This is a noticeable step up from previous Echo Dot models.

The sound quality is the biggest difference. It’s fuller, louder, and the bass is actually present instead of feeling thin like older versions. For a compact speaker, it fills a room surprisingly well and works great for music, podcasts, or just background audio.

Setup was quick through the Alexa app, and it integrated right into my existing smart home setup without any issues. Voice recognition is responsive, even from across the room.

The design is clean and fits well on a desk or nightstand without taking up much space.

Only minor downside is that it’s still not a full replacement for a dedicated high-end speaker, but that’s not really what it’s meant to be.

Overall, this is a solid upgrade if you’re already in the Alexa ecosystem or want a compact smart speaker with better sound than the typical entry-level options.

I purchased two Echo Dot Max speakers with stands. One for the upstairs and one for the downstairs. I already installed Amazon Basic Smart LED Light Bulbs in the living room and upstairs bedroom. Having already set up the Alexa App on my phone with WIFI connections, the Echo Dots took less than 3 minutes to set up. The automatically synced with my Alex App, downloaded a firmware update, and were ready to go once I grouped them according to their location in my home; one for the living room and one for the main bedroom. I didn't have to input WIFI names and passwords, the whole set up process was extremely easy and seamless. The Echo Dots once assigned to their group location and their microphones enabled, easily controlled my lights in the upstairs bedroom and downstairs living room just by giving the Echo Dots a command: "Alexa, turn on the lights in the bedroom" or "Alexa turn on the lights in the living room". Any command I would give to the App on my phone the Echo Dots commensurately responded to. I then linked my Pandora account to the Echo Dots which was super easy to do on the App and now the little Echo Dots can play any station or music I chose on Pandora. Have to say I am thoroughly impressed with the technology. Yes they are a bit pricey but well worth it because of all the features they have and they sound fantastic too. They look great on my bed stand and living room end table. I don't know how I got along without them. I will probably buy a third Echo Dot for my other upstairs guest bedroom. No wonder Amazon is as big as they are. It's an incredible company providing goods and services that everyone can thoroughly enjoy.

UPDATE: I purchased the third Echo Dot Max for my guest bedroom. One note: I had difficulty connecting the WIFI due to the remoteness of the guest bedroom. The problem I had when setting up in the upstairs bedroom, was that the Alexa App prompted me to input the WIFI password which I did but it wouldn't recognize it and asked for me to input it again. I did this four times when I decided to take the Echo Dot Max and the Lamps downstairs into the same room as the WIFI router and the problem went away. The setup proceeded without any issues bypassing the need to input the WIFI Password. I took the lamps and the Echo Dot Max back upstairs and the system works. The Echo Dot easily recognized three smart bulbs turning them on and off with a spoken Alexa command. Also streams Pandora like the other Echo Dots.

This Echo works great with our Ring doorbell and made everything super easy to connect and use together. The sound quality is much better than expected for the size, with clear audio and surprisingly good bass.

One thing I really like is that there are different Alexa voice options and styles so you can customize it to what you prefer. Setup was quick, it responds well, and it has been a great addition to our home for music, timers, weather, and notifications. Definitely worth it!

Purchased this to replace a 1st generation echo spot which is not compatible with new Alexa+ format. It worked fine, but never had great sound like many of the echo devices do. I have multiple echo devices including several 1st generation shows, echo 15, echo 5, echo 8, echo dots and echo studio. The 1st generation shows (which still work great but are not Alexa+ compatible), the echo 8 and echo studio speakers have exceptionally good sound quality. The echo 15 sadly does not which is a bummer considering the price and otherwise beautiful screen. The dots are hit or miss. I have one in the garage that sounds wonderful, but others sound like an inexpensive bluetooth speaker. So far, this Echo Dox Max is good, but not great. I haven't used it solely for listening to music or as a part of a speaker group which is where I really like having multiple echo devices. I've been listening to audiobooks and today show radio on SiriusXM and the sound is ok, nothing to brag about. In my opinion it is nowhere near as good as the Echo studio, but it's a lot more affordable. I had the first generation Echo speaker (tall cylinder) and it was an amazing speaker that rivalled Bose/Sonos. The newer studio speakers are also very good sound wise but look so similar to the dot they are hard to distinguish. The Echo Dot Max came connected to my house setup which is nice. It's plug and play.

arrived quickly, set up a breeze, just plug them in. nice looking little speakers, bought a pair, great purple color. lights and flashes and races. good sound for an average sized room, a little buggy and quirky at first and the app is hard to figure out but they settled down nicely. alexa+ is a trip. that's the whole thing for me, the voice feature. alexa, play 'a love of your own' by the average white band. can set alarms, notifications, has tricks and skills. i have a double barreled analog set up with streaming so they get a little lost in the shuffle but they do things that have great value. they can play your amazon music content by voice! i'd like to hear the big ones.

