Amazon’s ecosystem (Echo-system?) by no means stops rising. Its latest participant has arrived: the Echo Pop, a $40 good speaker with a half-circle physique as an alternative of the absolutely rounded types of Amazon’s different Echo audio system.
I have been having fun with the Echo Pop as a small desk companion. Its sound is ok sufficient for its worth—although different, equally priced Amazon audio system shall be a greater music expertise—however the greatest enchantment of the Echo Pop is well the enjoyable colours and fascinating type issue it has.
Small Footprint
{Photograph}: Amazon
When it is subsequent to the Echo Dot (5th Gen), the Echo Pop appears to be like to be the identical dimension—that’s, for those who’re wanting head-on on the Pop’s flat, round face. However while you check out the Echo Pop from the facet, you’ll be able to see it is solely about two-thirds as deep. The place you actually can see the scale distinction is on the underside. The Echo Pop’s base is sort of a full inch thinner than the Echo Dot, giving it a slim oval base as an alternative of a giant rounded one.
That smaller dimension and base helps make it simpler to position into numerous spots round your house. With its half-moon type and single flat face somewhat than a complete rounded speaker, it is a good match for desk corners and small cabinets or facet tables.
The Pop additionally has barely bigger front-firing speaker than the fifth-generation Dot—1.95 inches versus 1.73—letting it sound lots loud from whichever area you have squeezed it into. I positioned mine on the nook of my desk and added it to my Alexa app in what felt like seconds. I already had Spotify linked, so I used to be jamming to Dua Lipa’s new song in moments.
The Echo Pop sounded nice with pop music (ha!) and digital lo-fi. However once I turned on sounds with decrease bass notes, I discovered these received misplaced on this little speaker. With regards to sound high quality, the Echo Dot is a bit of higher and solely prices barely extra. You may get barely extra sturdy sound thanks to higher bass, although neither will examine to a much bigger good speaker just like the fourth-generation Echo (8/10, WIRED Recommends).
Candy Fashion
{Photograph}: Amazon
If you happen to’re much less frightened about unbelievable sound and extra a classy speaker, that is Amazon’s finest providing, and perhaps one of the best model selection out of the world of cheaper good audio system. I’ve three totally different good audio system on my desk, and out of any of the pint-sized choices from Amazon, Google, and Apple, I would somewhat have a look at the Echo Pop than any of the others.
