Amazon Echo Studio hands-on: It sounds right

Pitched as a premium smart speaker, the Echo Studio is larger than the regular Echo and supports 3D audio and Dolby Atmos. At $199, Amazon is aiming to lure audiophiles with the Echo Studio. We managed to spend some time with the Echo Studio and here are our initial thoughts.

The Amazon Echo Studio has the same shape as Apple’s HomePod, but it’s larger.

Of all the new devices unveiled by Amazon on Wednesday, it was the Echo Studio speaker that had the most impact. Pitched as a premium smart speaker, the Echo Studio is larger than the regular Echo and supports 3D audio and Dolby Atmos. At $199, Amazon is aiming to lure audiophiles with the Echo Studio.

I managed to spend some time with the Echo Studio and here are my initial thoughts.

Echo Studio

The Echo Studio has the same shape as Apple’s HomePod, but it’s larger. Its cylindrical shape and covered with a fabric mesh reminiscent of the previous generation Echo speakers. But the Echo Studio is all about the ‘wow’ sound quality that you might expect from a smart speaker costing $200.

There’s a lot of tech goes inside the Echo Studio. The premium sounding smart speaker has three mid-range speakers for left, right and top. You also get a directional tweeter and a large 5.25 bass driver. In my brief testing, the Echo Studio delivered crisp and clear audio in the controlled demo area. The audio quality was clearly better than the Echo Plus.

The Echo Studio is all about the ‘wow’ sound quality that you might expect from a smart speaker costing 0.

Like the Sonos One and Apple HomePod, the Echo Show uses far-field microphones to map out the room, delivering 3D sound experience. I was able to enjoy the music it produced wherever I stood in the demo area.

Alexa is definitely a big part of the Echo smart speakers, and the Echo Studio is no different. It works like any other smart speaker at the end of the day. You could ask Alexa to play your favorite music, or tell her to set an alarm, provide traffic updates and so on.

Also read: Amazon hardware event 2019: Everything the e-commerce giant announced, from Echo Frames to Echo Buds

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In my short time spent with the Echo Studio, I was certainly impressed with the speaker’s audio quality and its ability to bring 3D surround sound to an Alexa speaker. Though it remains to be seen how the Echo Studio fares against the Apple HomePod and Sonos One in more realistic settings.

At Rs 22,999, the Echo Studio won’t come cheap though. This is the price you have to pay for a smart speaker that sounds way more accurate than previous generation Echo devices. But in the Indian market, where both the HomePod and Sonos One are not available for purchase, Amazon has a chance to succeed in the high-end smart speaker segment with the Echo Studio.

Disclaimer: The author is in Seattle on the invite of Amazon India.

Anuj Bhatia

Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle. Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include: Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech. Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups. Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech. Authoritativeness & Trust Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape. Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More

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