Amazon Echo 2 reviews -Apparently unimpressed, Amazon had accepted the disadvantages of the first Echo speaker – it was described as inelegant and clumsy compared to Google home. In the meantime, however, the group worked quietly on the second generation of the Amazon Echo, which is supposed to make German households finally smart as a voice remote control. For example, Amazon Echo 2 not only experienced a makeover externally, the technology of the loudspeaker was also ramped up significantly, as our Review shows. And all at a lower entry price than the Echo of the first generation.
Second generation of the Echo speaker Review: new look, better sound
Simple, but still appealing: the new echo look
Superficially or not, Amazon Echo has so far simply not impressed with its appearance. The first generation speaker was too high and the surface too sober. Echo 2 has been made more compact, making it less easy to knock over. But much more important: users no longer have to buy sleeves for the smart health home speaker, the desired optics are included in the delivery.
Based on Google health home, Amazon offers textiles in three moderate shades of color, as well as two wood tones that are more reminiscent of flooring and are great for the kitchen counter. If you liked the technical-minimalist look of the Echo 1, you can opt for the futuristic silver look in the second generation. At least with the white Echo 2 variant, a clear similarity to the much more expensive HomePod from Apple cannot be denied.
On the inner values: Amazon Echo 2 has improved both the audio output and the speech recognition. Amazon Echo 2 offers good sound despite its compact dimensions. Amazon Echo 2 has a 63 mm woofer and 16 mm tweeter – at high volume, the music playback is unfortunately a bit dirty and in the Review we missed something in the middle. Overall, the Amazon Echo 2 fulfills the expectations – but you shouldn’t expect HiFi sound. The tweeters and woofers with 360 ° sound are complemented by Dolby sound. The seven microphones with directional beam technology understand voice commands very well with the help of noise suppression, even when the TV is running or other people are talking. The revised far field technology for the recognition of the activation word works precisely. In the practical Review of the first echo generation, our Review device occasionally had difficulty recognizing and understanding female voices.
Amazon Echo 2 Review : functions for smart health home and communication
Similar to the Echo Show, the Echo Spot can display images from surveillance cameras
A new feature that was introduced with the upgrade to the second generation of the Echo is telephony. It is thus possible via Amazon Echo to make voice calls with an Echo device or the Alexa app. More information is available here: Make a phone call with Alexa: Set up the Amazon Echo phone function. With intelligent speakers with display and cam, ehealth telephony is even possible – but only between Echo device owners.
Messages can also be sent or an audio connection can be made to other echoes in the household. (Click here for instructions). Amazon is thus responding to the wishes of many technology fans, who have often discussed the lack of online calls. The spherical Echo Spot is also suitable for making calls. Echo Spot also acts as an alarm clock.
Alexa controls the smart health home via Amazon Echo 2
Via the cloud-based AVS (Alexa Voice Service), Amazon Echo can use voice commands to the virtual assistant Alexa to play music, set alarm clocks and timers, check calendars, weather, traffic conditions and news or sports results, answer questions, create to-do and shopping lists, Kindle Read aloud e-books or control compatible smart health home devices.
With several Echo devices in the health home, Amazon’s multiroom function can be used for music from streaming partners such as Amazon Music, TuneIn or Spotify. Alexa is not only responsible for entertainment in the smart health home, with her help Amazon Echo 2 controls smart lights, radiator thermostats and switches for a more efficient, comfortable and energy-saving everyday life. A rapidly growing number of Alexa skills also extends the range of functions of the Amazon Echo 2.
Amazon Echo 2 overview: Compatible devices with voice assistant Alexa
Amazon takes over the Smart health home with Echo 2, Echo Plus, Echo Show and Dot
The compatibility list of the Amazon Echo is extensive and is constantly expanding. In one article, we summarized Alexa-compatible devices and systems that can be smart health connected to Amazon Echo. There is also an overview of the streaming services for the Echo universe. Smart health home systems that can be controlled with Amazon Echo 2 include:
IKEA TRÅDFRI
OSRAM LIGHTIFY
Neato Botvac smart health connected
Fire TV Stick
Homematic IP
Magenta SmartHome
Philips Hue
The Amazon Echo universe is growing steadily
The overhaul of the Amazon Echo was probably not enough for Amazon: at the same time, the company announced the launch of Amazon Echo Plus, which supports the smart health home even more efficiently with an integrated hub. However, Amazon Echo Plus costs more than Amazon Echo 2. In addition, Echo Plus is visually very similar to the less appealing Amazon Echo of the first generation and is therefore significantly larger than the compact Echo 2. With the Echo Dot there is also a cheap Echo speaker variant available for beginners.
