The Amazon Echo Studio is the perfect household companion

Hear all your favorite music no matter the ambient noise levels

Smart speakers can play an invaluable role in a home, especially if you want information quickly without having to pull out your mobile phone or sit by a computer. They're also great for listening to music or podcasts and can help you stay on track with your daily routine.

Amazon’s Echo Studio is one of the most sought-after smart speakers, since it has spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support, integrates with Amazon Alexa and looks amazing on any shelf.

Testing the Amazon Echo Studio 

A smart speaker comprises several elements to determine the overall quality accurately. For example, the speaker’s audio must be clear no matter what type of music is being played, and the voice commands must be understood without having to be repeated. For this review, the Amazon Echo Studio was tested in several rooms of a midsize home with varying levels of ambient sounds.

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to investigate every claim the brand/manufacturer makes about the product. For this article, the tester applied their knowledge of other smart speakers and compared it to the Echo Studio’s build quality, audio features and clarity and overall user experience. 

What is the Amazon Echo Studio?

The Amazon Echo Studio is a smart speaker similar to Amazon’s Echo Dot. However, it's larger and louder than the Dot, making it a fantastic audio accessory for a busy or noisy home. It uses Amazon Alexa as a virtual assistant, and you can ask it a variety of questions, use it to plan your day or listen to music. 

Inline Link: See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best smart speakers.

Amazon Echo Studio price and where to buy

The Echo Studio is available on Amazon for $199 and comes in charcoal or white. It can also be bundled with Amazon’s Echo Sub for rich bass through an additional 6-inch down-facing woofer. The bundle is available on Amazon for $299.

How to use Amazon Echo Studio

As with all Amazon smart speakers, you must install the Alexa app to proceed with the setup. The testing lab notes that it was relatively easy to do, as all the instructions are clearly explained on the mobile application. The app also takes you through the process of linking any streaming services you want to listen to.

Amazon Echo Studio benefits

The Echo Studio is low-profile and fairly lightweight. It can easily blend into any space, and its size makes it suitable for shelves, tables, counters or desks. It comes in a blue box, and the speaker itself is protected in a fabric carrying case. At the bottom of the box, the power cord and a small instruction booklet are included.

The sound quality is impressive, especially at higher volumes. It's crisp and clear and sounds like very expensive sound equipment. It also sounds clear from anywhere in the room. The sound quality is generally sufficient at lower volumes, but it’s excellent when turned up louder. 

The gadget incorporates Amazon Alexa, and the testing team felt the voice recognition was the best they’ve encountered in a device. It heard and understood clearly from a few feet away and even from the next room.

For added privacy, the Echo Studio has a mic-off feature. It makes it clear when the microphone is not on, and the device lights up in blue when it's activated and listening. The app lets you see what was recorded and delete any conversations. These privacy features should make people feel more comfortable in using voice commands.

Another feature of the Echo Studio is that it adapts the volume of whatever is playing to the ambient sounds of the room. If the noise gets louder, it turns up the volume automatically. 

If you're interested in the technical specifications, the Echo Studio uses three 2-inch mid-range speakers and a 5.3-inch woofer and the high notes are processed through a 1.1-inch tweeter. It supports lossless High-Res and Dolby Atmos audio formats and can be connected to an audio source through a 3.5-millimeter cable or optical connection.

Amazon Echo Studio drawbacks

The Echo Studio is noticeably larger than other smart speakers from Amazon, particularly the Echo Dot. This might influence some potential buyers to look for a device that’s smaller rather than louder.

It also doesn’t have some of the features included in more affordable Amazon devices. For example, the 4th and 5th generation Echo Dots have motion detection and a built-in temperature sensor. The Echo Studio doesn’t have either of those, but it does feature a built-in Zigbee smart home hub.

Should you get the Amazon Echo Studio?

The Amazon Echo Studio is the perfect household companion for anyone who wants a hands-free speaker. Through accurate voice commands, you don’t even need to be in the same room as the gadget to get results.

This device pairs better with existing Amazon products in a home. For first-time buyers of smart speakers, it’s a solid choice for clear audio. Anyone can enjoy this gadget, but to get the most value from it, it's best for those with compatible smart home devices and those who shop with the Amazon app.