Amazon Echo (newest model), Alexa speaker with premium sound, Ideal for large bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens, CharcoalReducing CO2

This is an honest review and comparison of the new 4th Generation Echo (not Dot) vs. the 2nd Generation Echo Plus (the last Echo Plus that was launched with the 3td Generation Echo).I actually purchased two 4th Gen Echoes to create a Home Theater Group with the FireTV Stick 4k latest variant. I'll include notes about that as well.Sound Quality Pros: I really enjoy music from different genres and I like to tinker with equalizer settings so that I get the fullest sound out of even a cheap speaker. I also like when a speaker(s) can pull double duty as a surround sound system for my television as well. That's what attracted me to the new Echoes.Regarding music streaming from Amazon Music HD, I must say the sound is really smooth and crisp. I adjusted the equalizer settings for the individual devices in the Alexa app to boost the mid most, followed closely by the treble and a moderate bass setting (if they are paired in a stereo pair or Home Theater, adjusting one device automatically adjusts the other). I have my Echoes placed about 12 feet away in front of my primary seating spot on the sofa and the are spaced about 8 feet apart flanking the television. They are situated about 4 feet off the ground on book shelves. This positioning has been perfect for the accoustics in my 15x18 living room with tall ceilings. The speakers really fill up the space. And I am most impressed with how the sound bounces off of the walls and truly feel as if it surrounds me and immerses my eardrums into it.This holds even more true for when I watch a movie with the Dolby Atmos setting on. I can hear the channels fairly well and it really seems like I own my own private movie theater in my living room. There's been times that there's a sound affect so specific to one channel and reproduced so clearly that I've actually muted the show thinking that I was hearing some noise from outside or in the hallway of my apartment building.These two devices together get pretty loud without any noticeable distortion. Now I haven't played much bass heavy music but I do love action and sci-fi movies that are sound effect laden and peppered with bass booming explosions etc. The new 4th Gen Echoes keep up very nicely.In contrast, though I thought I really loved the Echo Plus 2nd Gen, I now find that I really can't enjoy music or movies as much on it. I think that this is because the main speaker fires downward and the rest of the sound is omni directional. This sounds good on paper but in practice, at least for my uses, that type of speaker just seems muffled and really a waste of sound waves. Let me explain. How often to you place the Echo device in the center of a room to benefit from an omni-directional speaker? Most people don't have floor outlets under their coffee tables so it sits on an end table or bookshelf. It's usual home in a bedroom is on the end table. Even in a kitchen, unless placed on the island, the Echo rests with it's back to a wall. So, why then, would you want (let's say) 40% of the sound waves to be directed to a big slab with no ears to appreciate it?The directional sound setup of the new Echo 4th Gen is ideal, really, for it's positioning in most homes. Sound is really diminished if you are behind it or immediately to it's side but comes barrelling at your ear drums when you are any angle in front of it. It's louder, more clear, and much more advanced when it comes to being able to utilize Dolby Atmos playback. I definitely choose the 4th gen over the 2nd Gen Plus any day. I almost feel bad for unloading the Plus onto my parents when I bought the 4th Gen. I'll upgrade them this Christmas. Lol.The omni-directional speaker would be a benefit if it were placed in the center of a patio for a gathering or party, but again, where's your outlets? Not in the middle of the concrete or deck floor. So chances are, even on the patio, it will be placed backing up to an exterior wall. So the myth of the omni-directional speaker advantage is busted in my book.Voice Recognition:At first, I felt there was a noticeable difference with the Plus having the upper hand when I comes to summoning Alexa. However, I believe there have been some fairly large software updates recently that included fine tuning adjustments to the mics on the 4th Gen devices. They now clearly pick up my questions or commands from across the room and quickly cancel out the other Echo Dot I have on the far side open floor plan nearest the kitchen. Before, with the Plus, it was a toss up as to which one would respond because I firmly believe the best mics are still on the Echo Dot 3rd Gen with clock variant. Hands down. If only the echo show 5 in my bedroom would be even half as good, I'd be happy ( that unit is by far the worst with just 2 lack luster mics vs the 4 on the Dot and Plus).Alexa is also quicker to respond on the 4th Gen too. Now that's a combination of the 450-ish gbps internet speed I am fortunate enough to have but I understand it's also due to a better processor and improved software.And let me just say one thing... I don't know anyone who buys their smart home devices with Zigbee compatibility being the #1 consideration. Who cares? I have bought the best reviewed for the price smart bulbs, TV, and plugs etc not giving a thought to Zigbee because the latest generation smart devices don't require a hub.All of my smart home devices work just fine by enabling the skill on the Alexa app with that of the manufacturer's chosen app and linking the accounts. The biggest issue I have is trying to remember what I named each lamp and group to turn on and off the lights. First world problems, I know.For what it's worth, the big 3 smart home apps which seems to be used by these el cheapo devices