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The Echo Dot is a great piece of technology from Amazon for a low price. If you don’t want everything that the Alexa can do then this guy can get you close. It supports voice functions like Alexa to do a variety of different things for any room in the house.
What’s even better is that it can be connected to just about anything. The tiny little device connects to any speaker with a 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth, making it ideal for those who like to mix and match.
With so many options for Bluetooth speakers, it can be difficult to find the one that’s right for you. We run down the best speakers for the Echo Dot, so read on to find the one that’s right for you.
Quick Compare
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Waterproofing |
IPX7 |
None |
None |
IPX5 |
None |
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Battery life |
9 Hours |
N/A |
10 Hours |
16 Hours |
N/A |
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Connections |
Bluetooth |
Bluetooth, 3.5mm |
Bluetooth, 3.5mm, AirPlay, DLNA |
Bluetooth, 3.5mm |
Bluetooth, 3.5mm, AirPlay, DLNA |
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Price |
$129.99 |
$179.95 |
$179.95 |
$39.99 |
$699.99 |
#1 UE Roll
Starting off the list with one of the most well-rounded speakers of the lot is the UE Roll. It’s small, inexpensive, and stylish with especially long battery life and range. If you don’t want to fuss with much, this is the place to look.
The Roll is meant to be taken out. The nearly flat speaker has a bungee cord on the back intended to be attached to anything possible. Throw it on a bike, onto a backpack, or even on your hand. Anything is fair game.
You don’t need to worry too much about dropping it either. The Roll is completely shockproof. While I wouldn’t drop it from insane heights, it can take quite a few drops before breaking. In addition, it’s waterproof too. IPX7 certification means it can be fully submerged in up three feet of water for up to 30 minutes without fear.
UE is so confident about this, they even include an inflatable floatie to put the speaker in for floating around the pool. In true form, you can take this speaker anywhere with little to no fear of it breaking.
You can connect it to a Dot via 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth (as with all speakers) but the Bluetooth works exceptionally well. A range of 100ft is far above what’s expected meaning the party doesn’t have to stop, even if you go out of range.
Battery life won’t be a hurdle either. You can get nine hours out of the Roll on each charge. A recharge requires a little over an hour, but you can plug the speaker directly into a wall outlet through a micro USB cable and use power from that.
While the speaker is loud, you may need a little more. UE allows you to chain two Roll 2s together over Bluetooth and stream from the same source. You control this through the app where you can also find controls for the speaker and customizable EQ.
The UE Roll 2 is a seriously good-sounding speaker that can handle a serious beating. If you live a party life, you can’t baby the audio equipment. I’d toss a few of these around with no worry of shock or water, no matter the situation.
#2 Harman Kardon Aura
If you are less into the flair of the Roll and want something that looks a bit more unique then the Harman Kardon Aura definitely fits the criteria. It looks like an overpriced appliance you’d find in a SkyMall, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is an inexpensive Bluetooth speaker with a style all its own.
The design, acoustically, actually makes a lot of sense. Harman Kardon places six 1.5” mid and high-range transducers around the speaker, with a 4.5” sub in the middle. This creates a full 360-degree image, filling the room easily.
This works in tandem with Harman Kardon’s stereo-widening DSP which is built into the speaker. This takes what the drivers are already doing and turns it up, helping push the virtual space so you don’t know which part of the speaker is supposed to be the front.
You can turn the DSP on and off through the app, available for both Android and iOS. The app is meant to be more than functionality for the speaker. It will allow you to organize and manage your music library, so it’s definitely worth a download.
Don’t expect the speaker to hold up to much, though. It’s intended to stay stationary which, depending on your needs, is a good thing. Plus, it really shines in an enclosed space, where the onboard DSP and 360-degree placement of drivers can shine through.
It is, however, quite the conversation starter. The speaker features a unique dome design all its own. While at first, it’s a little strange, it’s not hard to grow and appreciation for it and how Harman Bardon was able to think outside of the box.
If you intended to set up and speaker and leave it in one space, in hopes of filling an entire room, then this one is for you. I’d advise against using it outdoors, as the stereo widening DSP sounds a bit off and exposure to the elements due to how fragile it is.
#3 Bose SoundLink Mini II
Bose isn’t known for exceptional value. While SoundLink Mini II speakers sound great, the price isn’t always the best out there. In true form, this mini speaker will set you back nearly $200, but it’s packed with enough features and great sound to justify.
The size of the speaker is what’s really surprising. Bose intends this speaker to be taken on the go (although I wouldn’t put it through the paces of the Roll 2) and the design works for that. The slender profile can easily fit in your hand or a bag, and the weight of only 1.5lbs makes it easy to carry.
