The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is a wired smart speaker. It has a built-in Zigbee hub, allowing you to connect other compatible smart home devices like light bulbs or thermostats to the speaker and control them using the built-in Alexa voice assistant. This speaker can also get loud, offers bass and treble sliders if you prefer a different sound profile, and supports 3D audio. However, you need a subscription to Amazon's music streaming app to get the full experience of this feature.
Our Verdict
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is decent for music. It has a neutral and balanced sound profile but lacks low bass, so genres like EDM and hip-hop sound less thumpy. That said, its companion app has bass and treble sliders, so you can tweak its sound to your liking. It can also play stereo content and get loud with minimal compression artifacts at max volume. While it supports 3D audio, you need a subscription to Amazon Music HD to access this feature.
- Can get loud with few compression artifacts.
- Bass and treble sliders available via companion app.
- Can only be used wired.
- Lacks low bass.
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is mediocre for videos and movies. Although it lacks low bass, which makes sound effects in action movies lack thump and rumble, it has a fairly neutral sound profile suitable for clear dialogue. It can also play stereo content and get loud with minimal compression at max volume, so your audio sounds clear. It's also advertised as compatible with the Fire TV Cube (2nd gen) or Fire TV Stick 4K if you want Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Atmos content.
- Can get loud with few compression artifacts.
- Bass and treble sliders available via companion app.
- High AV Synchronization error on iOS and Android.
- Lacks low bass.
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is passable for podcasts. It has a neutral sound profile that's suitable for vocal-centric content, although a slight underemphasis in the treble range makes sibilants like S and T sounds a bit dull. That said, it isn't very portable as you can only use it wired and doesn't support multi-device pairing. It also has a narrow soundstage, so your audio won't sound consistent from all angles.
- Can get loud with few compression artifacts.
- Bass and treble sliders available via companion app.
- Can only be used wired.
- No multi-device pairing.
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is very good for voice assistants. It has Alexa built-in, and it can register your commands, even if you're far away. However, it has more of a problem understanding you in a noisy environment. That said, you can use Alexa to connect your speaker to other smart devices that use Zigbee in your home, and it has a dedicated mic mute button if you don't always want the speaker to be listening to you.
- Can get loud with few compression artifacts.
- Excellent voice assistant performance.
- Alexa struggles to understand you in noisy environments.
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is a wired speaker unsuitable for outdoor use.
Changelog
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Updated Jan 30, 2026:
We've added a comparison to the Amazon Echo Studio 2025 in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
- Updated Feb 20, 2024: We've updated this review to ensure it remains consistent with other product reviews and added relevant comparisons.
- Updated Dec 05, 2022: Added a market comparison to the Devialet Mania in the Voice Assistant box.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) comes in two color variants: 'Charcoal' and 'Glacier'. We tested the 'Charcoal' variant but expect all variants to perform similarly. You can see the label of our model here.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) is a smart speaker designed for home use. It gets much louder than the Amazon Echo Gen 4 but doesn't do as good a job of registering voice commands in noisy environments. It also has a more balanced sound profile than the Google Nest Audio and doesn't have to downmix tracks to mono. However, the Google speaker has a better integration with Google Assistant.
Check out our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers under $100.
The Amazon Echo Studio 2025 is the next generation of the Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation). While the design has been re-worked, with the original's cylindrical shape swapped out for a smoother, orb-like design, the newer version can't play back stereo content without downmixing to mono. That said, the updated edition does feature some next-gen tech, like Alexa+ and Alexa Home Theater compatibility that can help futureproof your setup. It also does a better job of recognizing voice commands in noisy environments.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Amazon Echo Studio or the Apple HomePod (2nd generation). These speakers are designed to integrate with products in their respective ecosystems, such as Amazon's Zigbee hub or Apple's AirPlay. Apple's Siri does a bit better at hearing your commands in noisy environments, and it brings more rumble in the low bass. However, the Amazon speaker is more customizable thanks to its companion app's bass and treble adjustments.
The Amazon Echo Studio is a better speaker for most uses than the Google Nest Audio. The Amazon has a better-balanced sound profile, can play stereo content, and gets louder with minimal compression artifacts. However, the Google speaker is a better speaker for voice assistants. It has better controls, its Google Assistant has better overall performance, and it supports Chromecast.
The Amazon Echo Pop and Amazon Echo Studio (1st generation) each have their strengths. The Echo Studio has a more balanced sound profile, and while it does lack low bass, you can adjust bass and treble in the companion app to help compensate for this. It also delivers superior dynamics, filling a room with sound and reaching maximum volume with minimal compression artifacts. Plus, it supports stereo audio without needing to downmix to mono and is compatible with 3D audio, though you'll need an Amazon Music HD subscription to enjoy this feature. The Echo Pop, on the other hand, has better voice assistant performance that can understand you even in noisy environments, like at a party. Also, it has lower Bluetooth latency, which is nice if you want to watch videos on your phone while paired with the speaker.
Test Results
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