Amazon is doubling down on audio quality and ecosystem integration with the launch of two powerful new smart speakers: the redesigned Echo Studio and the all-new Echo Dot Max. These also serve as the foundation for a new feature called Alexa Home Theater. The latter aims to turn a collection of Echo speakers into a versatile, automatically tuned surround sound system. The firm today also announced new Echo Show devices, Ring cameras, and Fire TVs—including a new Stick and the Vega OS.
The Echo Studio receives its first major hardware refresh since 2019. The speaker now features a smaller, spherical design covered in a 3D knit fabric, moving away from the previous cylindrical shape. Internally, the new Studio includes an updated array of full-range drivers and an excursion woofer. It maintains support for Dolby Atmos content, which is nice. The device uses Amazon’s new AZ23 Pro chip, which handles advanced speech and audio processing for both the speaker’s performance and the integrated Alexa+ assistant. The new Studio is priced at $220.
The new Echo Dot Max is positioned as a higher-performance version of the standard Dot, retailing for $100. It includes two audio drivers, which Amazon claims deliver three times the bass of its fifth-generation predecessor. The Dot Max utilizes a custom AZ3 chip designed to improve conversation detection and background noise filtering. This chip also powers the OmniSense platform, which employs Wi-Fi Radar and audio sensors to monitor the local environment.
Integrating the Alexa Home Theater feature
The Alexa Home Theater feature leverages the capabilities of these new devices. It allows customers to use up to five new Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max speakers. The result is a surround sound setup for compatible Fire TV devices.
The system aims for ease of use. Once you plug in the speakers, Alexa automatically configures the Home Theater setup. The OmniSense technology is crucial to this process. It automatically tunes the speakers by analyzing the room’s acoustics, size, and the physical location of the devices. This provides a consistent, tailored audio experience without requiring manual calibration. Amazon representatives confirmed that the new Home Theater feature does not support the original Echo Studio model.
The new Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max are available for pre-order. Early adopters will receive initial access to the Alexa+ assistant.