Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)

The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) has Good overall sound quality. Bass has decent to good impact depending on material, is somewhat tubby, and deep bass is lacking, and at higher volume levels, sounds like it's pumping, and some bass notes may sound distorted (loose rubber band quality). Midrange is grainy, somewhat hazy and plasticky. Treble is fairly extended but is uneven, and depending on program material can sound slightly subdued to somewhat prominent, sizzly, and smeared. Does a so-so job of recovering room ambience, the tubby quality of the bass tends to mask the natural room ambience of recordings, and the overall sound is a bit congested and can sound constricted with some program material. Good stereo separation is apparent. There was no significant difference between WiFi and Bluetooth sound quality. Provides a decent volume level in a medium sized room, but this model is better suited for near field listening with moderate volume levels.

Versatility is very good. It's a stereo speaker, with multi-room support. Wireless: WiFi supports dual-band and this unit has Bluetooth and can be paired with another Bluetooth speaker but lacks speakerphone functionality. Communications: Has support for calling and messaging - called "Drop In". Digital Assistant Muting: Has a dedicated button to disable the digital assistant by muting its microphones and video camera. Audio Connections: Lacks analog audio inputs and analog audio output. Audio Tailoring: Has user tone controls. OS Support: Android, iOS and Fire OS. Other connections and features: Lacks USB port but has an integral Smart Home Hub. Display: Has a touchscreen information display. Streaming by voice command: Supports streaming by verbal command of an excellent number of services such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tune-In, and iHeart Radio. Voice ID: Supports voice identity - a feature which allows the account holder with their "voice print" to access personal information.

Overall ease of use of the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) is Excellent. Wireless setup: Setup using iOS or Android device wireless connection, no app download needed for initial setup and no more than 5 unambiguous steps (although instructions may be required), password and network id required, steps start to finish that happen fairly quickly. Console controls: Volume controls are prominent +/- with graphical indicators of volume level which are non persistent and easily repeatable via verbal commands and easy to actuate. Also, generates a tone with respect to the level selected with discrete volume changes with the physical controls. Audio mute: Dedicated control but the marking is not the most obvious, clear indication when it is engaged. Microphone mute: Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged. Source selections: Requires app to be installed, app installation is straight forward. Once app is installed switching between wireless sources is fairly intuitive within the app. Can't select Bluetooth but Bluetooth can be connected by verbal command to previously paired device - ready to play. App remote: Volume control symbol, then volume slider, lacks index markings so not easily repeatable, but easy to actuate. Shown for currently playing streamed WiFi music. Mute: (Remote) Well marked, well placed, clear indication when it is engaged and mutes the line input. Voice transport controls: Natural language control of transport (Play/Pause/Skip/Mute), volume controls and source selection was easy and intuitive.