TV and audio / The WantThis shortlist

Home speakers for small rooms and bigger sound

Compare Echo Dot, Echo Studio and Sonos Era 100 by room, music service and the setup you already own, then check current prices on Amazon.

Compare the 3 picks

Research checked by WantThis · 25 October 2026

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on eligible purchases, at no extra cost to you. How affiliate links work.

A first look at the shortlist

Small-room Alexa

Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation)

Explore this pick

Bigger-room Alexa

Amazon Echo Studio (2025)

Explore this pick

Music and Sonos multi-room

Sonos Era 100

Explore this pick

Product photography: Amazon Press Center (opens in a new tab) · About Amazon (opens in a new tab) · Sonos (opens in a new tab)

What matters for this shortlist

Start with where you listen and how you want to start the music. A small kitchen speaker for radio, podcasts and timers has a different job from the main music speaker in a living room. These three mains-powered models cover a compact Alexa option, a larger Echo and an entry into Sonos. Check your preferred streaming service, Wi-Fi coverage and existing speakers before choosing: buying another speaker from the same system can be more useful than buying the one with the longest feature list. Each shopping link identifies a specific model and colour; compare its current total before deciding.

How we choose and describe these picks

These are researched shortlists, not WantThis hands-on tests. The reasons to compare a product are our editorial judgement. We attribute a reviewer’s findings to that publication, label specification-led choices and do not infer an owner consensus from star ratings. A reference to a publisher is not an endorsement of WantThis.

Each offer is a separate dated check for the named model and bundle. Unknown delivery, unavailable stock, membership prices and expired checks stay out of budget results. We do not call a price a saving without comparable price-history evidence.

Compare the researched picks

Choose by the setup and features you need, then use the retailer links to compare current prices. Check the exact model, seller, condition and delivery total before buying.

Planning your budget

Up to £50: Look for a suitable compact model on a checked offer. The Echo Dot is worth comparing when discounted, but we do not assume it is always below this ceiling.
Up to £100: For a kitchen or bedroom, a compact speaker may be enough. Do not spend the balance on a second unit until you know how you will use it.
Up to £200: Compare a more capable music speaker with adding another room to your existing system. Check the exact generation, colour and condition on discounted listings.
Up to £300: Prioritise the right system and room fit. Include any line-in adapter, streaming subscription or second speaker needed for the setup you actually want.

These are planning allowances. Check current retailer prices to see which models fit.

Type

3 picks to compare

Charcoal Amazon Echo Dot fifth-generation speaker — Photo: Amazon Press Center (opens in a new tab). Check the seller’s current bundle.

Small-room Alexa

Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation)

2022 release, Charcoal, device only, UK model

A good fit for: Kitchen radio, bedroom listening and a first Alexa speaker

Why it makes our shortlist

The Dot earns its place when you want music within easy reach alongside useful voice controls. Its small footprint makes it easier to place on a bedside table or kitchen shelf, and it can add another listening room to a compatible Echo setup. We would compare it first for modest-volume everyday listening, then check the price against larger alternatives. A sale can make it attractive; the same model at a much higher price deserves a fresh comparison.

The trade-offIts small speaker has limited bass and headroom. What Hi-Fi? heard distortion at higher volumes, so we would not choose it to carry a large room or a party. It has no 3.5mm audio socket.

Check the packageThe named UK listing is the Charcoal 5th-generation device with its power adapter, not the clock version, Kids edition or a smart-plug bundle. Confirm the generation and condition if Amazon changes the selected offer.

What the sources say

What Hi-Fi? (opens in a new tab)Independent review · checked 2026-10-25
Its five-star review praises the compact Dot’s sound and Alexa integration, while noting distortion as volume rises.
Amazon UK (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer specification · checked 2026-10-25
The UK listing identifies the 2022 fifth-generation model, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth playback, a microphone-off button and the supplied power adapter.

Check the current price and availability at the retailer.

