Controlling devices with your voice isn’t always the best option, but one place it really shines is when you want to play music. Instead of having to scroll through all the music on your phone, you can just ask Alexa to play a song, album, or playlist, and you have instant music. You can even just ask her to “play music” if you’re not sure what you want to listen to.
One issue is that many of Amazon’s own Echo devices don’t offer the greatest sound quality. A device like an Echo Dot is a low-cost way to get Alexa into your home, but while the sound quality is decent, it’s nothing to write home about.
How to set up Alexa on your Sonos system: Control music with just your voice
You can play music on your Sonos speakers just by asking Alexa, even if she’s not built-in.
The majority of Echo smart speakers and smart displays are designed to be affordable rather than to produce epic sound. The Amazon Echo Studio aside, the audio from Echo devices is best described as functional rather than spectacular. Thankfully, there are a lot of speakers with superior sound quality out there, some of which come with Alexa built-in. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of Alexa functionality and high-quality sound, then here are some of the best Echo alternatives out there.
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Best Alexa speaker overall
Sonos Era 100
A Bluetooth and Wi-Fi smart speaker with great stereo sound
The Sonos Era 100 takes the excellent Sonos One and adds stereo sound, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C line-in. Comes with Alexa built-in alongside Sonos’ own voice control.
- Offers stereo sound
- Line-in for sources such as turntables
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Line-in requires additional dongle
- Sonos voice control only availabe in English and French
Sonos Era 100 review: Move over Sonos One
We’ve been spending some time with the Sonos Era 100 and if you love the Sonos One, you’re about to embark on a fabulous affair. Here is our review.
Sonos regularly updates its speakers, and each generation is better than the next. The Sonos Play:1 was a great speaker, but the Sonos One improved upon it. The Sonos One is still a great option if you’re looking for a speaker with Alexa built in. However, the Sonos Era 100 is yet another step forward, making it our top Amazon Echo alternative.
It offers stereo sound compared to the mono Sonos One, and as well as Wi-Fi and AirPlay compatibility, you can also play music via Bluetooth or the USB-C line-in, although you’ll need an additional adapter for a wired connection. As well as Alexa baked in, you can also use Sonos’ own voice control, although it’s only available in US English and French. Quel dommage.
Best stylish Alexa speaker
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (Second Generation)
A stylish portable speaker with great sound quality
$250 $280 Save $30
A beautiful speaker from Bang & Olufsen that looks great on any desk or table, but is also easily portable. The sound quality you expect from the Danish company, with looks to match.
- Beautiful looks
- Bang & Olufsen quality sound
- Waterproof
- Doesn’t come cheap
- Strap can get in the way
B&O BeoPlay A1 by Bang & Olufsen review: Bluetooth speaker bliss
The Danish high-end electronics company is renowned for creating stylish audio products with stunning quality and a price tag to match. If you’ve always thought that B&O audio gear was beyond your means, however, then look again.
The Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is a waterproof Bluetooth speaker that somehow manages to make something that’s essentially the same form as an old Echo Dot look like a stylish piece of home décor. It’s smart enough to adorn any desk, but it’s also a great portable option, with a leather strap to ensure it doesn’t get dropped. There’s Alexa built in and the sound quality you’d expect from B&O.
Best outdoor Alexa speaker
Sonos Move 2
Enjoy music (and Alexa) indoors and out
A portable smart speaker that sounds great indoors or out. With great battery life, you can keep the party going and even access Alexa outside your home.
- Excellent sound indoors and out
- Great battery life
- Integrated carry handle
- No Google Assistant compatibility
- More expensive than original Move
Sonos Move 2 review: Power, performance and portability
The Sonos Move 2 replaces the Move, bringing a number of subtle improvements to the original portable speaker. Should you buy it? Here’s my review.
Why should you only be able to use Alexa when you’re inside your home? It’s not really feasible to have an Echo Show 8 in your back garden, but with the Sonos Move 2, you can take Alexa outside, provided you have a strong enough connection to your home Wi-Fi.
The second iteration of the Sonos Move is an excellent speaker in its own right, but the integrated handle means it’s a breeze to pick up and move outside, too. Alexa integration means you can control your music when you’re outdoors without having to put down the plate of food you’ve just cooked on the grill. With an IP56 rating, the Move 2 can handle a little rain, too, so the music doesn’t have to stop when the sunshine does.
Best Alexa speaker for spatial audio
Sonos Era 300
A brilliant speaker that produces incredible immersive spatial audio
The Sonos Era 300 can produce incredible immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, thanks to the six drivers positioned around the speaker. The result is sound that truly fills the room.
- Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
- USB-C line-in
- Unusual design may not appeal to all
- Line-in requires additional dongle
Sonos Era 300 review: Standalone spatial audio
The Sonos Era 300 offers a funky design, Bluetooth and support for Dolby Atmos. Should you buy it? Here’s our review.
The Sonos Era 300 is unique on this list, and that’s not just due to the highly unusual design. It’s also because this is the only speaker on the list that can offer spatial audio with Dolby Atmos from a single speaker. With six drivers positioned all around the speaker that bounce the sound in all directions, you get an impressively immersive sound experience.
