Amazon Echo... worthwhile?

BrennanF30 · 01-29-2017, 04:53 PM

Got one for Christmas, put it in the kitchen, it was nice had the Christmas songs playing on it over the holidays and asking it stuff had a great novelty, a few weeks on I haven't used it since..

Steve_M_Sport · 01-30-2017, 07:17 AM

A funny thing to ask Alexa is what is pi ? She goes on & on until you have to tell her to stop !

teaston · 05-21-2019, 01:14 PM

So, two years on do we think Alexa is worthwhile yet?

I've just seen the the Dot 3rd Gen is down to £30 on Amazon so wondering whether to make a purchase!

JustChris · 05-21-2019, 03:05 PM

I have the Sonos One which as you know is a better speaker Amazon I guess. Absolutely love them. Have 2 and 2 standard plays covering the house.

I don't do any fancy crap on them, just ask it to play music. Confining this with our Prime account feels good value.

Broncho · 05-21-2019, 03:30 PM

We have 3 and use them all, one is my little lads and he uses his more than I use mine being honest.

It’s great for just shouting at it to play a playlist or station you just fancy it the time, we have one in the bedroom and I have it on when getting ready or in the shower and so on.

You need to get it to say 100 in Welsh few times as well

dopper99 · 05-21-2019, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

So, two years on do we think Alexa is worthwhile yet?

I've just seen the the Dot 3rd Gen is down to £30 on Amazon so wondering whether to make a purchase!

Depends what you want it for. It won’t sound as good as the full size Echo for music.
If you want it for music get the bigger one.

teaston · 05-21-2019, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopper99

Depends what you want it for. It won’t sound as good as the full size Echo for music.
If you want it for music get the bigger one.

I think I’d probably connect it to my lounge AV receiver, I guess that’s a viable option?

Scoobyd · 05-21-2019, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broncho

You need to get it to say 100 in Welsh few times as well

Haha yes!

If anyone hasn’t tried “Alexa, what is 100, 100, 100, 100, 100 in Welsh?” yet I’d recommend they do

SkyJawa · 05-22-2019, 01:51 AM

We have a dot in the kitchen and 2xecho plus and an echo sub linked together in the lounge, since getting the latter use it a lot more especially for music and radio etc, the sound quality is very good, maybe not top class but not far behind and cheaper than other options as if you buy together you effectively get the sub fee.

Tengocity · 05-22-2019, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopper99

Depends what you want it for. It won’t sound as good as the full size Echo for music.
If you want it for music get the bigger one.

I think I’d probably connect it to my lounge AV receiver, I guess that’s a viable option?

Yes. We've got 2 standard ones and 2 dots, with the dots connected to amplifiers so that I can play amazon music on a decent stereo in the lounge and in my man cave room. Works brilliantly and a bit of a no brainer if you've got amazon prime already.

teaston · 05-22-2019, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopper99

Depends what you want it for. It won't sound as good as the full size Echo for music.
If you want it for music get the bigger one.

I think I'd probably connect it to my lounge AV receiver, I guess that's a viable option?

Yes. We've got 2 standard ones and 2 dots, with the dots connected to amplifiers so that I can play amazon music on a decent stereo in the lounge and in my man cave room. Works brilliantly and a bit of a no brainer if you've got amazon prime already.

Ok cool, for £30 I might as well then as we do have Amazon prime, and I see it also works with Spotify which I use a lot.

S111SYA · 05-22-2019, 03:22 AM

Do you need one no, are they useful? yes, should you get one/some? probably.

The only thing I would say is that if you don't have some of the gadgets to go with them make sure you get some. A lot of the appeal to me was not just getting it to play music or answer questions it was making it do things. I found it quite addictive and just ended up ordering lots of things that went with it.

Its ends up not just being the cost of the unit itself but the cost of the gadgets that make it worthwhile in the first place.

aquazi · 05-22-2019, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Ok cool, for £30 I might as well then as we do have Amazon prime, and I see it also works with Spotify which I use a lot.

