Amazon Echo Studio (2025) Review: Smaller Size, Bigger Sound
▼ Summary
– The 2025 Echo Studio is a redesigned spherical smart speaker that is 40% smaller than the original 2019 cylindrical model, making it more compact and easier to place.
– It features a new custom processor for improved Alexa Plus performance, resulting in faster responses, better voice recognition, and more natural conversations.
– The speaker has a simplified driver setup with four speakers and a 50-watt amplifier, down from the original’s five drivers and 330 watts, but delivers tighter, more accurate bass and better midrange clarity.
– It supports spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and can be paired with compatible Fire TV devices for a surround sound setup, though full Alexa Home Theater support was not yet available for testing.
– The 3.5mm audio jack has been removed, limiting audio input to streaming services, and the design includes a front-mounted Alexa light ring and new acoustically transparent fabric in two color options.
The 2025 Echo Studio delivers a surprisingly powerful audio experience in a significantly more compact design, making it an excellent choice for those seeking high-quality sound from a smart speaker. Unlike most Amazon devices that prioritize smart features, the Studio has always focused on audio performance. This latest model, priced at $219.99, arrives as part of a new lineup built for Alexa Plus. It abandons the previous cylindrical shape for a spherical form that’s 40 percent smaller than the 2019 original, making it far easier to place on shelves or countertops without dominating the space.
This new orb-like speaker features a flattened front face encircled by the signature blue Alexa light ring. Volume controls and a microphone mute button sit on this front panel, with the mute button glowing red when activated. A notable change is the removal of the 3.5mm audio jack, meaning all audio must be streamed from services like Amazon Music, Spotify, or Apple Music. The speaker is wrapped in an acoustically transparent 3D knit fabric available in stealth gray and glacier white color options.
Internally, new custom processors power these Echo devices, with the Pro version specifically optimized for Alexa Plus. The improvement is immediately noticeable, Alexa responds more quickly to commands, understands speech from across the room with greater accuracy, and handles extended conversations more naturally. This enhanced processing makes everyday interactions, from checking weather alerts to asking about movies, feel significantly smoother.
Despite its smaller size, the 2025 Studio doesn’t compromise on sound quality. The speaker configuration has been revised from the original’s five drivers to four: a high-excursion 3.75-inch woofer and three 1.5-inch full-range drivers. Power output has also decreased from 330 watts to 50 watts. Yet in direct comparison testing against both the original Studio and Apple’s HomePod, the new model emerges as the best-sounding speaker of the three.
The bass response is notably tighter and more controlled than the original Studio’s sometimes loose low-end, giving music like Billie Eilish’s “bury a friend” better punch and definition. While the HomePod can reach slightly deeper frequencies, the Studio maintains better balance across the entire frequency range. The midrange performance particularly stands out, keeping vocals clear and present even in complex mixes like Soundgarden’s “Spoonman,” where Elton John’s voice in “Rocket Man” cuts through with impressive clarity.
Spatial audio remains a key feature, with Dolby Atmos content creating an engaging soundstage that matches the original Studio’s capabilities. However, like all single-speaker spatial audio systems, the full effect requires sitting directly in front of the speaker, and it can’t replicate the immersion of a multi-speaker setup. For home theater enthusiasts, the Studio can pair with compatible Fire TV devices to create a five-speaker surround sound system, though Alexa Home Theater support wasn’t available for testing at review time.
With its refined design, improved processing for Alexa Plus, and surprisingly enhanced sound quality despite the smaller size, the 2025 Echo Studio represents a meaningful upgrade over its predecessor. It offers better value than the HomePod while maintaining the smart home integration that makes Echo devices so convenient for Amazon-focused households.
(Source: The Verge)
