Echo (2nd Generation) Bluetooth Speaker Review

Review of Echo (2nd Generation) Bluetooth Speaker

9.5

Our Score

full-star full-star full-star full-star half_star

Average User Rating

Visit Store
Advertiser Disclosure

Echo (2nd Generation) Ranking

Our Score

9.5

Average User Rating rating rating rating rating rating

Visit Store

Amazon Echo (2nd Generation) Bluetooth Speaker Review

Reviewed by: top 10 wireless speakers team
Jan. 1 2019

Many Bluetooth speakers are available in different sizes, shapes, and colors. They also differ by the sound quality and other features. How does the Amazon Echo (2nd Generation) compare to the competition? Read on for the full review of this portable speaker.

Visit Store

How We Decided

1890

Consumer Reviews

11

Researched Review Sites

897

Hours Researched

5

Team Members

Visit Store

Echo 2nd Generation: Top 3 Features

Amazon’s newer Echo offers:

  • Smart Alexa technology
  • Crisper sound than original
  • Multi-room audio

Benefits of Alexa with the Echo Gen 2

Amazon connects the Echo speaker to the Alexa app to make it easy to do many activities. Put on music, ask questions, integrate it with at-home devices, and more. You can even call people using Alexa with voice command.

Not sure what questions to ask Alexa? It could be anything from the weather forecast to the name of the latest song from Bon Jovi. You can even order dinner via voice command. Smart home devices that can connect via the speaker include lights and thermostats. Hands-free calling is great when your hands are full, or you’re on the move within the house. This convenient speakerphone experience is also available with the JBL Xtreme.

Activating Alexa is as easy as clicking the button on the top of the Echo (Second Generation) Bluetooth Speaker. If you don’t want to use the voice-activated app then simply mute the microphone via the other button on the top. For WiFi, it works with both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. You can also stream audio from your mobile device to Echo or from Echo to the speaker.

Lastly, this smart speaker is portable. It measures 5.8 inches x 3.4 inches by 3.4 inches. Easily move it from room to room within your house whenever you want.

Does the Echo sound like a good fit for you? See what else buyers have to say

See Buyer Reviews

Amazon Echo Gen 1 vs. Gen 2: Pros & Cons

By now you’re likely wondering how the second generation is a step up from the original Echo. The Gen 2 smart speaker is as good looking as the first one. While it is still cylinder in shape, it is shorter and has a cloth cover that protects against fingerprints. The great thing about being a cylinder is that the speaker offers 360 degrees of music; you don’t have to move it a certain way to hear audio. The fabric cover comes in different colors too so that you can customize it to your home décor.

A great upgrade Amazon made with the Gen 2 is the Dolby speaker technology. If you like your music loud, it will still be crisp for vocals and have good bass when you want it with an integrated 2.5-inch woofer. The sound is sharper than the original model, as per some online reviews, while other users write that the quality is still not excellent. In our opinion, getting Dolby technology at an affordable price for this Bluetooth speaker is impressive, and Dolby is a reputable name. Plus, the use of the speaker with hands-free commands likely makes it worth the price tag for most people. The Gen 2 Echo Bluetooth speaker has a 0.6-inch tweeter too for close-to-flawless treble.


Amazon is phasing out the original Echo; only the second-generation model is available new. As for the price comparison, interestingly this Gen 2 Bluetooth speaker is less expensive than the original one was when it released new.

Both Echo models are corded. We recognize that some users may like battery powered devices more than chorded ones. But we also see the positive point here that there’s no battery to drain and have to replace or recharge over time.

What Makes the Echo (2nd Generation) Different?

Another elevated feature the original portable speaker didn’t have is the multi-room audio. What does this mean? You can now listen to one song in the bedroom, for example, while someone else at home plays a different song in the laundry room.

If you are a household that wants to share the Amazon Echo Gen 2, then you’ll likely enjoy this feature. Also great is that the new Echo provides the ability to send text messages via Alexa, in addition to hands-free calling. And the Echo 2nd Generation has seven microphones, making it easy for the Bluetooth speaker to hear you from whatever direction you are at while speaking to it and even with a song playing at the same time.

Speaking of music, this portable speaker works with Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Music and others. And if listening to tunes isn’t high on your list of priorities, other audios you can access include news briefs and Amazon audiobooks. Turn the volume up or down with ease by pressing the dedicated buttons at the speaker’s top.

Final Words on Amazon’s Echo (2nd Generation) Bluetooth Speaker

If you’re looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that is affordable and provides quality sound, including good bass, Amazon’s Echo Second Generation may be right for you. While it’s not waterproof, it does integrate with the Alexa app for hands-free commands that make your daily life easier. It’s a step up from the original Echo with features such as multi-room audio, is attractive, and has Bluetooth connectivity. We give it a positive review for being so high in value.

Visit Store

About the Research

Here at www.bestbluetoothspeaker.reviews, we want to be your go-to resource for the best Bluetooth speakers. Use this platform as a helpful guide for purchasing a new wireless speaker online that serves your needs and won’t leave you feeling underwhelmed. Our hope is that you will use the detailed reviews to make a more informed purchase decision. The reviews you will find here are meant to save you from having to search through pages and pages of Bluetooth speaker articles and blog posts online. Your time is valuable and not everything you read online is trustworthy, so we only include pertinent, honest information on what we review at our site. You will find everything you need to know on leading models all conveniently in one location.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
We are grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases we may receive a commission. Your support in purchasing through these links enables us to keep providing you with content and opinion to the best of our knowledge. We promise that our score rating is based on product data and other type of information such as pricing, seller experience and additional information and that commission rate we may receive is not affecting the content we write on each product. Thank you!

Advertiser Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our reviews of Top 10 Best Wireless Speakers to buy online are genuine, in-depth and written by our team that care about what you buy. The purpose of each review is not only to show you the benefits of a particular wireless speaker but also to point out any drawbacks of it and how it compares to others on the market. And yes, it takes hundreds of hours to research and write, so to keep going with our efforts, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Explore More Reviews

Top 5 Bluetooth Speakers

Search
  • This website is a comparison site, offered for use free of charge and aims to offer its users informative and helpful content. We are grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items from the brands we rank on this site, we receive a commission. Your support in purchasing through these links enables us to keep providing you with content and opinion to the best of our knowledge. Such advertising fees that we may receive is not increasing your buying price and is not affecting the content we write on each product; however along with past buyers’ preference, product details and our reviewers’ findings, such advertising fees may impact the display order and scoring of a product at the website. The content on the website is provided “as-is” without warranties or guaranties and it does not constitute an encouragement or endorsement to purchase the goods that are offered for sale. We do not include or compare all products or providers in the market. See our Terms of Use and Advertising Disclosure information.

  • We are grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases we may receive a commission. Your support in purchasing through these links enables us to keep providing you with content and opinion to the best of our knowledge. The commission rate we may receive is not affecting the content we write on each product; however along with past buyers preference, mattress product details and reviewers’ findings, it may impact the display order of a product at the website. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. Your buying price is not changing whether we are entitled for earnings or not. Thank you!