You need spotify premium for it to work.. but i find it works well with Spotify.

Slightly cheaper going for this deal (£16 for a DOT)- https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=dmm_dot?node=16485299031

I have a couple echo dots, and an echo input for my Denon Amp... which works well.

RustyBitz · 05-22-2019, 02:47 PM

Currently a promo if you sign up for amazon music unlimited family plan you get an echo for 0.99p.

Lots of new features coming out soon for echo. That's all I'm saying

teaston · 05-22-2019, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquazi

You need spotify premium for it to work.. but i find it works well with Spotify.

Slightly cheaper going for this deal (£16 for a DOT)- https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=dmm_dot?node=16485299031

I have a couple echo dots, and an echo input for my Denon Amp... which works well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

Currently a promo if you sign up for amazon music unlimited family plan you get an echo for 0.99p.

Lots of new features coming out soon for echo. That's all I'm saying

That is a good deal! For £14 extra I’ll avoid the hoops that need to be jumped through though.

teaston · 05-23-2019, 04:16 PM

Well I’ve been playing with the Echo Dot tonight and it is INCREDIBLE!

This is really one of those realisations moments that I’ve been going without something so cool and genuinely useful! Imo they would be a no brainer for £130, but at £30 it is just ridiculous not to have one.

I can’t get it to connect to Bluetooth on my Pioneer AV receiver though so currently just got it on the table next to sofa, might just leave it there as the sound quality is a actually really good and I can crank the music up with our daughters bedroom above anyway.

Controlling our Nest heating by voice is just brilliant!

Broncho · 05-23-2019, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Well I’ve been playing with the Echo Dot tonight and it is INCREDIBLE!

This is really one of those realisations moments that I’ve been going without something so cool and genuinely useful! Imo they would be a no brainer for £130, but at £30 it is just ridiculous not to have one.

I can’t get it to connect to Bluetooth on my Pioneer AV receiver though so currently just got it on the table next to sofa, might just leave it there as the sound quality is a actually really good and I can crank the music up with our daughters bedroom above anyway.

Controlling our Neat heating by voice is just brilliant!

The are great, I have my dot connected to my Bose and it’s a superb until it shows its limitations when the music is so loud the device can’t hear you

A bit like the Mrs!

They’re a very nice device to have that don’t cost the earth.

teaston · 05-23-2019, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broncho

The are great, I have my dot connected to my Bose and it’s a superb until it shows its limitations when the music is so loud the device can’t hear you

A bit like the Mrs!

They’re a very nice device to have that don’t cost the earth.

I’m already considering getting another one to create a stereo pair, or a full Echo, or even an Echo plus!

teaston · 05-23-2019, 06:22 PM

Managed to get it to connect to my AV receiver via Bluetooth, awesome! No need for a bigger echo now.

aquazi · 05-24-2019, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Managed to get it to connect to my AV receiver via Bluetooth, awesome! No need for a bigger echo now.

I found the echo input better for getting it to connect to an amp - and its only £19!

teaston · 05-24-2019, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquazi

I found the echo input better for getting it to connect to an amp - and its only £19!

Yeah I only just saw them last night, but it’s nice to have the speaker in the dot, I think that’s probably how I’ll use it 90% of the time.

RustyBitz · 05-24-2019, 03:50 AM

The first Echo device optimised for hi-fi stereo. Echo Link's DAC delivers premium audio quality. Supports sampling rates (44.1-96.0 kHz) over digital inputs.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Echo-Link/d...ustomerReviews

