Amazon Echo Input (2018)

Very small ; Great price ; Works with Bluetooth and wired speakers

Not all features work over Bluetooth

Designed to be connected to an external speaker, the Echo Input is a cheap and easy way to make an existing dumb system smart. As well as a 3.5mm input, the Echo Input can also connect to a speaker via Bluetooth for a completely wire-free experience....

Good value ; Easy to hide away ; Microphones work well

Bluetooth issues ; Limited port options

Essentially an Echo Dot without the speaker, the Echo Input is the perfect partner for your trusty dumb Hi-Fi or home cinema receiver.

Sensitive microphones ; Low cost ; Solid sound quality

No phono or optical connectors

An affordable way to try out the Alexa digital assistant with your existing equipment

Cheap ; Easy to use ; Works with Bluetooth and analogue speakers

No optical output ; Analogue audio quality is so so

In some ways, these concerns don’t really matter, though. The Echo Input has been designed as a cheap way of adding voice control to an existing speaker, nothing more, nothing less. You can’t expect it to act as a source in an expensive audio setup and...

The Echo Input will connect to just about any speaker or audio setup, adding in full Alexa voice controls. In our tests, the microphones heard us just as well as the mics in other Echo devices, even at a distance.

It's hard to recommend the Input over the often-on-sale Echo Dot, which does everything the Input does and features a speaker of its own, too.

This is a sensible addition to the Alexa lineup, but it's not as good a value as the Echo Dot.

Small and sleek ; Inexpensive ; Full Alexa features, including calling and Drop In

Has trouble recognizing commands if it's too close to a speaker playing loud music

The tiny Amazon Echo Input lets you add Alexa to any location or device in your home.

Easy way to add Alexa control to existing speakers ; Compact hardware is easy to set up ; Cheapest - on paper, at least - Echo device so far ; Flexibility of Bluetooth or bundled 3.5mm cable

Amazon's own promotions make Echo Dot cheaper ; Can run into standby issues with external speakers ; Can't control Bluetooth pairing by voice

The Echo Input will connect to just about any speaker or audio setup, adding in full Alexa voice controls. In our tests, the microphones heard us just as well as the mics in other Echo devices, even at a distance.

It's hard to recommend the Input over the often-on-sale Echo Dot, which does everything the Input does and features a speaker of its own, too.

This is a sensible addition to the Alexa lineup, but it's not as good a value as the Echo Dot.