Amazon Alexa amplifier, receiver, subwoofer

So, looks like a wimpy little $99 “subwoofer”, of the type that pairs with cheesy computer speakers. It will add some thump to a stereo pair of Echoes. Hardly an audiophile setup...

https://www.engadget.com/amp/2018/09/19/amazon-echo-sub-and-smart-plug-leak/

So, looks like a wimpy little $99 “subwoofer”, of the type that pairs with cheesy computer speakers. It will add some thump to a stereo pair of Echoes. Hardly an audiophile setup...

https://www.engadget.com/amp/2018/09/19/amazon-echo-sub-and-smart-plug-leak/

The new stereo pairing feature is the most interesting part of the article.

As long as cheap and smarter Amazon front ends remain available with a stereo line out jack...

Ok, I'm simply not seeing what you're seeing. When I cast to from the Amazon music app to a Sonos speaker or an echo, the music app doesn't show me lyrics or a timeline the way it does on yours. Perhaps because on not on my local wifi network, but I doubt that's the reason. Perhaps I have a different setting then you. Maybe it's a feature that's being rolled out regionally or something.

That’s odd. Dunno, but it works great, even when my phone isn’t on the WiFi, via 4G. Hopefully Amazon will bring it to Show, or whatever replaces it, and will enable it via voice, which doesn’t Cast now.

I figured it out this morning. When playing audio from 'My Music', you 'll get the experience I saw. The Amazon app gues dumb. Doesn't even know when the audio track has ended. But you play from an Amazon's collection of tracks, playlists, stations, etc, I see exactly what you saw @chicks.

I did a little bit of experimenting and the Amazon app does appear to be in sync with the Sonos speakers. I'm sure it's not streaming through the phone though, so I'm guess that it really only appears to be in sync...Amazon is just timing everything right. And perhaps it can do that with it's own tracks, but cannot with the tracks users have uploaded. Perhaps Amazon's tracks are tagged differently or something of that nature.

I have to wonder if this is related to Amazon's decision earlier this year to no longer allow users to upload their own tracks. And if that's the case, it would seem that Amazon has bigger plans for Alexacast, such as tying it in with their video echo products.


So, looks like a wimpy little $99 “subwoofer”, of the type that pairs with cheesy computer speakers. It will add some thump to a stereo pair of Echoes. Hardly an audiophile setup...

https://www.engadget.com/amp/2018/09/19/amazon-echo-sub-and-smart-plug-leak/


Amazon never claimed they were going audiophile, it was just speculation. And this product actually makes a lot more sense, IMO. It's an easy add-on to all the customers out their who already have echos saturating their home. It competes with Sonos in a way. If an echo+ sub comes close to the sound quality of a Sonos One, then it can win based on branding and echo exclusive features. Particularly if folks are thinking of replacing an echo with a Sonos One, you can save $100 by just getting the amazon sub.

And I would bet that amazon amp and receiver are along similar price and quality. A bit below Sonos, but good enough for a lot of people, and a cheaper option for those who already have echos. So you can build a 'decent' multiroom audio system for cheaper than you can with Sonos. The downside, of course, is that you're never getting a great system, and you're tying yourself in to Amazon approved audio sources. And perhaps lacking HT integration...we'll see.

It's hard to say this is bad for Sonos. Feels like a case of "rising tides raise all boats", in that Amazon is getting people thinking about multiroom audio, which may end up getting more people thinking about Sonos indirectly. As a consumer, I can't see the downside, as I don't think Amzaon is going to kill any competition with these products.

As long as cheap and smarter Amazon front ends remain available with a stereo line out jack...

All current Echos except the Show have a line out which makes them extremely flexible. I think your strategy is going to be viable for a very long time. And if Amazon lets you down you can easily switch to Google or something else without disrupting your core system. If you go the dual input route you can even run two front end technologies in parallel making it easier to slowly transition from one front end platform to the next as things evolve over time.

Amazon will most likely follow the same approach as with the Echo: develop a cheap product with just sufficient internal processing capabilities for basic functionality and a standard set of features and sell it at a ridiculously low price. Then make sure to enhance the product through regular future software updates. Once the product has been established on the markets, more high-quality varieties of said product will be released.

If their goal is to bring Alexa into every corner of our homes then starting by adding voice control to our most essential household appliances actually makes sense. Think long term.

I agree that that may be their strategy, but I don't see it working as well for microwaves. As an example, I had no issue bringing in my echo even though I had a Sonos setup in the same room. It wasn't a complete duplication of features. But a microwave? I'm not buying a new microwave until my old one is broke, and it certainly must be built in as mine currently is. That also means it has to be the right size and power. It might be neat to bring in 2nd microwave, but I don't have the space for a cheap microwave that I don't need.

Of course there are going to be plenty of folks that could use a new microwave and/or are willing to switch for the bargain pricing, but I can't see that as nearly a big a market as the echo was.

I don't think you are grasping the Amazon vision here. Picture a home theater with an Alexa receiver driving the front speakers, a pair of Echos for the surround speakers, the new Echo sub, and the Alexa microwave acting as the center channel speaker. You now have the ability to enjoy full 5.1 surround as you watch movies through your Firestick AND enjoy fresh microwave popcorn without pausing the film or leaving the theater room to fetch it. Nobody else can provide that kind of total theater experience!

I think your strategy is going to be viable for a very long time.
I think so too, and certainly hope so. Modular systems is the way to go where one part of the tech is evolving rapidly, while the other part related to amplification and speaker tech is largely stagnant. And modular as in modules from different makes, much the way legacy audiophile systems were and even today are put together. Except that this should be a lot simpler with line out/in sockets being the only requirement.

As long as cheap and smarter Amazon front ends remain available with a stereo line out jack...

All current Echos except the Show have a line out which makes them extremely flexible.

Was not aware of that. My original Echos definitely don’t have line out jacks, only my (2nd gen) Dots do.

FYI, I believe these new products are currently being announced. I'd expect to see news by the end of the day.

As long as cheap and smarter Amazon front ends remain available with a stereo line out jack...

All current Echos except the Show have a line out which makes them extremely flexible.

Was not aware of that. My original Echos definitely don’t have line out jacks, only my (2nd gen) Dots do.

Correct, current as in currently available for sale. I should have been more precise. I shuffle my first gen Echos and Shows into locations where I only need stand-alone devices.