Design
Like most people, you probably prioritize the appearance of any tech in your home. The last thing you want is a device that sticks out like a sore thumb and looks tacky – especially when it’s an addition to the decor of an important room.
Well, you’ll be happy to know that the Echo Studio doesn’t disappoint in this department. The speaker is way bigger than most $200 speakers you’ll find on the market. The speaker is a rounded black cylinder measuring 8.1 inches tall and 6.9 inches across and weighing 7.7 pounds. However, it is not the standard size of a subwoofer. Nonetheless, it has open ports on the bottom for the downward-firing woofer that gives a subwoofer appearance.
The studio also features fabric wraps around the sides with cutouts in the front and back for the two bass ports. Furthermore, it has a black plastic ring at the top that holds the far-field microphone array and small buttons for volume up/down, mic mute, and Alexa.
3D Sound
The speaker features five different drivers behind the fabric grille cover arranged in different directions to provide Dolby Atmos compatible positional audio.
There’s the 5.25-inch woofer that fires downward from just above the bass ports, a one-inch tweeter that fires directly forward, and three two-inch midrange drivers that fire left, right, and upward.
Furthermore, the woofer provides the low-end, while the tweeter and three midrange drivers work together to create a sound field with more precise (and more vertical) imaging than a set of stereo speakers. All the drivers are driven by a peak total of 330 watts.
With its five drivers and 3D mixing, the Echo studio is doing some pretty amazing stuff with its sound. However, you shouldn’t expect the same quality of sound you’d get from an Atmos-compatible soundbar or surround system. Nonetheless, for its price, the Echo studio is an excellent option with modest but surprising directionality.
Furthermore, the Studio has a built-in Zigbee home automation hub that allows you to use the smart speaker to control compatible devices.
Performance Details
It’s hard to mistake the Echo Studio for rear satellites or subwoofers. However, it puts out a big, nuanced sound from such a small package. Besides, the speaker offers impressive stereo imaging and forward-facing verticality, giving you the impression of a pair of stereo speakers with additional upward-firing drivers.
Furthermore, at high volumes, the speaker fills the room easily, giving you the exciting thunder of guitar strums and drumrolls you may be seeking from a speaker.
