Best Alexa speakers
Smart speakers are everywhere and Amazon is one of the big three competitors with skin in the game. Not only does the company have a line of proprietary smart speakers, but there are also plenty of great third-party options. Read on to learn about which is the best Alexa speaker for you.
The Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen) is the best Alexa speaker
The Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen) is a speaker first, smart product second. Audio quality is excellent, relative to previous Echo generations. Despite its small stature, the speaker pumps out music at loud volumes; though, if you want to host a party, you’ll benefit from picking up another and pairing them together.
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen)
The cylindrical smart speaker emits 360° sound, and if you want to make it a bit more bass-heavy or bring out vocals, you can make EQ adjustments via the Alexa app. Of course, if you really want to amplify the bass, an investment in the Amazon Echo Sub may be in order.
Just like previous models, you can control your favorite streaming services and other smart home devices all with your voice. The Echo Plus (gen 2) doubles as a Zigbee hub, saving you money so you don’t have to purchase a separate and external hub. This way, you may control a variety of smart products and execute skills. Need to turn off the lights in one room, lock the doors, or turn up the heat to thaw out from the winter chill? With the latest Amazon Echo Plus, you can do it all with your voice. For anyone concerned about privacy, the Echo Plus has a mute toggle. Suffice to say, you get plenty of bang-for-your-buck with this Amazon Alexa speaker.
Related: Amazon Echo vs. Dot, Show, and the rest—which is right for you?
What you should know about the best Alexa-enabled speaker
We happen to have a comprehensive rundown of what to look for in a great smart speaker, but if you’re working with a tight time budget, here are the key points to keep in mind when picking out the best Alexa speaker.
Wireless streaming and Bluetooth quality
More and more speakers support Wi-Fi integration, which allows for high-quality streaming over an 802.11b/g, 2.4GHz connection. Wi-Fi integration is useful as it lets you stream over an array of music services for more reliable connectivity and 24bit/96kHz audio.
Although Bluetooth audio can’t outperform wired listening, it can be improved with certain codecs. AAC and aptX are commonly supported by higher end headphones and speakers. The former works best with iOS devices while the latter is great for Android users; both facilitate perceptibly lag-free streaming. If you’re using a speaker that supports AAC, be aware that audio quality varies greatly with Android devices.
Alexa integration affords a wide array of skills
Amazon Alexa supports over 70,000 skills when taking into account the wide scope of the Alexa ecosystem. While this means that your smart speaker is capable of nearly anything, it can get overwhelming. Android Authority has an excellent guide on all things Alexa, but we’ll share a broad overview of commands with you. Alexa can answer general queries, play and control music, find restaurants, create to-do lists, and make purchases via your Amazon account.
Even the best Alexa speaker may have its issues
Yes, unfortunately, the best Alexa speakers aren’t free from technical issues. Often, Alexa can’t immediately locate compatible devices. One of the most common issues is that Alexa activates without being prompted. Fortunately, if this is an issue, you can always change the wake word from “Alexa” to “Amazon,” “Echo,” or “Computer.”
Even the best Alexa speaker isn’t perfect; luckily issues are fairly easy to remedy.
Another salient and frustrating issue with smart speakers in general is fickle connectivity. This is something, I’ve experienced all too often: my Wi-Fi is working perfectly and for some unknown reason, my Sonos speaker just stops playing music because of an apparently lost signal. Normally, connectivity resolves itself just moments later. Regardless, it’s an annoying occurrence, especially since many of the best Alexa speakers are rather expensive.
Related: Amazon Alexa problems—How to solve the most common ones
New to the world of smart speakers? Get the Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon’s Echo Dot takes on a different philosophy: this is for users who prioritize smart home control over audio quality. That’s not to say the Dot sounds inherently bad, but it can’t hold a candle to the larger, pricier Echo Plus or even the standard Echo (3rd gen).
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen)
The fabric covering keeps the speaker from looking too Blade Runner-esque, and its small footprint makes it easy to place in nearly any room. The Amazon Echo Dot is the smart speaker for the every-person. If you’re typically intimidated by technology, fear not: the Echo Dot is a plug-and-play device that streams high-quality audio over your home Wi-Fi. You can also use the Echo Dot to make hands-free calls, or use it as a home P.A. system to announce dinner.
The only thing to keep in mind with the Echo Dot is that, despite its portable design, it requires external power to function.
