Amazon had a huge day yesterday announcing loads of new devices and features. I’ve covered most the new hardware in individual posts but I haven’t yet had the chance to cover all the new software features coming to Alexa and their devices. Before I do that, here is a full list of all of the new hardware devices that Amazon has announced, along with a breakdown of the different variations and discounts available for each device.
Available for Pre-order
- Arrives: November 14, 2018
- Variations: 2-Tuners w/ 500GB, 4-Tuners w/ 1TB
- Discounts: AmazonBasics 50 Mile Range Antenna for $24.99
- Arrives: October 11, 2018
- Variations: Charcoal, Sandstone
- Discounts: Free Philips Hue bulb with purchase, $100 off when buying 2, With Ring Video Doorbell for $428.99 (saves $50), Add Amazon Smart plug for $15
- Arrives: October 11, 2018
- Variations: Charcoal, Heathery Gray, Sandstone
- Discounts: Free Philips Hue bulb with purchase, Echo Sub Bundle with 2 Echo Plus for $329.97 (saves $100), Add Amazon Smart plug for $15
- Arrives: October 11, 2018
- Variations: Charcoal, Heathery Gray, Sandstone
- Discounts: Save $10 when buying 2, Add Amazon Smart plug for $15
- Arrives: October 11, 2018
- Variations: Only comes in Charcoal
- Discounts:Echo Sub Bundle with 2 Echo for $249.97 (saves $80), Echo Sub Bundle with 2 Echo Plus for $329.97 (saves $100)
- Arrives: October 11, 2018
- Variations: None
- Discounts: $10 off when purchased with any Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, or Echo Show
- Arrives: November 14, 2018
- Variations: None
- Discounts: None
- Arrives: October 18, 2018
- Variations: Only comes in White
- Discounts: None
Available via Invite
- Arrives: Unknown
- Variations: None
- Discounts: Pay only $24.99 during introductory invite period
Email Notification Available (Ordering Note Yet Available)
- Arrives: Unknown
- Variations: None
- Discounts: None
- Arrives: Unknown
- Variations: None
- Discounts: None
- Arrives: Unknown
- Variations: None
- Discounts: None
- Arrives: Unknown
- Variations: None
- Discounts: None
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
The most interesting thing to come out of the announcement was that when you whisper to Alexa, Alexa is going to whisper back.
I own a Brennan B2 system with over 2500 albums ripped to FLAC and stored on a drive contained within the B2.
Would any of these new devices (the Echo Link & Echo Link amp) allow me to use voice control to send this music to Echo Dot units in separate rooms. That way, this collection would be available throughout my house.
There are input into the device. I fear it may just allow you to send music to one set of speakers. This means it just replicates, at a much greater cost just hooking your Echo Dot directly into powered speakers or a stereo system.
I don’t believe any of these products are what you’re looking for, but we don’t know much about the Echo Link devices.
What you essentially want to do is play your local files through Alexa (in a very specific way.). All of these products are basically different ways to get cloud content to play through your home stereo.
You’ll want to look into the various services for playing local content through Alexa. I haven’t looked into any really so I can’t give you a recommendation. I really doubt you’ll be able to interface the Brennan B2 into one of these services. You’ll probably have to manually take files from the Brennan and also store them somewhere that the Alexa service can access, like the cloud, a PC, or a NAS.
The Brennan B2 system already has Alexa voice control capabilities. There’s a section called “Old News – Alexa” in the left column on their website (www.thebrennan.com) that describes the capability.
The Brennan feature you mention is only bluetooth – alexa to brennan.
The OP seems to want brennan to alexa. One way to play a music collection is to install the MyMediaforAlexa skill. I think it will only broadcast to one alexa device at a time.
Theoretically, you can play your stored music on an Alex enabled device using Plex. However it is a confusing nightmare to set up and the voice interface isn’t much better.