Design: Fits in with other Echo products
When it comes to looks, there’s not much else to it. Unlike the Echo Plus there are no buttons, microphones, or LED ring on top. The bottom is ported and has a few rubber non-slip pads. The only port is for the power cable and there is one small action button located just above it, and there’s a single LED light in the center of the button. Unlike the Echo Plus, we found its cylindrical shape a little unappealing. It resembles a short trash can, and it was hard to find a suitable space for it. It wasn’t as much about placing it where it would provide the best bass response, it’s just that it really stands out in the room and doesn’t blend in well. The power cable also sticks out a bit too far, and we would’ve preferred a connection on the bottom like the Bose Home Speaker 500 we recently tested.
Setup Process: Terribly frustrating
We’ve shared our frustration with the setup process for other Echo devices like the Echo Dot and Echo Plus in other reviews. The Echo Sub took things to a whole new level, and was the last device to finally and miraculously connect to the Alexa mobile app. After weeks of trying on three different Wi-Fi networks and troubleshooting everything we could think of, one morning the Echo Sub just decided it was time. We opened the Alexa app, went to the devices menu, clicked on the sub and it was added within a few minutes. With all that said, once we finally got our whole Echo ecosystem setup and working, we could tell that the hardware is actually pretty good.
Sound Quality: Okay but probably not worth it
After the serious undertaking of actually getting our Echo Sub working, we weren’t expecting much when it came to sound quality. Surprisingly, the Echo Sub delivers some powerful bass with decent clarity and articulation. We tested out our Echo Sub and Echo Plus speaker pairing with a variety of music, video, and podcasts. The Echo Sub is definitely loud enough; in fact, at times it’s too loud, and there’s no volume control. From the high of discovering the Sub’s solid sound quality, this total lack of inline or on-device control was a serious downer. Bass heavy music can easily become overpowering and the only option for reducing it is to ask Alexa to “turn down the bass.” The lack of volume and crossover control is a huge flaw.
Software: Not ready for primetime
Price: Very affordable
Competition: Very little exists
When compared to $130 for the Echo Sub, it’s apples and oranges. When it comes to adding a sub to your Echo lineup, the Echo Sub has no competition. If you have the money to spend, though, we suggest ditching the Echo products and taking a look at the excellent line of Sonos or Bose smart hub speakers, soundbars, and subwoofers.