01-30-2017, 07:17 AM	#24
Steve_M_Sport Lieutenant Colonel 614 Rep 1,799 Posts Drives: U06 230e Active Tourer Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Leicestershire iTrader: (0)	A funny thing to ask Alexa is what is pi ? She goes on & on until you have to tell her to stop ! __________________ U06 230e Active Tourer \| Previous : 2019 F31 340i : 2017 F31 335D M-Sport
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05-21-2019, 01:14 PM	#25
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	So, two years on do we think Alexa is worthwhile yet? I've just seen the the Dot 3rd Gen is down to £30 on Amazon so wondering whether to make a purchase!
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05-21-2019, 03:05 PM	#26
JustChris General 17488 Rep 25,112 Posts Drives: Tesla MYRWD Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I have the Sonos One which as you know is a better speaker Amazon I guess. Absolutely love them. Have 2 and 2 standard plays covering the house. I don't do any fancy crap on them, just ask it to play music. Confining this with our Prime account feels good value. __________________ My car made front page of Bimmerpost
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05-21-2019, 03:30 PM	#27
Broncho Banned 2311 Rep 5,101 Posts Drives: Chav white Mercedes Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Rainhill iTrader: (0)	We have 3 and use them all, one is my little lads and he uses his more than I use mine being honest. It’s great for just shouting at it to play a playlist or station you just fancy it the time, we have one in the bedroom and I have it on when getting ready or in the shower and so on. You need to get it to say 100 in Welsh few times as well
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05-22-2019, 01:51 AM	#31
SkyJawa Major General 3719 Rep 8,636 Posts Drives: F10 530d Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (1)	We have a dot in the kitchen and 2xecho plus and an echo sub linked together in the lounge, since getting the latter use it a lot more especially for music and radio etc, the sound quality is very good, maybe not top class but not far behind and cheaper than other options as if you buy together you effectively get the sub fee.
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05-22-2019, 03:22 AM	#34
S111SYA Private First Class 85 Rep 105 Posts Drives: F30 320dM Sport Shadow Edition Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	Do you need one no, are they useful? yes, should you get one/some? probably. The only thing I would say is that if you don't have some of the gadgets to go with them make sure you get some. A lot of the appeal to me was not just getting it to play music or answer questions it was making it do things. I found it quite addictive and just ended up ordering lots of things that went with it. Its ends up not just being the cost of the unit itself but the cost of the gadgets that make it worthwhile in the first place.
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05-22-2019, 02:47 PM	#36
RustyBitz Colonel 1574 Rep 2,157 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: May 2017 Location: Cheshire Cat iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3M Compet ... [0.00]	Currently a promo if you sign up for amazon music unlimited family plan you get an echo for 0.99p. Lots of new features coming out soon for echo. That's all I'm saying __________________ CURRENT X3M Competition- Toronto Red [url=https://www.deutschespeed.com/threads/the-bimmerpost-refugee-thread.561/]Car[/url]
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05-23-2019, 04:16 PM	#38
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	Well I’ve been playing with the Echo Dot tonight and it is INCREDIBLE! This is really one of those realisations moments that I’ve been going without something so cool and genuinely useful! Imo they would be a no brainer for £130, but at £30 it is just ridiculous not to have one. I can’t get it to connect to Bluetooth on my Pioneer AV receiver though so currently just got it on the table next to sofa, might just leave it there as the sound quality is a actually really good and I can crank the music up with our daughters bedroom above anyway. Controlling our Nest heating by voice is just brilliant! Last edited by teaston; 05-23-2019 at 04:34 PM..
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05-23-2019, 06:22 PM	#41
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	Managed to get it to connect to my AV receiver via Bluetooth, awesome! No need for a bigger echo now.
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05-24-2019, 03:50 AM	#44
RustyBitz Colonel 1574 Rep 2,157 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: May 2017 Location: Cheshire Cat iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3M Compet ... [0.00]	The first Echo device optimised for hi-fi stereo. Echo Link's DAC delivers premium audio quality. Supports sampling rates (44.1-96.0 kHz) over digital inputs. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Echo-Link/d...ustomerReviews __________________ CURRENT X3M Competition- Toronto Red [url=https://www.deutschespeed.com/threads/the-bimmerpost-refugee-thread.561/]Car[/url]
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