Subwoofers

If you’ve been hankering after a more fulsome sound from your Amazon Echo 
smart speakers, the £120 Echo Sub will sort you out. Not a smart speaker per se, it’s designed to partner existing Echoes to bolster bass performance.

This subwoofer has a relatively large footprint, but isn’t unattractive. The circular enclosure is wrapped in a dark charcoal fabric, echoing the style of the latest Plus and 
Dot devices. There’s only the single colour choice available, but don't rule out other colourways appearing over time.

Unlike other Echo speakers, there’s 
no near-field microphone onboard, so you 
can’t engage the Echo Sub in conversation (disappointing if you were hoping Alexa 
would talk in a deep contralto). It doesn’t 
have the familiar flashing LED interface either, just a status reset button above the power socket.

Consequently usability is less intuitive than 
its stablemates, 
and setup a tad 
more challenging. 
It actually took me several attempts 
to get the Echo Sub online using the Amazon Alexa app, whereas regular Echo devices typically present no problem.

The sub itself is a sealed design (with 
an internal four-litre volume) with a 6in downward-facing woofer, firing onto a solid circular base. It’s intended to sit on the floor, not too far from the main speaker(s). Best place it close to keep the soundstage intact.

The Echo Sub requires a compatible 
Echo speaker to work. It can be used in a 1.1 configuration, or 2.1 with paired Echoes performing left/right duties. Be aware that 
to create a 2.1 system, you’ll need third-generation Dots, first- or second-generation Echo Pluses, or second-generation Echoes.

This woofer can’t be used with non-Alexa products, nor does it have a 3.5mm/Bluetooth connection.

Renovation required
Curiously, the Echo Sub can’t be added to any existing stereo pairing you might have. You’ll have to unpair your Alexa devices and then rebuild to accommodate it. An adaptive 50Hz-200Hz low-pass filter automatically copes with whatever Echo speaker you partner it with. Onboard Class D amplification is rated at a punchy 100W.

Once up and running, there’s no doubt 
this subwoofer adds welcome weight to any Echo speaker configuration, but the listening experience varies according to content. 
It can sound too heavy with speech radio, causing mid-range vocals to bump and thump. If you primarily request Alexa to disgorge news and podcasts I suspect you won’t get much pleasure from using it.

However, with music, the bolshie beat 
can be far more infectious. It likes to make 
a noise. Play Nomadic, by Slipknot, and the Echo Sub pulses in delicious anger. A gutsy performer, it’s equally at home with dance tracks and reggae, although it's far from nuanced in its bass handling.

Also, don’t plan on using a 2.1 config 
as a soundbar alternative, or as part of a 
Fire TV sound system. This is dedicated 
to streaming music only.

As such, it does a solid job filling in the space left untouched by Amazon’s smaller boxes, dropping down (with some DSP help) to 30Hz. But it would have been nice to have been able to adjust the EQ setting for the Echo Sub itself; the Alexa app only allows adjustment for grouped speakers en masse.

Value added
I love the idea of adding a compact sub to upgrade an Amazon Echo, and to a certain degree this offering fits the bill. It’s undeniably well made, and sports great cosmetics. However, usability isn’t as polished as other more communicative Echo products, and 
for all its brawn, it’s only passably musical.

In terms of value, though, this new arrival is hard to beat. A 2.1 system built around 
an Echo Sub and Echo Plus stereo pair is temptingly competitive at £300. Opt to partner it with Amazon's smaller Echo speakers and you’ll take the package for 
just £225. This compares well with more expensive single-box options, including Apple’s Homepod (around £320) and the Google Home Max (£400).