Amazon Echo Dot Max Review: Alexa+ Shines, Sound Disappoints

6 hours ago7 min read5 comments

The Amazon Echo Dot Max arrives at a curious crossroads for smart speakers, positioned as the $100 gateway to Alexa+ while carrying the weight of Amazon's audio legacy. Having tested countless speakers from vintage tube amplifiers to modern connected devices, I approach this new Echo with the ear of a music collector who remembers when the original 2020 Echo delivered astonishing sound quality that made my HomePod Mini sound thin by comparison.That speaker, now discontinued, paired a robust 3-inch woofer with dual tweeters, creating a rich soundscape where Lorde's electronic glitches and Alice In Chains' guitar fury had room to breathe. The Echo Dot Max, by contrast, makes do with a smaller 2.5-inch woofer and single tweeter, creating what feels like a compressed listening experience where frequencies compete rather than complement. During testing, I ran through everything from The Aces' disco-inspired 'Jealous' to Nine Inch Nails' industrial textures, noticing how the Dot Max handles volume well enough to fill a medium room but struggles with separation—the snap of a snare drum gets lost in guitar-heavy tracks, and bass lacks the definition that made its predecessor so impressive.This isn't a bad speaker by any means, but it's the musical equivalent of a cover band that hits all the right notes without capturing the soul of the original. Where the Dot Max truly sings is with Alexa+, which feels less like talking to a robot and more like conversing with someone who actually follows baseball—during World Series testing, we discussed pitching rotations and game outcomes with remarkable fluidity.The AZ3 chip delivers responsive performance that makes Siri feel ancient by comparison, though Alexa+ still stumbles on specific music requests, once confusing Now, Now's '01' EP with Drake's 'Laugh Now Cry Later' in a moment that would make any music lover cringe. Amazon's hardware lineup has become as confusing as a streaming service's subscription tiers, with the Echo Pop, Dot, Dot Max, and Studio creating a hierarchy where audio quality doesn't necessarily scale with price. For $100, you're getting competent sound and cutting-edge AI, but unlike that vintage vinyl find that surprises you with its depth, the Echo Dot Max leaves you wanting just a little more from the chorus.

#featured

#Amazon Echo Dot Max

#Alexa+

#smart speaker

#audio quality

#AI assistant

#product review

#tech news

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