it’s one of those options you don’t think you need but would really miss it once you have one and use it regularly. The idea was to run a Routine that reads the weather and my calendar and then plays NPR in the morning when the shower starts, but the Routine would start playing at the smallest tinkle of running water (if you know what I mean).

Having been investing in Alexa Dots for some years saw this newer version on a prime deal so added it to my collection . My other preferred bedside table smart speaker is the second-gen Google Nest Hub (the one without a camera). Everyday use includes how easy it is to connect devices, wirelessly stream music and control playback features. In both places, its glanceable display proved more useful than the regular Dot; the clock is especially handy on busy mornings when we’re trying to get out the door on time.So you could switch on the lamp before getting out of bed, dim the lights to watch a film, or adjust the thermostat without leaving the sofa. The first is eero built-in, which means it acts as a satellite for one of the best mesh router systems to extend your home’s Wi-Fi reach. After a few setup hiccups (the Dot needed a software upgrade, then the Eero network needed one, too), I could see the Dot in my Eero app with an option to use it to extend Wi-Fi. Echo Dot features improved speaker quality, delivering clearer vocals and deeper bass for rich vibrant sound.

Based on my testing, it’s not going to give you the same performance as if you were connected to an Eero node, but it could be helpful to extend coverage to, say, a video doorbell or security camera outside your home. The speaker’s microphones are always listening for the wake word or trigger sounds unless you mute the device using the physical mute button or by telling Alexa to mute. Our bass test track, The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” sounds weak on the speaker, with little low-frequency response. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.These include running water, a dog barking, an appliance beeping, snoring, a baby crying, and coughing.

Offers an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot, with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room. The bassline doesn’t have much low-frequency presence and sounds a bit poppy, and the cymbals and guitar don’t have enough high-frequency response to really cut through the mix, but within the small speaker’s modest frequency range it sounds full and nicely balanced. as real users, posing a threat to a site’s security, so the site sometimes runs random security checks.But it’s also a great gadget behind its fabric-swathed exterior, packing an eero built-in Wi-Fi extender and a room temperature sensor that works with Alexa routines.