It will, however, respond to voice commands issued to connected Alexa-, Google- and Siri-powered devices, including, naturally, the Sonos One. Similarly, the Sonos Amp – which you may well think would be voice controllable – doesn’t have an in-built microphone for voice control. The Echo Link and Echo Link Amp – Amazon's music streamer and music streaming amplifier respectively – don't have integrated microphones so still need a third-party Alexa device, such as an Echo Dot, connected to be obey commands and be part of voice-controlled music groups throughout your home. If it's an Amazon Echo device, that means Alexa must be built in, right? Wrong.
How about the Amazon Echo Link/Amp or Sonos Amp? *Some wireless speakers are platform agnostic and support both Alexa and Google Assistant, such as the Sonos One. These are, for now, more or less limited to wireless 'smart' speakers, though.
These products – 'smart' themselves – have integrated microphones to pick up your commands, and run Amazon's voice software internally, rather than simply being able to work with the technology. Products with Alexa and*/or Google Assistant baked in, however, do not require you to already own and connect a third-party smart device.
How about hi-fi with Alexa or Google Assistant integrated?Īs we've explained, almost any receiver, integrated amp or powered speaker with a 3.5mm input or Bluetooth connection will essentially 'work' with Alexa (or Google Assistant, for that matter), if you've already got an Alexa- (or Google-) powered device to physically or wirelessly connect it to. *Older Google smart speakers, such as the Home Mini, can also do this. However, it does not have a 3.5mm output. Want Google Assistant to run the show instead? Similarly, you can pair a Google Nest Mini* (Google's version of the Echo Dot) over Bluetooth for voice commands and music to play through your Bluetooth-toting system. The diminutive, cheap and cheerful Amazon Echo Dot has a 3.5mm output, which means you can wire it to any receiver, integrated amp or powered speaker with a 3.5mm input. Alternatively, it features built-in Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) Bluetooth, meaning you can connect it wirelessly to any Bluetooth-enabled receiver, speaker or soundbar.