Amazon has put the Echo Input on sale for $19.99. This matches last months sale and is the lowest price the Echo Input has ever been. The Echo Input is essentially an Echo Dot without a built-in speaker. If you plan to always have your Alexa device connected to external speakers, the Echo Input is worth considering over an Echo Dot because it is much smaller and discrete. I personally have one permanently muted and connected to my TV soundbar as an “Alexa bridge” to allow the soundbar to be part of my whole-home audio group. The small form factor lets me tuck it out of sight and the little red mute LED is much less noticeable than the red ring of a muted Echo Dot. An Echo Dot is more versatile because it can be repurposed in the future and used on its own, but if you value minimalism and just need to add Alexa to a speaker, then the Echo Input could be the better option.
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I use it just like Elias, connected to my soundbar. However, I have also used it in my car!
Ugh, Google needs something like this… I’d jump on this sale, but I’m already heavily invested in Google’s ecosystem.
they already had it ,it was called chrome cast audio
I know, but it’s been discontinued. It also didn’t have a mic…
I bought one of these during the last sale via your link. I have it plugged into my stereo for my spouse to use.
Initially saying “Play 50s rock and roll.” brought up an Iheart station. Nothing but samples from Prime Music. Turns out had to switch to her “side” of our prime account. But then the same phrase only plays Prime Music. So the phrase has to be longer ~”Plays Iheart radio 50s rock and roll.” Weird.
And this is exactly why most people won’t use this gimmick.
Hi, I have an echo dot. What would be the benefit or use situation for an echo input? In other words, when would I use an echo input instead of an echo dot or echo?
@Elias – If you have it connected to your soundbar but its permanently muted then what is the point? Doesn’t it then just become a paper weight?
When muted, it can still be controlled by other Alexa devices. If I say “Alexa, play … on the soundbar” or “Alexa, play … everywhere” to any Alexa device, the soundbar will play music via the Echo Input. I do this because there is already an Echo and a Fire TV Cube (using the “Computer” wake word) in my living room, right next to the soundbar. https://www.instagram.com/p/BtHRm5LFvzw/