The Echo Link takes streaming music and makes it sound better. Just wirelessly connect it to an Echo [1] device and plug it into a set of nice speakers. It’s the missing link.
The Link bridges the gap between streaming music and a nice audio system. Instead of settling for the analog connection of an Echo [2] Dot, the Echo Link serves audio over a digital connection and it makes just enough of a difference to justify the $200 price.
I plugged the Eco Link into the audio system in my office and was pleased with the results. This is the Echo device I’ve been waiting for.
In my case the Echo Link took Spotfiy’s 320 kbps stream and opened it up. The Link creates a wider soundstage and makes the music a bit more full and expansive. The bass hits a touch harder and the highs now have a new-found crispness. Lyrics are clearer and easier to pick apart. The differences are subtle. Everything is just slightly improved over the sound quailty found when using an Echo Dot’s 3.5mm output.
Don’t have a set of nice speakers? That’s okay, Amazon [3] also just released the Echo Link Amp, which features a built-in amplifier capable of powering a set of small speakers (read the review here).
Here’s the thing: I’m surprised Amazon [4] is making the Echo Link. The device caters to what must be a small demographic of Echo owners looking to improve the quality of Pandora or Spotify [5] when using an audio system. And yet, without support for local or streaming high resolution audio, it’s not good enough for audiophiles. This is for wannabe audiophiles....