I recently replaced a few of my older Echo Dots with the new Echo Dot Max, and the difference is immediately noticeable. I didn’t realize how much I was missing until I heard the upgraded sound. The bass is dramatically deeper and the overall audio is much fuller and clearer compared to my previous Dots. It easily fills the room now instead of sounding like a small speaker sitting on a shelf.

Streaming music through services like Amazon Music and Spotify sounds noticeably richer, especially at higher volumes. Vocals are crisp, and the added bass gives everything more depth without distortion. It really feels like a proper room speaker rather than just a smart assistant.

Setup was simple through Amazon’s Alexa app, and I appreciate that it has a built-in smart home hub. I was able to connect and control my lights and other devices without needing additional hardware. The automatic sound adjustment is a nice touch too—it adapts well to the space without me having to tweak settings.

I also like pairing it with another Echo for even better sound. It creates a much more immersive listening experience compared to my older setup. Alexa responses are quick and feel more natural, and the privacy button gives added peace of mind.

Overall, replacing my old Echo Dots with the Echo Dot Max was absolutely worth it. If you’re thinking about upgrading for better sound and stronger smart home integration, this one delivers.

The Echo Dot Max works great when it works. The Echo goes dormant daily requiring a reset. I've reset the device including Factory reset followed by configuration. After a short period (30 minutes to 12 hours), it goes dormant again. The Amazon returns process for this item gets hung up and I keep going in circles. Very frustrating.

It is a great little speaker with a great sound - when it works.

I'd love to replace my Echo but the Amazon systems do not work.

Update: My Echo Dot Max has not failed for several days. I'm cautiously optimistic.

Since it is not failing any more and it is a great little device, I will re-rate to 5-stars.

I ordered the Dot Max after seeing the Alexa+ user discount. Then I read the reviews. The 1-star reviews made me doubt my purchase and I planned to be ready for a prompt return. However, my experience is different from what I read, both about the Dot Max and Alexa+. I have about a dozen echo devices ranging from the original Echo and Dots to the big screen Echo Shows. I've been using Alexa since 2016.

Some of the complaints vs. my experience:

Complaint: Alexa+ is worse than Alexa:

I've been using Alex+ now for a few months. I'm very pleased and find it to be a significant improvement over old Alexa. It is better than Alexa in controlling my various home automation devices spanning multiple different technologies. Mainly, it controls the devices more reliably. Since I have multiple Echos around the house, sometimes old Alexa hears the command first and fails to control the device. I then switch to a new Alexa device (different wake word) and it almost always works first time.

I have one serious home automation experience that has caused me to provide safety related feedback to Amazon and be clearer with my pronunciations. One time I asked Alexa+ to turn off "Kitchen Ceiling" and somehow Alexa+ heard that as "turn off all AC". I found my thermostats had turned off, power to my backup Echo Flow power stations off and a few other things. That one is a big deal, but otherwise it has been great and a home automation improvement.

Aside from home automation, Alexa+'s ability to take a variety of question forms and understand what you are asking about is a great plus--no more trying to find the perfect phrasing to get Alexa to understand.

A relatively minor complaint: I've been through all the voices trying to find one that is plain spoken without gratuitous empathetic intro and other "emotional cushion" expressions in responses, but they all have it. That said I've asked Alexa+ to stop adding the gratuitous empathy and that seems to have worked mostly.

Complaint: long time lag before response

I'm really not experiencing this at all. Long ago I had set up Alexa to provide an acknowledgement response that a command has been heard (e.g., "OK" or a sound) and that seems to work for any delayed action responses, but I detect no significant difference in delay from old Alexa to Alexa+.

Complaint: Alexa+ responding without having used a wake word.

I see no different behavior than old Alexa. Yes, occasionally Alexa wakes when hearing something like "Alexa" on TV or something sounding similar to the wake word, but that is nothing new. I have Alexa+ configured to be ready to receive follow-up questions without saying "Alexa" again, which is very useful in a connected thread of discussion/inquiry with the AI. That DOES cause Alexa to listen for a few seconds after providing its last response to see if there is follow-up. Sometimes, this does trigger an unwanted response from Alexa+, but it is infrequent and I am aware that listening continues for a few seconds so I avoid talking until that clears. The light on Alexa indicates that listening is continuing in such cases, so it is not stealthily doing so.