are Kasa, Govee, and Smart Life. I have devices on all three and the Alexa integration is seemless. Except the darn ceiling fan speed control. Still haven't completely figured that one out entirely.Setting up the devices and Grouping:Both the Echo Plus and 4th Gens are very easy to set up initially. The Alexa app, though not entirely user friendly regarding the UI, does all the work and guides you through the process fairly quickly. The oddball thing that's a bit more challenging is knowing what the difference is between a stereo pair, a home theater and a speaker group.First, a stereo pair must be two identical models (I believe an Echo Sub woofer can be added as the one off) and the pairing is only for music streaming. Only one Echo will respond at a time when you are conversationally interacting with Alexa.In a Home Theater grouping, one or more Echo devices of the same model can be joined with a FireTV device such as the Stick 4k. A sub can also be added. The crummy part at first, is that you can't include your existing sound bar into this Home Theater Group. Amazon devices only, folks. So you must choose which you want to listen to.Now, I'm not horribly disappointed because the sound quality of the two 4th Gens on each side of the TV is really great so the sound bar isn't needed but I hate the thought of the wasted money sitting 32 inches wide in front of me producing no sound at all.IF, you have a smart TV like a Vizio, there is a way to activate the sound bar and have the Amazon Home Theater working at the same time. And here it is: the sound bar must be hooked up to an optical cable and the audio setting on the TV must be set to PCM not automatic. Auto defaults to whatever device you are streaming on ie a FireTV Stick. Then, while playing your FireTV Stick, choose the Home Theater as your audio source on the Fire TV menu. So in essence, the TV thinks it must send sound to the sound bar only while the Stick thinks it should be using the Home Theater. Through whatever glitch, I now have all three speakers working in tandem. BUT ONLY while using the FireTV device. It does not work if I am using the smart TV streaming apps from the Vizio home screen. Which I don't do anymore except for a couple things that are not found on the Amazon App store.FYI, I don't believe that the Fire Edition Insignia and Toshiba televisions sold here and at Best Buy have the capability to set up the Home Theater function with the Alexa app.Finally, a speaker group is the best way to get unlike models to sync with each other to play music. However, there's a catch... You must ask for that group's every time at the end of your request to play music etc.Meaning, with the stereo pair and home theater, music and movies are automatically played through those selected speakers by means of the Alexa app. You would simply make the standard request for Alexa to play a song or album with no extra added specification. But remember, you're limited to only pairing the same models together for this to work like that.Now, with a speaker group, you can include your Echoes, Dots, Shows, Spots, Inputs, FireTVs, Tablets etc etc into that group and have them all going at the same time through out your home, so long as you name this all-Echo inclusive group something like "Every where" or "all speakers" or "whole house". Be creative :) "Echo Symphonic Orchestra", "Live from the Love Shack", or "on all decks of the Enterprise" (you can even call your individual room groupings for lights and sounds things like " the Bridge" -Living Room, "Ship's Galley" -Kitchen, "Ten Forward" - dining or rec room, "Shuttle Bay Two"-garage, " Engineering"-utility room/basement, and "Captain's Quarters"-master bedroom, "Risa" -backyard patio). Lol. Alexa groups can be named whatever you want! I digress though....The point is you have to tell Alexa to play music AND include the name of the speaker group everytime or else music will just play from the device you speak into. Ex: "Alexa play the song Starships on all decks of the Enterprise" or (boring) "Alexa, play Mr. Robot-o, everywhere" or "Play a lullaby in the dirty diaper factory (nursry)". Get it?! I can sense your mind is starting to ignite like a solid rocket booster, now.I really hope this helps someone. I know it's been a learning curve for me. And not always a lot of fun. Just wait til you first start exploring how to build your own custom routines or then decide to relocate devices into different rooms as you upgrade with new ones. It can be a labor of love...or regret.Bottom line, if you are looking to upgrade but aren't entirely sure, try out the new Echo 4th Gen (especially in a pair for a Home Theater) and decide within 30 days if you really like them. Definitely explore the Alexa app and routines. And commit to replacing at least one bulb in each room with a color changing LED smart bulb to experience the fun you can have with this device. Also, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what many people say is a drawback about being a directional speaker is really a benefit for most user's needs, including yours.Some people will find fault in anything and some will find that they can't have everything to their exact liking. There's not a perfect smart speaker out there, so figure out what you must have features are, your nice to haves, and your deal breakers are and make the choice.Regardless, enjoy these little glimpses of the future. Heck, they're even spherical shaped just like what the future devices and ships looked like in 2001: A Space Odyssey and Space Balls or a Borg scout ship, even. You gotta think that's at least a nice nod for sci-fi fans everywhere. Or if you are a devotee of mod design or simply a believer in form following function, then this ball of joy is sure to please. So, enjoy your new Echo; It's outta this world!-Picard, out. Hailing frequencies closed.

