Can someone clear up the difference between the Amazon Echo 1st Gen vs 2nd Gen

NeilF

NeilF

NeilF

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OK, so I have a 1st gen unit.

We now have two new 2nd gen units coming out:-
- The Amazon Echo: Seemly a newer shorter version.
- The Amazon Echo Plus: The same size as the 1st gen with supposedly better home connectivity?


So is the 1st gen basically comparable to the new (smaller) "Amazon Echo"?

And the "Amazon Echo Plus" offers better home connectivity? If so how does this manifect itself. eg: If you've got things like light bulbs does this means they're easier to setup etc?
 
New Echos are smaller but also have better audio quality (tweaked by Dolby) and new voice recognition engine. It's also £10 cheaper than the current prices for refurbished Echos. Also the price of new Echos from other places.

The Plus has a ZigBee hub in it that will allow you to control many smart home devices, however Philips came out and said that with their hub rather than the one in the Echo, you'll get more features. But as a basic controller, it'll work.

Will need to wait until it's in the hands of people before seeing how well it actually works though.
 
Hmm... If the audio is noticably better I might be interested in upgrading the one in our kitchen. Listen to a lot of music through it.


EDIT: And I hope they've put half an inch of space at the bottom so you can hide unused cable in there!!!
 
I am a little miffed at this. I recently bought a couple in the Amazon Prime sale not knowing they would be bringing out newer, better, cheaper versions so soon after :(

Still impressed with the ones I have though - cracking piece of tech :)
 
Another option seems to be the new Sonos Play 1 with Alexa built in.

I haven't seen these yet but I assume it has full Alexa functionality (like the Echo) but with the highly rated Sonos sound quality.

Anyone tried these yet ?
 
I have both.
The Gen 2 of the Echo has volume buttons. The Gen 1 had a rotatable ring on the top.
Audio wise I've noticed no difference between them.
Gen 2 is more discrete, and you can get it in different material covers.
 
My friend with both originally said the sound on the Gen 1 was actually better than the Gen 2.

But then a month or two back he got an update on the Gen 2 which he said improved the sound a lot.
 
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