Short answer: the Amazon Echo (4th Gen). It ranks #8 of 14 powered desktop speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $99.99. The Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen ranks #11, rated 3.1/5, at $79.99, $20 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Amazon Echo (4th Gen): The full-size spherical smart speaker that represents the core audio anchor of Amazon’s Echo lineup. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. Watch for: The spherical design radiates sound primarily in a forward-facing direction, so off-axis treble rolls off compared to true 360-degree omnidirectional speakers.
What the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen does well: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. The tradeoff: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball.
Buy the Amazon Echo (4th Gen). It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $20 with the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo (4th Gen) | Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 each | $79.99 each |
| Ranked | #8 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #11 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Amplifier Power | 30W total system power | - |
| App | Amazon Alexa app | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm line in/out) | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, SoundGuys) | - |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | - |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5.7” x 5.7” (133 x 144 x 144 mm) | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 3.0” neodymium woofer, dual 0.8” tweeters | 44mm front-firing driver |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (measured) | - |
| Inputs | 3.5mm line in/out, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Lights | Yes (bottom light ring) | - |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (0.97 kg) | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Battery Life | - | No Battery |
| IP Rating | - | None |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Input | - | External AC adapter (DC jack) |
| Stereo | - | No |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) |
| EQ | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | No |
| TWS | - | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | No |
| HDMI Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Voice Assistants | - | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Streaming Services | - | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Amazon Echo (4th Gen): $99.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: The full-size spherical smart speaker that represents the core audio anchor of Amazon’s Echo lineup. Houses a dedicated 3-inch neodymium woofer and dual 0.8-inch front-firing tweeters powered by Dolby processing and automatic acoustic room tuning that continuously senses the acoustics of the space to optimize playback. Produces surprisingly solid, punchy mid-bass down to approximately 55Hz with wide, pleasing stereo separation from a single compact orb. Includes built-in Zigbee smart home hub, temperature sensor, and lossless HD streaming support over Wi-Fi. Measured bass extension of 55Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The spherical design radiates sound primarily in a forward-facing direction, so off-axis treble rolls off compared to true 360-degree omnidirectional speakers. Pushed to maximum volume, the DSP aggressively limits deep bass to protect the 3-inch driver from over-excursion.
Full Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 30W total system power |
| App | Amazon Alexa app |
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm line in/out) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55Hz (measured, SoundGuys) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 5.7” x 5.7” (133 x 144 x 144 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.0” neodymium woofer, dual 0.8” tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (measured) |
| Inputs | 3.5mm line in/out, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Lights | Yes (bottom light ring) |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (0.97 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: $79.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. It has a room temperature sensor, works as an eero Wi-Fi extender, and includes a mic mute switch alongside dedicated volume and action buttons.
Cons: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball. Engadget’s own head-to-head against the step-up Amazon Echo Dot Max found that speaker louder and bassier, from a 2.5-inch woofer and dedicated tweeter versus this speaker’s single small full-range driver. It is mono in a single unit, has no 3.5mm output, no battery, and needs Wi-Fi and an Amazon account for its smart features.
Full Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| App | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver |
| EQ | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Home Speaker
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
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- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
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