We have purchased FOUR of the little Echo DOTS (a couple 4th gen & a couple 5th gen), and have been very pleased with them, enjoying them very much.Yet I have *always* wanted & wished for this "big one" for sooo long!Even when they've gone on sale at tremendous discounts for Prime Days and such, the money just simply wasn't there to make the purchase.Besides, I always sort of just thought to myself, "How much better could the full size Echo really BE, anyway?" (Probably just trying to make myself feel better about *not* being able to afford this big boy, lol).I finally took the plunge, purchasing this as an xmas gift for MYSELF. 😁And, WELL!!!..... Please allow me to share with you,....the sound quality is **WORLDS** better!And yes, such a statement would seem self-evident, just due to the simple fact that it IS so much larger than the Dots, so I *did* expect there to be an obvious *difference* in sound quality and "loudness", but ohhhh myyyy GAW!!!Having to wait until the kids and all were asleep before busting this out and setting it up (lest someone be tempted by a bright idea of thinking they'd try to snag this baby from me, lol!), so therefore, it wasn't possible to take her for a REAL test drive at the volumes I'd have preferred, 😆, AND without changing any of the EQ or other sound preference options and settings, I asked her to play Given Up by Linkin Park, and the instant the song started, the sound superiority over the Dot was immediately obvious, but THEN, when that song kicks in after the initial build-up, HOLY MIND-BLOWN, BATMAN!!Even at a "normal" level, (being unable to turn the volume way up, as I really wanted to be able to do, lest I risk waking the beasts, HaHa), the BASS, the CLARITY, the FULLNESS of the sound, and just the OVERALL sound and *FEEL* of this full-size Echo slapped THE BIGGEST smile across my face instantly!!!With the Echo Dots, you can *listen* to music, but with this full-sized Echo, you are IMMERSED in and EXPERIENCE your music!!!Alexa does, of course, have myriad abilities and uses, and there is so much more that Alexa can do, in general, although I've not yet even taken the time to check out any of the other features and abilities to use/experience through this Echo, but for me personally, I just wanted this purely for playing music, anyway.Again, just the "direct, out of the box" settings, sound and quality are AMAZING, but I'm excited to be able to sit down and really test out the EQ and other personalized options to tweak the sound & performance.If there is anyone out there who, like me, has debated if it's "worth it", or has wondered how much of a difference there really IS between the Echo and the Echo Dot, it's almost a night & day difference!She's probably about 2½ times larger than the Dots, give or take, VERY heavy and appears to be incredibly high quality and well made, plus, setup was a BREEZE!With the Dots, it was always just a bit of a process to go through the steps to get them set up, connected (to wifi *and* Bluetooth pairing with phones and such), therefore, I was expecting the same; at least a *somewhat* slight, time-consuming pain in the rear, but Nope!With this full-sized Echo, I simply plugged it in, opened the Alexa app, and with just a very few simple clicks on the "buttons" that automatically popped up, it was DONE! Setup took *maybe* a whooping 30-60 seconds!Not sure why that is, or why there'd be such a tremendous difference in the length of time *and* multiple steps it *always* took to get the Dots fully connected, paired, set up and working (e.g. "hold this button down for 'this' long until the ring of color around the bottom turns 'this' color, and then do x, y & z when it turns 'that' color, etc.) vs. this Echo, but as previously stated, in under a minute, we were fully connected, up and running and off to the races with this fella!And, after seeing just how much larger and *heavier* this Echo is compared to the Dots, and wanting to protect it (and the financial investment), I immediately went back to Amazon and ordered a "stand"/shelf which screws into the wall and upon which the Echo itself will screw onto (so it can't get knocked off).I know this has been a long-winded review, lol, but I'm just SO happy with and excited *about* this purchase, and cannot recommend this item strongly enough!The ONLY thing I'd change if I could is the color; I wish the Echos were offered in the same colors as the Dots, as I'd much prefer that really pretty deep sea blue color offered in the 5th Gen Dots vs this very pale blue, (and I saw someone in the reviews who got a RED one, which would be super rad!), but all-in-all, the color isn't really a big deal.So again, for any fence-sitters who may possibly be debating the purchase of this Echo, be it for yourself or as a gift, I wholeheartedly recommend it! 🤗(I'm trying to add photos of a really good side-by-side size comparison of the Echo & Echo Dot, but it's not letting me. Will try to add pics to this review at a later time, I guess).