Bluetooth speaker vs Echo dot comparison. Have you ever wondered if you should get a Bluetooth speaker or an Amazon Echo Dot?
Most people, they’re primarily looking for portable listening devices. You can use them with your phone to listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts, etc.
But what are the pros and cons for each one? I’m going to make it easy by breaking down the basics of how these two options work and how you can decide which one is best for your situation.
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What is a Bluetooth Speaker?
Bluetooth speakers are wireless speakers that connect to audio devices such as smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth technology. A Bluetooth speaker can be used with any audio device that has Bluetooth capabilities.
Portable wireless speakers come in a wide range of sizes and styles and are used for listening to music or audiobooks when you’re on the go or around the house.
Most mobile device users commonly use Bluetooth speakers for listening to music. However, these simple gadgets are capable of much more than that. For example, they can be used for streaming podcasts and audiobooks from various sources, such as the iTunes Store or Audible.com.
Bluetooth Speaker Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ready to use
- Affordable
- Loudness
- Better battery
- No WiFi required
- No need to connect to a power source all the time
- Incredibly versatile
Cons
- Audio Quality
- Bigger size
- No voice recognition
Also See: Bluetooth speaker vs Smart speaker
What is Echo Dot?
Echo Dot is a hands-free, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa cloud-based service to play music, control smart home devices and more. All you have to do is ask. In addition to tens of thousands of skills, Echo Dot can play music from streaming services like Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and iHeartRadio.
Tens of millions of songs are available to stream via voice request. Just ask for your favourite artist or song, or request a specific genre or mood. You can also search for music by lyrics, when a song or album was released, or let Alexa pick the music for you.
When you want to use Echo Dot, simply say the wake word “Alexa” and Dot responds instantly. If you have more than one Echo or Echo Dot, Alexa responds intelligently from the Echo you’re closest to with ESP (Echo Spatial Perception). You can also call other Echo devices in your household just by speaking their names.
What can Echo Dot do?
When you use your voice to ask a question or give a command, Echo Dot sends the audio to the cloud, where it’s analyzed and a response is sent back to your device. The built-in speaker isn’t great for music playback, but it’s good enough for general smart home control and information queries.
Pro Tip: You can use Alexa as a Bluetooth Speaker. Here’s How.
Echo Dot Pros & Cons
Pros
- Voice recognition
- Home automation
- Compact design
- Stream music online
- Web searches
- Weather, To-do, News, etc.
- Saves time & effort
Cons
- Power is always required
- Expensive than Bluetooth speakers
- Limited use in absence of Internet
- Privacy issues
What is the Difference Between a Bluetooth speaker and an Echo Dot?
Most people asked me this a few times now and I thought it would be good to explain the difference between a Bluetooth speaker and an Echo Dot. Computers, smartphones and tablets are abundant in our homes today.
What makes the Amazon Echo Dot unique is that it can connect to the Internet via WiFi or Bluetooth. This gives you more freedom of movement around your home and allows you to control devices with your voice.
For example, if you want to turn on your lights, you can ask Amazon Echo Dot “to turn on lights”. You can do the same for other devices in your home from TV to heating systems, which means you no longer need remote controls for these devices.
The Amazon Echo Dot will also allow you to access news, information, shopping lists and weather forecasts by simply asking Alexa (Amazon Echo Dot’s personal assistant).
Bluetooth Speaker vs Echo Dot
Appearance: The most obvious difference between an Echo Dot and a Bluetooth speaker is their appearance. The Echo Dot is about the size of a hockey puck, while a typical Bluetooth speaker is about three times as tall and twice as wide.
Sound quality: The sound quality of an average Bluetooth speaker greatly exceeds that of an Echo Dot. A Bluetooth speaker with poor sound quality may be more than loud enough for you to hear while you’re showering or travelling in the car, but it won’t provide the same rich listening experience as a premium speaker.
On the other hand, the sound quality of an Echo Dot depends on factors such as how close it is to your ears and how loud you have it set. For example, at higher volumes, some users have reported hearing slight distortion in the sound or having trouble hearing softer voices.
Portability: The Echo Dot is not wireless on its own; you must connect it to a power source, like a wall outlet or surge protector with an included adapter cord, or directly to your Wi-Fi router via Ethernet cable.
Bluetooth Speaker or Echo Dot Which You Choose?
While an Echo Dot must be plugged in at all times to remain powered, a Bluetooth speaker can be charged or run off of its own battery power, making it easier to use on the go and more portable.
So the main difference is that an Echo Dot is always connected to power and wirelessly connected to Wi-Fi, while some Bluetooth speakers are portable and some aren’t.
On the surface, there doesn’t appear to be a lot of difference between an Echo Dot and a Bluetooth speaker. The former is a speaker with Alexa built-in; the latter is a portable wireless speaker that’s capable of connecting to the Alexa app.
But there are some key differences you have to take into consideration before deciding which is best for your needs. Bluetooth speaker models also offer greater sound quality than Echo Dots, making them better for listening to music, watching videos and listening to podcasts.
They’re also more compact, so you can easily fit them in your backpack or luggage when travelling out of town. Another major benefit of Bluetooth enabled speakers over Echo Dots is their ability to connect with multiple devices.
Conclusion | Bluetooth Speaker vs Echo Dot Comparison
If you’re looking at a low startup cost and a simple, user-friendly interface, then the Echo Dot is a good purchase.
Bluetooth speakers often come with a higher price tag but are more customizable – and can travel with you on the go. While the two devices serve very different purposes, the two can often be complementary to one another for an overall better sound experience.
So there you have it! This is a topic we’ve all had to sort through before making our decision. Don’t just jump at the first option – take your time to weigh the pros and cons of each product and let us know which you decide on!