You won’t need to charge it very often either. Despite its small size, Bose has managed an astounding 10 hours of battery life from a single charge. As with other speakers, you can plug it in and listen as it’s charging.
I’ve been going on about the small size, but that doesn’t mean this speaker has a small sound. Actually, it sounds massive. Like all of Bose’s portable speakers, it almost seems like the audio is coming from a completely different source, tricking your ear into believing the box is larger than it actually is.
A built-in microphone brings the convenience of other speakers as well. You can take calls with the built-in echo cancellation, or access Siri or Google Now. Just say whatever you would to your phone and you’re on your way.
However, this speaker is truly intended for use with the Echo Dot. As of the time of writing, you can save $35 on a Bose Soundlink Mini II when you bundle it with a Dot. If your math skills farewell, that means you are essentially getting the Dot included for free.
The cost is pretty high, but you’re getting a premium-sounding speaker and, if you capitalize on the current deal, an Echo Dot for free.
#4 Sony XB10
If you need true portability then the Sony XB10 is for you. This speaker is incredibly small, easily through into or clipped onto your bag. With a low price tag and big sound, this is an ideal arrangement to pick up a few and see what happens.
You’ll see benefits from more than one speaker. You can chain up to two of them wirelessly for stereo sound. Yes, the speaker is mono, but Sony has some stereo simulation going on inside so it’s hard to tell the difference. Chaining up two means you get a wide stereo space, setting them up on opposing ends of the room.
A speakerphone built inside is a huge plus considering the price as well. While the echo cancellation isn’t as good as other devices, you should be able to make and receive calls with little hassle. Accessing Google Now and Siri isn’t a problem either.
What’s really impressive is the battery life. Because this speaker is so stripped down, you get a full 16 hours of playtime on a single charge. That’s really great for taking it on the go with you or even setting a few up in a room without worrying too much about battery life.
If you do want to take it out, this speaker can take quite a beating before it breaks. The IPX5 waterproofing is reassuring that the speaker can stand up to water, but I wouldn’t fully submerge it for long periods of time.
The XB10 isn’t the first speaker I’d buy for the Echo Dot. It’s not an ideal solution by any means. The point of this speaker is as an additional unit that can easily be taken around the house, or anywhere you go. It’s small and inexpensive, so you have little to lose in trying one out.
#5 Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin
If you want a truly high-end experience then you’ll find it with the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin. If you had the original Zeppelin Air, then you’ll feel right at home. This is the same iconic design, minus the 30-pin dock for older iPods.
No, this updated version is meant to be used wirelessly. You get full Bluetooth functionality, meaning an Echo Dot is right at home. If you have the money to drop on the Zeppelin, then the extra $30 for the Dot is a worthwhile investment.
Alone, the speaker is just a Bluetooth speaker (not factoring in the sound). However, it feels much more premium with the Dot. It opens up the functionality of the speaker and really makes it feel like your money was well spent.
You do get more than Bluetooth, though. The speaker also supports AirPlay and Spotify Connect over wifi. Again, this isn’t void of much more inexpensive speakers, but it’s a nice addition to see here as it opens up what can be connected.
The true selling point of this speaker is the sound. It’s a full-range speaker, with dedicated drivers for each area of the frequency spectrum. You have two 25W tweeters on the opposing ends of the speaker, two 25W midrange drivers slightly in, and a single 50W subwoofer in the center.
And, because of that distribution, the sound is incredibly clear. These are audiophile levels of quality with the convenience of inexpensive speakers. You get all the functionality possible with the Echo Dot, with all the sound of a huge setup with tons of wires.
The Zeppelin is the best of the best. It’s a beautiful looking and sounding speaker with a boatload of features. If you need all the bells and whistles and have a keen ear for quality than the Zeppelin is the speaker for you.
Conclusion
You can pair any Bluetooth speaker with an Echo Dot, even any speaker with a 3.5mm jack. However, not every speaker is the best option for it. You’re sure to find a great one on this list, but make sure to adapt it to your needs and budget.
If you want to take the speaker just about anywhere you can do without having it break, then the UE Roll 2 is a great option. It’s robust in sound, but in size, and can handle whatever beating you could possibly throw at it.
For the budget-conscious, the Sony XB10 is a great option too. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but, for $40, it’s hard to go wrong. The speaker can take a serious beating and it produces some great sound considering how small it is.
If you want the best of the best then the Zeppelin with definitely deliver it. It’s a speaker with all the bells and whistles and great sound that could only come courtesy of Bowers & Wilkins.
Which speaker is your favorite? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading.