The Amazon Echo Input is a way to integrate Alexa into the speakers that you may already own. At a retail price of $34.99, the Echo Input media bridge has line inputs, Bluetooth, and even a far-field microphone. So it is like a Google Chromecast Audio device, but with voice control support.
Amazon learned that many consumers put an Echo Dot in every room and they connect it to their other speakers using Bluetooth and line out. So Amazon wanted to make it easier to bring Alexa to many different speakers and rooms.
The Echo Input is the first Echo device without a speaker that adds Alexa voice control to speakers through a 3.5mm audio cable or Bluetooth.
And the Echo Input has a four-microphone array. This allows you to talk to Alexa from across the room. The Echo Input is 12.5mm tall and it is very thin so it can be easily hidden away.
“Unlike Echo Dot which has a built-in speaker, all audio is played through the connected speaker rather than through Echo Input itself,” said Amazon in a statement. “When connected to Echo Input, your speaker can be added to a new or existing multi-room music group.”
The Echo Input can be pre-ordered now and it is going to ship later this year. The Echo Input will be available in black or white. And Amazon plans to bundle the device with speakers from third parties.
