Smart speaker: Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)

The second-generation Amazon Echo sits in a sweet spot – it’s affordable, yet a fully capable smart speaker. It has dual-speakers powered by Dolby, which means it sounds much, much better than the smaller Amazon Echo Dot. However, on the smart speakers price scale it’s still a mid-range choice in comparison to the pricier Echo Plus. 

We believe its sound quality is more than good enough for most everyday needs. However, audiophiles be warned: it’s not ready to replace your Hi-Fi sound system just yet. Instead, it’s a great starter option if you want to dip your toe into the smart home space without a big financial commitment or if playing lots of music isn’t really a priority for you.