaints from neighbors in the building, but I did it just for testing purposes. On the bright side, now even the building's doorman knows I listen to Beastie Boys and Gorillaz while I work.
routine use
For those unfamiliar with the Alexa app, the initial configuration of the product is done there. You have access to suggested questions to ask, you can adjust alarms, shopping list, songs to play and routines. This last point, in particular, is editable: just write a wake-up phrase and then explain what Alexa should do, out of dozens of possible options. As an example, you can configure the system for you to say “Alexa, I'm going to sleep” and he automatically turns off the light, puts on a song of your choice and politely tells you “enjoy the rest".
As much as this is basically the movie Here (where AI and a human have a “natural” interaction), we have a practical example of how much technology has evolved in terms of the connected home. Almost intrinsically to the routine, a routine suggestion from the app itself is the command “Alexa, start my day“. It will then say random information, current/forecast temperature, news and calendar events for the day.
As I wrote texts throughout the week, all I had to do was say the trigger word “Alexa” and ask for a playlist (synced to Spotify) so that the Echo 4th generation recognize and play. For the context of distributing the setup in the room, my laptop is about three meters from the speaker and I had my back to it. Occasionally, I turned my head to see if she acknowledged my request, but 95% of the time it became natural to say the name of a song in a conversational tone and be granted.
In not quite ideal conditions on purpose, I left the volume relatively high and tested how much I needed to raise my voice for Alexa to recognize my voice. At about 4 meters, speaking directly to the Echo, I had to raise my voice a little (more than I would have liked, in a conversational tone) for the smart speaker to understand. Even if it sounds like something negative, I expected the smart box not even to hear me due to the loud sound, but it understood without me having to shout the activation word – as if calling someone from across the apartment.
Reminders and alarms, however, were one of the most used functions of the product by me – apart from the Routines previously mentioned. Take a food cooking off the stove, download Cyberpunk 2077, activate a 5-minute timer, message someone at an exact time, ask for a refund Cyberpunk 2077 and taking out the garbage were some of these requests, for example.
In terms of the connected home, the most popular smart light bulbs around here, from Philips and Positivo, worked without any problems. This is because since the beginning of the year the pair has been in sync with the skills of Alexa (via the mobile app), with the services in direct communication to the speaker. You can change the color, turn them off, on and combine them with Routines in spectacular command precision. Best of all, I didn't have to configure anything new at all.
The first (of the few) weaknesses of the product is not in the hardware, but in the confusing and limited system of reproduction in multiple speakers. from the Echo, I asked for the song to be played on “all devices” – both 4th generation Echos being. Alexa responded by guiding the configuration via the app, putting the speakers in the same environment, and I did. Strange that even with commands given to the Echo (by pressing the top button, without the wake-up word), the song only played on the Echo Dot.
When I tried the multi-room mode, which in theory would allow me on all speakers, there was a limitation: the Echo can only be paired with another of the same type. So even if you have one Echo Dot of the 4th generation in hand, he will not recognize. When trying to sync with the two Echo Dot (3rd and 4th), luckily everything went well, even maintaining consistency of operation when I left one of them connected (physically) in another room of the house.
Amazon Echo: 3rd or 4th Gen?
In a brief explanation of my past experiences with the Echo line, I must say that I own a Echo Dot of the 3rd generation just over a year ago. On Black Friday 2019, I purchased the speaker of the time at the very cheap price of R$199 in itself Amazon. Ironically in 2020, in Prime Day around the same time of year, it could be found in exactly the same price range.
My first impressions were great: I never had a smart speaker and, like many Brazilians, the Echo was my gateway to the “universe” of connected devices in a home. smart. In terms of quality and long-term use, the convenience of running Spotify from your cell phone (or, of course, by voice) on a powerful speaker without having to worry about recharging the battery was a spectacular experience.
In terms of design, the difference between the two generations is pretty obvious. However, the Alexa interaction ring is now on the base, visible at a much more hidden angle than the 3rd model. On the positive side, it is more discreet and can reflect on the surface of the furniture (depending on the material in contact); On the negative side, if it's in a low rack, you'll hardly know if Alexa heard the wake word (since you don't see the light come on).
Interestingly, the base ring turns a lighter shade of blue to indicate where it is detecting voice from. Even though I installed the Dot and the Echo in the same places (TV rack and coffee table), the 4th generation ones almost never “pointed” to my voice: they usually bounced off some other wall. It doesn't matter so much, as the commands were understood without errors most of the time.
Overall, the tone and volume of my voice was the same as in the 3rd generation. Occasionally, I've tried the whispered version (which the 3rd gen recognizes and replicates by responding to me in the same way), but Alexa wasn't as effective. On the other hand, smartly with the system, after installing at home, the Alexa system renamed the 4th generation Dot as “Allan's 2nd Echo Dot".
The 3rd generation Echo has a cylindrical shape, quite different from the new version. To more critical eyes, the narrow speaker might look like a “gimmick” – after all, what's the point of having a big speaker when I can have “only 1/4 the size of it”, for a “more affordable” price? The top is identical to the Dot, it just looks like a “stretched” version with reasonably better audio.
