Amazon goes All In with New Alexa-Enabled Devices

[MrRockliffe]

New design refreshes, and new products including:

• Echo Auto
• 6-inch Subwoofer
• Microwave - Alexa compatible microwave
• Link
• Link Amp

https://hexus.net/ce/news/gadgets/122432-amazon-releases-plethora-new-updated-echo-devices/

Some interesting stuff here. I'm myself interested in the Link Amp.

Not sure on the Microwave - surely it's easier to set a timer when you're putting something in?

 

[MrRockliffe]

The only thing the AMP needs to do for me is multi room with my existing Denon HEOS setup. Would really like to stream music in the office without spending £400 on a stereo amp

 

[MrRockliffe]

Echo input and a stereo amp of your choosing would be much cheaper.

I haven't been able to find an amp I like the look of that's cheap

Edit: I do, however like the look of the Amazon one

 

[MrRockliffe]

I guess it depends on what specifically you're looking for in an amplifier... I would be really surprised if the Amazon amplifier offers as good value for money in terms of sound quality as a stereo integrated amp from a more well known manufacturer. I get that if you're looking to emulate something like the Denon M40 or the Cyrus One then fine, but I'd like to have a listen first. I'm always a sucker for second hand kit, so I'm biased towards that anyway.

While ordinarily I'm fine with second hand stuff, I've got a Denon AVR in the front room with HEOS compatibility, and I like being able to control all of my music etc from my phone (including turning the AVR on)

 

[MrRockliffe]

This is exactly what the echo source would add to any amplifier. If you’re very fussy about turning the amp on and off you could get a harmony hub! Anyway it would seem that your mind is made up.

Not at all - always searching for solutions. Ideal solution for me would require least number of purchases, and the least amount of clutter. I've done the whole route of trying to merge different things together, and it's ended up being more hassle than it's worth, with different things not working etc

Would much prefer a single item that does everything I want and sounds good enough. I'm not going to be attaching £1000 speakers to it, so no chance of hearing any difference in quality of the amp (that's not to say they won't sound different)

Anyhow, back to the original post - I've actually been looking at the 2x echo + sub, as it's on offer as a pre order. Looks like a fairly capable system, and would do the job nicely as a source of music in the office. Would equate to roughly the same price as a pair of KEF X300A, with the added benefit of having a little more low and take up less space in the process.

 

[MrRockliffe]

Sorry, I think my post sounded a bit more curt than I meant - I totally get the less is more ethos! For £240 the twin echo and sub undercuts Sonos by a huge margin even if you don't buy a sub with the Sonos kit. I bet the Echo Input still doesn't have a digital output though...

I don't think it does, which is a pretty big omission

For multi-room, I have been looking at a couple of Chromecast audios hooked up to a system, as they're USB powered and pretty discreet. I also already have a Google Home mini, so would have voice control capability out of the box. 3.5mm is fine, but optical it just that little bit better, especially with an AVR as I've always found them to decode into a 5.1 a bit better (and you're not relying on the DAC inside the device)