Home audio enthusiasts should get the Sonos Beam soundbar
One of the most competitive smart speaker companies is Sonos and its Beam soundbar merits its place as a best Alexa speaker. The presence of physical buttons seems quaint seeing as most listeners will end up relying on Alexa to skip tracks or adjust the volume; however, the option is appreciated.
Sonos Beam
Beneath the grill are four drivers, a tweeter, three passive radiators, and five class D amplifiers. The radiators rest toward each end of the bar, which helps create a more enveloping sound. You can connect it to other Sonos products to sync up music playback. It supports AirPlay along with Amazon services, giving you the liberty to choose how to listen. As far as playback is concerned, the Sonos Beam supports PCM stereo, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital 5.1.
The soundbar includes five far-field microphones, so the Beam should register commands even if you’re across the room. If you’re feeling suspicious, you can always mute the microphones.
On the back is an optical and HDMI ARC input; the latter reduces cable clutter and grants the Beam permission to control your TV, so long as it’s CEC-supported. iPhone users can use the company’s Trueplay app to calibrate playback according to the room. Although the Sonos Beam is one of the more expensive of the best Alexa speakers, it’s an easy solution for home audio.
The Bose Home Speaker 300 looks and sounds great
If you’re looking for a sophisticated smart speaker, your search ends with the Bose Home Speaker 300. Just like Amazon-branded speakers, this too emits 360° audio, so you can hear your music from anywhere in the room. The six-microphone array works with your voice to access Alexa or Google Assistant, and you’re afforded four streaming options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and an auxiliary 3.5mm input.
Bose Home Speaker 300
On the off-chance you’ve developed laryngitis and are rendered unable to speak to the Bose Home Speaker, you can use the on-board touch controls resting atop the housing. If you want a multiroom experience, the Home Speaker 300 may easily be paired to other Bose Home speakers via Bose SympleSync. A huge drawback to this speaker is that it can’t be used as a hub to control your other smart devices.
If you want an all-in-one solution for that, scroll back up to the Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen).
Get smart, sound good with the Marshall Stanmore II Voice
The Marshall Stanmore II Voice features the classic vinyl design and reproduces excellent sound quality, something we’ve come to expect from the renowned amplifier company. Its bass-reflex system mitigates auditory masking and produces clear bass frequencies. What’s more, EQ-ing your music can be done within the Marshall Voice app or analog brass controls protruding from the top panel.
Marshall Stanmore II with Alexa
It houses a 50W Class D amplifier and two 15W Class D tweeters for impeccable sound quality. In order to use it, the Marshall Stanmore II with Alexa must be plugged into an outlet, which may be a bummer for some. However, if you want something truly portable, check out the Marshall Kilburn II.
Aside from audio quality, this earned the title of best Alexa speaker due to its far-field, dual-microphone array that effectively registers commands. Accuracy will decline in loud rooms, but more often than not it should still pick up your voice. What’s more, there’s a myriad of connectivity options. You can choose between Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm input, or RCA input. If you want the best wireless quality, make sure to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
You may like the Marshall Stanmore review
Notable mentions
The Sonos One could be crowned the best Alexa speaker but is just edged out by the Echo for its more affordable price.
- Sonos One: This small smart speaker provides clear sound quality at loud volumes and connects to other Sonos speakers for multiroom listening. It also supports Apple AirPlay 2.
- UE Megablast: You can go all day with this speaker since it has a 16-hour battery life. Not only will it work for the majority of the day, but it’s durable too with an IP67 rating to prove it.
- Libratone Zipp 2: This portable smart speaker is for listeners who want Alexa integration and AirPlay 2 support from a single device.
- Polk Command Bar: This is a slightly cheaper alternative to the Sonos Beam. It includes a subwoofer and is outfitted with an HDMI ARC input.
Why you should trust us
Aside from picking out the best Alexa speaker, we push products to their limits.
SoundGuys is a waypoint for those interested in audio. Whether you’re a veteran audiophile or a weekend enthusiast, our writers have a feature, review, or best list for you. Ultimately, we serve to educate our readers on the inner-workings of audio by making the abstract concrete.
We understand that audio is both objective and subjective, hence why we value objective and hands-on testing. If you’re curious and have a moment, we implore you to read the SoundGuys ethics policy.