Otherwise, we have a evolution on the current Echo both when we talk about it compared to the 3rd and the 4th generation Dot. In terms of design, the current duo is identical (in different sizes) and better convinces the idea of sound with high range and great dissipation. The speakers shoot the sound forward, not sideways as before, which is certainly noticeable for anyone in the ideal conditions I mentioned above – 3 meters away, at eye level.
I couldn't check the sound of the 3rd generation cylinder, however, I can tell you based on technical specifications what is already expected in terms of improvement: the new Echo has clear highs and more powerful bass, which results in a perfect combo. to enrich the audio played, even if the volume is generally about the same.
Conclusion
Speakers no longer have the main function of “playing music”, but the potential for connectivity. Certain portable speakers feature surround sound simulation in direct pairing, others have built-in voice assistants, and some support more than one connected cell phone, so multiple DJs run the party. More than any of these features, the 4th generation Echo line (despite being plugged into an outlet) has smart features and the potential to connect to virtually any modern device via Bluetooth.
The services that support Alexa grow and improve with each update. You can follow a food delivery order, a shared race, take a quiz to test your knowledge and share this experience with whoever you want. There are few hardware and software errors, but nothing that deduces so much from the routine experience with the devices.
The line already presents itself clearly in terms of quality and profile: Echo Dot input, Echo intermediary and Echo Studio of high standard. With the proposal of intelligent speakers of entry/intermediate standards, the 4th generation Echo delivers much of what is promised, in a revamped futuristic design.
When we think about the cost-benefit ratio, we have a similar comparison to what is in foreign territory. In the US, the Echo sells for $100 and the Echo Dot for $50. Here in Brazil, the Echo is on Amazon for its R$711,55 while the Echo Dot (also in Amazon) can be found for less than half, at a trifle of R$299. The most obvious question that remains in the air: is it worth the investment in the more expensive model?
I can confidently say yes, it's worth it. However, this depends on your use and how much you can invest. If you want a smart, great-sounding central hub, the Echo gets the message. In contrast, for those who live in a large house and prefer to invest in an ecosystem with multiple good quality speakers, the Echo Dot will satisfy. If by chance you consider an even more economical option, we remind you that the 3rd generation Echo Dot (Amazon), may be surprising, as it is currently sold by R$229. Between it and the 4th generation there is almost only an aesthetic change — which, in my opinion, does not justify high value.
Finally, in case the doubt is still in the air for you, we can remember what happened on Black Friday a few weeks ago, when the Amazon Echo was for just R$549. Therefore, a solution to the undecided is based solely and exclusively on the logic of Amazon promotions – something not at all exclusive to the month of November. Chances are there's a lightning promotion on the site and you'll come across nothing less than 100 reais off on Echo. Our secondary tip for you who are hesitating in the final choice is: always stay tuned to the site and try to acquire it in a promotion.
In particular, the investment is worth any Echo of the 4th generation, whether the larger or the smaller model. The cost-benefit ratio of having a great sound system and, in addition, a center to connect all kinds of smart devices in your home becomes the product's strongest point, effortlessly. So anyone who's been waiting for a chance – only to start banking connected gadgets in a smart home – can trust the Echo to be a excellent kick off.
So, what do you think of the smart speaker duo? 4th Gen Amazon Echo? Which one do you prefer? Tell us in the comments
Technical specs – 4th generation Echo range
Echo Dot
Size | 100 mm x 100 mm x 89 mm |
Shot put | 328 grams |
WiFi connectivity | Requires WiFi Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2,4 and 5 GHz) networks Incompatible with connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks |
Bluetooth connectivity | Supports Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) for streaming audio from your mobile device to the Echo Dot or from the Echo Dot to your Bluetooth speaker |
Audio | One 1,6” speaker 3,5mm audio output for use with external speakers (sound cable not included) |
LED display with clock | Available on Echo Dot with Watch |
System requirements | The Echo Dot comes ready to connect to the wifi network. The Alexa app is compatible with Fire OS, Android and iOS devices, and is also accessible by the web browser. |
Generation | Echo Dot 4th Generation – Version 2020 |
Echo
Size | 144 mm x 144 mm x 133 mm |
Shot put | 940 grams |
Dolby processing | Dolby Audio |
smart home hub | integrated zigbee |
WiFi connectivity | Requires WiFi Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2,4 and 5 GHz) networks Incompatible with connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks |
Bluetooth connectivity | Supports Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) for streaming audio from your mobile device to the Echo Dot or from the Echo Dot to your Bluetooth speaker |
Audio | 3” neodymium woofer and 2 x 0,8” tweeters 3,5mm audio output for use with external speakers (sound cable not included) |
Generation | Echo 4th Generation – Version 2020 |
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Bro, thank you very much for your analysis, I'm really unsure between echo and echo dot. I didn't really understand the difference between the echo hub and the echo dot.