The Echo Studio can also upmix other music to 3D on its own, but the effect isn't nearly as prominent or capable. And, of course, there are still limits to what a single speaker can do, even if it has drivers pumping out sound in all directions. Performance That’s far from ideal when you’re midway through a movie because Alexa momentarily mutes the audio to listen to commands – and it’s a slow, rather laborious way of adjusting the volume anyway. You can access tone controls through the Alexa app for Android and iOS, plus change volume manually and pair another Echo Studio or manage and group any other Echo speakers you own.

Like all previous Echo devices, you'll still find the trademark ring of LEDs around the top of the Echo Studio.Well, this is what the Echo Studio is really about. Sure, it looks pretty good. And of course, it's capable of all the amazingly clever stuff you've become accustomed to from Alexa over the years – but does it sound any good? Fire up the Echo Studio for the first time and Alexa will tune its sound for your room's acoustics by firing out a number of different test tones and reacting to its readings. The whole process doesn't last longer than a few seconds, but you will need to recalibrate the speaker if you move it around. Again, it can't produce a true surround sound field that completely wraps around you, but the Echo Studio offers some impressive stereo imaging and forward-facing verticality that gives the impression of a pair of stereo speakers with additional upward-firing drivers. At high volumes, the speaker fills the room easily, bringing the exciting thunder of guitar strums and drumrolls while letting Bellamy's voice come through clearly. When he sings that no one's going to take him alive, his voice can be heard directly in center, while the harmonies can be placed in the distance, to the left and right. (unknown)

Again, it can't produce a true surround sound field that completely wraps around you, but the Echo Studio offers some impressive stereo imaging and forward-facing verticality that gives the impression of a pair of stereo speakers with additional upward-firing drivers. At high volumes, the speaker fills the room easily, bringing the exciting thunder of guitar strums and drumrolls while letting Bellamy's voice come through clearly. When he sings that no one's going to take him alive, his voice can be heard directly in center, while the harmonies can be placed in the distance, to the left and right.Producing immersive, directional audio is always going to be difficult, but doing it from a single speaker source is even more challenging.So how does it fare?