Amazon Alexa amplifier, receiver, subwoofer

Also, I would not dismiss the Sub in a hurry. One needs to first see how a Echo pair+ Sub does, compared to a Sonos One pair, for about USD 150 less at a total of USD 250. Or, compared to a much more expensive HomePod pair.
Equally noteworthy is that the new products will be officially available from Amazon India from Nov 11, just a month after they are released in the US. At prices that are as sensible in India as they are in the US. Compared to Sonos still not being in a position to say when Sonos One will work with Alexa in India, leave alone when it will be sold at similar prices compared to their prices in the US.
PS: I notice that the Sub is already flagged by Amazon US as a best seller based on just pre orders in the Subwoofers category.
PPS: My experience of Echos is limited to 5-6 products so this is just anecdotal. I have found them as easy to set up as Sonos and as stable in music play in a home with a Apple TC base station and two AEX wifi extenders in bedrooms on opposite sides of the open space where the TC is kept. Without any IP address conflicts, Boosts, or things not working after updates - I don't even have to update anything, it must be happening on its own in the background perhaps late at night. And this, with a 2011 vintage WiFi network. If this experience is typical, and very unlike the AEX for home audio experience that led me to Sonos in 2011, it would seem that Amazon will continue on the road they established when the Echo took the world by storm a few years ago.

From Cnet yesterday:
"Amazon has a history of jumping into categories that're occupied by its partners, and today was no different. Appliance makers that worked to integrate Alexa into their products have to be giving Amazon's offering a critical, potentially worried, look. After the speakers were announced, Sonos' stock fell nearly 3 percent, to $13.94.

Amazon's stock, meanwhile, was up 1 percent, to $1,947.14, as everyone absorbed the sheer amount of products in its new lineup."

For a throwaway front end it is going to be hard to beat the new "Echo Input". Full price is $35 so I wonder what it will go for on Black Friday?

If I use an Echo Input for $35 plus an OSD XMP 100 amplifier for $100 and some existing speakers for $0 I can have a pretty decent sounding multi-room system for $135 per room with full Alexa features like phone calls that an "Alexa Enabled" product can't do. Depending on the legacy speakers I have around it might in fact sound quite a bit better than just decent.

I'd want to confirm that the echo input will be involved in Amazon's multi-room system. I would guess that it would work when hard wired to your amp, but not when connected through Bluetooth, which is probably just fine for most folks.

Would someone today desiring to make those already awesome caps smart, add a Connect or the Link? Or a Spot - Why the Link, leave alone the Connect, when the Spot is there with always visible artwork?

There are a lot of folks out there that do not want voice control for privacy or whatever reasons. There are also those that do not want to be limited to the streaming sources Amazon allows, or want to be able to play from a local library (although that market is small). It also would depend on what multiroom system they're currently invested in, or want to be invested in. You're point is very valid though as I would imagine that a lot of folks who would have leaned towards Sonos as a solution, or never really considered a multiroom/streaming option before, are now more likely to consider Amazon's options.


Also, I would not dismiss the Sub in a hurry. One needs to first see how a Echo pair+ Sub does, compared to a Sonos One pair, for about USD 150 less at a total of USD 250. Or, compared to a much more expensive HomePod pair.


Agreed that that's a big factor. But I also think people are going to look at other factors besides sound quality and price. And I'd look at the benefits of the entire system, not just the specific setup. Just as an example, if you want your HT theatre to be tied wireless and tied in to your multiroom system, then Amazon is perhaps at a disadvantage. All that said, I can't say with a ton of confidence really care about that too much or will really spend much effort considering the system too much.

I also think it's worth noting that a lot of these products are in actual competition with their partners. Sonos is just one example, as @Kumar's quote pointed out. I think that's partly because can use it's branding to make an easy buck. I'd also imagine that Amazon thinks they're partners are moving a little too slow and want to make sure they remain dominant with their voice assistant product. But I don't think the strategy comes without a cost. Their partners are going to remain, they don't have much chose these days. However, I wouldn't be too surprised if businesses might look to work with Google more, or even Apple. I wouldn't be too surprised to see companies like Google, Apple, Samsung, Walmart, etc trying to work together more as a necessity in preventing Amazon from being completely dominant. If you can start playing your Apple music through Google Home for example (and vice versa) that could push the sales of Google and Apple.

Would someone today desiring to make those already awesome caps smart, add a Connect or the Link? Or a Spot - Why the Link, leave alone the Connect, when the Spot is there with always visible artwork?

I agree the Spot is the ideal Alexa source component at the moment because it is the only Echo that combines a screen and line-out. We don't really know what the full feature set of the Link is going to be so it is hard to tell what might push somebody to that device... maybe the ability to switch amongst multiple physical inputs via voice? I guess we will have to wait and see. In the meantime I use Spots for each room where I want to use an amp and passive speakers except outside porches and the garage where I use Dots I got on sale (some as low as $10 in bundle deals) with the expectation that the harsher environment will inflict more wear and tear on them.

We don't really know what the full feature set of the Link is going to be so it is hard to tell what might push somebody to that device... maybe the ability to switch amongst multiple physical inputs via voice?

I don't quite get the Echo link. I mean, you can connect your echo do to your stereo system, a cost of $50 bucks, so why is this device $200? I get that it pairs with an echo, so you don't have to have your listening device placed next to your stereo system. I don't get the need for inputs though. I suppose so that your stereo system can always be 'listening' to alexa without having to switch your stereo system inputs. The link would do the switching for you. But then, why are they inputs not labeled as distinct inputs. Why does it appear like they are only looking at music sources, and not video...like a tv? What's the purpose of the giant dial? I'd guess volume control, but that seems a little odd. And if it's volume control, no remote to control volume as well?

The echo link amp makes more sense to me.

As far as I can tell, the Link is for those that have a power amp, to use as a voice controlled pre amp, to which one can also cast via Amazon cast. A very niche application, and I am surprised to see an Amazon product for it.

The BBC have picked up on this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-45596547/amazon-makes-alexa-controlled-microwave

As far as I can tell, the Link is for those that have a power amp, to use as a voice controlled pre amp, to which one can also cast via Amazon cast. A very niche application, and I am surprised to see an Amazon product for it.

But you could do that with the $50 echo dot (probably even echo input), and it doesn't explain why there are inputs on the Link.

For sure Sonos needs to move with new products and integrations.

But Amazon is Amazon....
How much privacy are we willing to give to Amazon for good and cheap hardware devices?

How much privacy are we willing to give to Amazon for good and cheap hardware devices?
I think that horse has bolted a long time ago, if one lives in a modern civilisation.