Check details at Amazon UK

Bigger-room Alexa

Amazon Echo Studio (2025)

2nd generation, Graphite, device only, UK model

A good fit for: An Echo household wanting a more substantial main-room speaker

Why it makes our shortlist

Shortlist the Studio when you already use Alexa and want more scale from one mains-powered speaker. Room adaptation and support for compatible Fire TV home-cinema setups give it a practical role beyond background radio. We would check the actual room and connection requirements before paying the extra: someone listening quietly in a small room may get everything they need from the Dot, while music-focused buyers should compare the Sonos too.

The trade-offIndependent assessments differ: WIRED liked the powerful sound, while TechRadar questioned its musical performance and value. This is the redesigned 2025 Studio, so reviews of the original 2019 cylinder do not establish how it sounds. TV integration needs a supported Fire TV setup; this is not a universal TV audio input.

Check the packageGraphite second-generation speaker with the UK power adapter. Additional speakers, Echo Sub, Fire TV hardware and paid music services are separate. Check the current Alexa+ terms rather than assuming every advertised feature is permanently free.

What the sources say

WIRED (opens in a new tab)Independent review · checked 2026-10-25
Its 2025 review finds the second-generation Studio powerful and capable of filling a large room. The reviewer tested US Alexa+ access; check UK service terms separately.
TechRadar (opens in a new tab)Independent review · checked 2026-10-25
The UK review likes the smaller design but identifies audio compromises and questions value at the regular asking price.
Amazon UK (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer specification · checked 2026-10-25
Amazon lists room adaptation, spatial audio, a built-in smart-home hub and compatibility requirements for Fire TV home cinema on the 2025 model.

Check the current price and availability at the retailer.

Check details at Amazon UK

Music and Sonos multi-room

Sonos Era 100

Original Era 100 with voice control, White, single speaker, UK model

A good fit for: Music listening with room to grow into a Sonos system

Why it makes our shortlist

The Era 100 is the comparison to make when music playback and a system you can expand matter most. Wi-Fi streaming, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 give different people in the household useful ways to play music. It also offers a route to a wired source through an extra adapter. We would start with one speaker, check it works with the services you use and only add a second if a wider stereo presentation or another listening room would be useful.

The trade-offA single enclosure cannot give the physical separation of two spaced speakers. A wired source needs the separately sold Sonos Line-In Adapter, and a turntable needs a suitable phono preamp. Initial setup needs the Sonos app and Wi-Fi. Alexa support does not make it part of an Echo speaker group.

Check the packageOne White Era 100 and its mains cable. This is the voice-enabled Era 100, not the Era 100 SL or a stereo pair. The line-in/ethernet adapters, stands and extra speakers cost more.

What the sources say

What Hi-Fi? (opens in a new tab)Independent review · checked 2026-10-25
Its five-star review praises the spacious, detailed presentation and playback features, while noting the added cost of a wired-input adapter.
Sonos (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer specification · checked 2026-10-25
The user guide describes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, microphone controls and the adapter required for line-in. A turntable must supply a preamplified signal.

Check the current price and availability at the retailer.

Check details at Amazon UK

Common questions

Can I mix Echo and Sonos for music in every room?

Do not assume shared Alexa support means shared audio groups. Echo multi-room music and Sonos grouping are different systems. Check the supported products and music service before buying a second speaker.

Do these work without a subscription?

You do not need to subscribe just to own the speaker, but music catalogues, on-demand playback and some assistant features have separate terms. Check the services you plan to use, including the UK Alexa+ offer, before adding ongoing costs to your setup.

Can I connect a TV or record player?

Check the source first. Echo Studio home cinema requires compatible Fire TV hardware. Era 100 can accept an analogue source with the Sonos Line-In Adapter; a turntable also needs a phono preamp. None of these is a substitute for checking your TV’s exact audio outputs and supported connections.

Why are there no fixed Amazon prices here?

Use the Amazon button to check the exact model, seller, condition and delivered price. We do not copy a review’s launch price into a current deal. The budget notes help you plan a purchase; they are not claims that a listed speaker currently costs less than that amount.

Should I buy a portable speaker instead?

Choose a battery-powered model if it will move between the house, garden and trips. These home speakers are intended to stay near a socket; Wi-Fi and account setup also matter for their connected features.

Spotted a changed specification or offer? Tell us which model needs a correction.