Google also competes with Echo Show and Echo Spot. In contrast to the two voice-controlled speakers, Amazon Echo Show is also able to display image or ehealth files. In combination with the smart doorbell ring Doorbell, for example, it can even be used as an intercom. For these extras, technology fans at Echo Show pay significantly more than for all other Echo speaker models. Last but not least, voice assistant Alexa is also to be given some new functions in order to be able to respond even better to the wishes and needs of smart health home owners.
Amazon Echo 2 review- an overview of important tests for intelligent loudspeakers
After the market launch of Echo 2, demand increased rapidly. However, the testers were not in agreement whether the new version is really significantly better than the old one, as our Review overview shows.
| Tester | rating | Note / conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Echo 2 (anthracite) rated by 3017 customers | 4.2 out of 5 stars |
| PC go | “Equipment: 12 out of 15 points; Speech recognition / knowledge: 10 out of 15 points; Voice output: 10 out of 15 points; Operation and app: 4 out of 5 points; Expansion options: 45 out of 50 points. “ |
Review winner / good (81 out of 100 points) |
| emedia | “Plus: smaller and prettier than its predecessor; 3.5mm audio output. Minus: Only moderate audio quality; Alexa immature. “ | 3 out of 5 points |
| netzwelt.com | “With the Echo 2, Amazon has a chic and well-processed new edition of the first generation of devices on offer (…) The significantly cheaper speaker could not keep the promise of improved sound quality and optimized recognition of the Alexa keyword. (…). “ | Review score 7.5 out of 10 |
| giga.com | “The Review showed that the sound of the Amazon Echo strongly depends on the installation location. Reason among other things: the 360-degree radiation. It sounds better on a wooden floorboard and carpet than on a coated shelf with a wallpaper behind it. ” | 4 out of 5 stars |
| computerbild.com | Pros: smaller dimensions, better optics (…) sharply reduced price, many smart health home skills and services (…) Cons: Sound weak and almost free of bass, Alexa app cumbersome “ | satisfactory (2.7) |
Conclusion: Amazon Echo 2 with voice assistant Alexa
In our practice Review lasting several months, Echo 2 was able to convince and scored above all with the many free skills. The integration of compatible smart health home devices and voice control via Alexa also worked perfectly in the Review. Alexa only occasionally still has problems understanding, since the voice assistant is capable of learning, the communication improves continuously. However, Alexa quickly reaches her limits when it comes to knowledge issues that go beyond standard topics. Due to the great compatibility with other smart health home devices, Echo 2 is currently a recommendation.
Amazon is currently ahead of its competitors. Although Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft will certainly invest a lot more in voice assistants in the future, Amazon has achieved a big lead that permanently binds customers to their own and compatible smart health home devices, making competitors more difficult on the market.
Pricing and availability: Echo 2 deals compared
Amazon Echo 2 can be ordered from various online retailers. The fabric variant in anthracite, light gray and sandstone costs 99.99 euros, the echoes in oak, nut and silver look are available for 109.99 euros.
Amazon Echo 2 alternative: Google home with voice assistant Google Assistant
It seems that nothing can stop the Amazon triumphal march. The only advantage of the Google health home speaker – its pleasant appearance – compensates for the second generation of the Echo. Amazon Echo 2 also enables telephony and the sending of messages between echo speakers and the Alexa app in Germany – in combination with the skill power of voice assistant Alexa, Google has fewer sales arguments in the German smart health home market compared to Amazon’s steadily growing team intelligent communication and control devices. The MSRP from Google health home is 149 euros.
Amazon Echo 2 Technical Details
Amazon Echo 2: new look, better sound, call function!
(Amazon)
- Dimensions: 148.5 x 88 x 88 mm
- Weight: 820 g
- WLAN: 802.11 a / b / g / n
- Bluetooth: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) for audio streaming from mobile devices on Echo or from Echo on Bluetooth speakers, Audio / ehealth Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of smart health connected mobile devices
- no hands-free voice control on Mac OS X devices, no Bluetooth speakers with PIN input
- Audio: 63 mm woofer, 16 mm tweeter, far field speech recognition, directional beam technology, improved noise suppression
- Limited one-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Finishes: anthracite fabric, light gray fabric, sandstone fabric, oak look, walnut look, silver look
- Scope of delivery: Echo, Echo sleeve, power supply / cable (1.8 m), card “to try”, quick guide
AB SMART HEALTH health home & BUILDING REVIEW
