Alexa and Spotify

SeduLOUs

I wouldn't use a dot for music personally, it's meant for just talking to you or attaching to another speaker if you want to use it for music. It's quite tinny playing music on it's own. I have heard the Echo is pretty decent, but I don't have them personally, I have dots connected to Sonos.

You will need Spotify premium (or some other premium music service) to use with Alexa. Spotify can be had for £4.99 a month if you are a student.

No point buying the Echo Plus unless she is going to be getting other smart home devices - the 'plus' is that it acts as a hub for Hive Heating, Philips Hue lights and some others.

Gers

There is a really good FB group for all things Echo and Dot. The people there are also knowledgeable and helpful, I found it most useful when I first got the Echo and then a wee Dot.

Echo for music! I use Amazon Music which is free for Prime members, I don't use the paid for service.

Saver-upper

Thank you everyone for your help.
After lots of research,and listening to the Echo and Echo dot at Currys this afternoon,I bought the Echo for £69.99.It did sound less "tinny" than the dot.Apparently I also got a few months of Deezer free with it also.
Thanks again for everyone's help.

OnePound

Hi, I am also looking at getting a speaker for my son. I am confused as to whether the Echo will work with Spotify Free version? Can the Echo be used as a Bluetooth speaker and therefore play the free version??

ss53

No echo will work directly with free Spotify - you need a premium Spotify account.

CAn't speak about bluetooth as I haven't tried it.

In terms of sound quality...

Echo Dot is not up to the job of a music speaker.
Echo is fine.
For a bedroom Echo Spot is a good choice - sound quality is vey good - and it doubles as an alarm clock.

OnePound

Does anyone know if the free version of Spotify works using Bluetooth?