Amazon announces a bevy of new Echo devices, including a $199 hi-fi speaker

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  The new $199 Echo Studio speaker. [credit: Amazon ]

At an event in Seattle today, Amazon announced a slew of new Echo devices that build on the company's existing smart speakers. Of note is the new Echo Studio, a $199 smart speaker that supports 3D audio and Dolby Atmos sound.

It had been rumored before this event that Amazon, which recently starting supporting lossless audio on its music streaming service, would come out with a speaker that could better play such music. The Echo Studio is that device—it looks like a beefier version of the original Echo and strikingly similar to Apple's Homepod. It will fill a room with sound using its left, right, and top mid-range speakers, directional tweeter, and 5.25-inch bass driver and accompanying bass port. It will also adjust to the space it's placed in by using its built-in microphones to calibrate.

At $199, the Echo Studio could be an alternative to the Sonos One speaker. It's also not a coincidence that the Studio costs $100 less than both Apple's Homepod and the Google Home Max—Amazon is attempting to position the Studio as a more affordable option.

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