Overall, I'm pleased with my new Echo Dot Max. I'm keeping it. I'll update this review if I notice anything new or different.

Product Review:

The Echo Dot Max itself is excellent. The sound quality is impressive for its size, functionality is solid, and Alexa performs exactly as expected. Once everything was set up, the device worked great and feels well designed. I genuinely enjoy the product and look forward to continuing to use Alexa devices in the future.

PURCHASING & CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE (Important Context):

I want to provide context around the purchasing process, as it required a significant amount of time, persistence, and unnecessary stress.

I originally attempted to purchase two older versions of this product (used). After multiple payment processing issues, I was forced to cancel and attempt to repurchase, at which point the items disappeared entirely and could not be located.

After contacting customer service, I was told that no new or used stock of those models remained. After the representative spoke with a supervisor, I was offered a price-match arrangement on the newest model instead. I received an email confirming this offer and was instructed to complete the full-price purchase and then call back to receive reimbursement of the price difference.

I followed those instructions exactly. When I called back, I was told by another agent and supervisor that the reimbursement could not be processed until the item was delivered. I waited, received the device, and called again.

At that point, despite prior confirmations (now involving multiple frontline agents and supervisors), I encountered repeated resistance to honoring the agreement. The call turned into hours of back-and-forth, during which I was repeatedly told the reimbursement could not be done, despite written confirmation stating otherwise.

During this process, I was repeatedly encouraged to end the call without resolution or to be transferred to the Echo/Alexa specialist team, with the suggestion that they had authority over the purchase. This created additional DELAYS & DEFLECTION, even though the issue was not related to product functionality but to a previously confirmed purchase arrangement.

The situation became EXTREMELY STRESSFUL, as the purchase required funds I had set aside for essential insurance payments, and an NSF would have resulted in penalties I could not afford. The prolonged uncertainty was disheartening, especially after relying on information that had been repeatedly confirmed.

After several hours of persistence and refusing to allow the issue to be dismissed or deferred further, the agreement was finally honored and the matter was resolved.

Additional Observation:

After everything was resolved, the original models I was told were unavailable suddenly appeared back in stock. I was then able to purchase the two used devices (used) as I originally wanted at the reasonable price they were still listed as.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The product itself is outstanding, and I’m very happy with the Echo Dot Max and the additional Echo devices I later purchased. My hope in sharing this experience is simply that internal communication and consistency improve, so customers are not placed under unnecessary financial stress after relying on confirmed information.

Despite the ordeal, I remain a satisfied Alexa user and appreciate the final resolution to some respect. But, overall, it does NOT MAKE up for, nor compensate for the Uneeded, undue TIME & STRESS endured, especially after I had mentioned my current Ongoing HEALTH Related Battle.

My Opinion:

While the product itself is excellent, this experience showed me how difficult it can be for individual customers to resolve issues when information is inconsistent across multiple representatives.

El volumen es excelente y la calidad de audio y la tela son muy buenas , de verdad si merece 5 estrellas

sounds good, trying to set up a Yamaha receiver can be a bit challenging for voice commands to change inputs .

it turns on lights and smart plugs perfectly

Me encanta la tecnología, que ayuda en el día a día; estuve pensando mucho para comprar las echo Dot Max con el fire stick 4K porque pensé que era casi lo mismo que las bocinas que incluyen mi tele inteligente. Mi sorpresa es inmensa al escuchar las películas y todos los detalles a través del sonido inmersivo que ofrecen estas excelentes bocinas (compré dos). Es sorpréndete la calidad del sonido que ofrece, mejoraron el ver mi televisión inteligente….incluye Alexa +, vale la pena!!!

My Bose SoundTouch mini ceased working so needed a replacement. Decided to give the new Echo Dot Max a try. Purchased two last Friday and configured as a stereo pair. Setup in a 21 ft x 21 ft living/dining/kitchen area. Sound is surprisingly rich with ample base (a couple of + above neutral) and clear sounds from the midrange and high frequency tweeter at the neutral level. Overall very satisfied with the stereo output produced by these mini speakers. Good value for the cost, although I should have waited a few days as the price has dropped by 18% ($18) for the pair. 😭