The unusual shape may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s a design born out of necessity to create the stunning spatial audio. Just like the Sonos Era 100, you can play music over Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth, and there’s also a USB-C line-in port, so you can connect to your turntable using an appropriate adapter.
Best Alexa soundbar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar
A compact soundbar and an Alexa speaker in one
This compact soundbar can make your viewing more immersive thanks to the Virtual Dolby Atmos support. It’s also an Alexa speaker that sounds a lot better than your Echo Dot.
- Virtual Dolby Atmos
- Great sound
- Alexa support
- Not the cheapest
- Can’t match true Dolby Atmos
Sonos Beam (2021, 2nd Gen) review: Compact soundbar delivers plenty of clout
Should you upgrade your original Beam? Or should you consider the second-gen Sonos Beam over the excellent-but-pricier Sonos Arc?
There are so many smart home devices available these days that your home can soon get full of gadgets. That’s why it’s always refreshing to find a product that can do more than one job. The Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) is an excellent compact soundbar that can provide much more immersive audio when you’re watching your favorite shows and movies, thanks to the Virtual Dolby Atmos support.
However, it’s also got Alexa built in. That means you don’t need to have a separate Alexa speaker in your living room; you can talk to Alexa directly through the Sonos Beam. You can use your voice to control your Sonos Beam and any other Sonos speakers you may have in your home, but you can also ask Alexa about the weather or get her to turn your lights on. It’s one less gadget cluttering up your living space, and one less plug socket getting taken up.
Best luxury Alexa speaker
JBL Authentics 500
An Alexa speaker that looks as good as it sounds.
A powerful speaker with classic retro looks, the JBL Authentics 500 has more than enough power to get the party started. It doesn’t come cheap, but there’s both Alexa and Google Assistant on board.
- Classic design
- Powerful bass
- Room-filling sound
- Expensive
- Limited controls
JBL Authentics 500 review: Loud, bassy, but not enough refinement
The The JBL Authentics 500 looks like a modern take on JBL’s classic hi-fi speakers, but it sounds like a pure party box.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can get your hands on the JBL Authentics 500. This is a stunning-looking speaker, with the retro looks of the old JBL hi-fi speakers of old, including the padded grille. It’s a large speaker but will look great in most rooms.
Good looks aren’t all that’s on offer, however; the JBL Authentics 500 has sound to match. With some serious grunt and impressive bass, it’s all you need to get the party started in even the largest rooms. You can set up both Alexa and Google Assistant and interact with either as the mood takes you.
Best Alexa speakers: The bottom line
The Sonos Era 100 is the third generation of what was already an excellent speaker in the Sonos Play:1. Alongside the Alexa voice control that appeared in the Sonos One, it’s added stereo sound, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB-C line-in, making it our top choice for the best Alexa speaker. If you’re looking for something that can fulfil two jobs at once, the Sonos Beam soundbar is a great way to get two things for the price of one.
Sonos Era 100
Editor’s choice
A Bluetooth and Wi-Fi smart speaker with great stereo sound
The Sonos Era 100 takes everything it learnt from the Sonos One that it replaces and has given it a make-over, both internally and externally for one seriously impressive little speaker.
How did I choose the best Alexa smart speakers?
When compiling this list, there were a few things I took into account. I wanted to include a range of speakers, from portable speakers such as the Sonos Move to the spatial audio of the Sonos Era 300. I also wanted to include a range of price points, and of course, the selection needed to include speakers that offer great sound.
How to choose an Alexa smart speaker
If you’re looking for an Alexa smart speaker, there are plenty of options out there, but not all of them may be the right choice for your needs. There are a few considerations that you’ll need to make when choosing the best Alexa smart speaker for your circumstances.
How is the Alexa smart speaker powered?
The way that your speaker is powered is an important consideration, as it can severely limit how you use your speaker. For example, if you’re looking for a speaker to use in your bathroom, then you’re going to need one that runs without needing to be plugged in. The same goes if you’re planning to take your speaker outside.
For portable speakers, battery life is also a consideration. Not all portable speakers offer the same battery life, so you should make the best choice based on how you intend to use your portable speaker.
What size speaker will I need?
All the speakers on this list can produce enough sound to fill a typical-sized room, but if you’re planning on using your speaker in a larger space, then you’ll want something with plenty of power to carry to the furthest corners. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the speaker, the more sound you’re going to get, but you should also consider the speaker’s output power when making your choice. Look for the power output (measured in watts) in the speaker’s specifications; the higher the power output, the more sound you’ll get.
What music streaming services can I use with an Alexa speaker?
Not every Alexa speaker will work with every streaming service, so if you have a subscription to a music streaming service, you should check that it’s supported before you make your purchase. In addition, some speakers may not allow you to control some supported streaming services, such as Apple Music, when using Alexa voice control. The best bet is to search through customer reviews to check if other users have issues with your streaming service of choice.
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