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*Update on Privacy* I want to squeeze this in here early in the review as there is a lot of negativity surrounding location and microphone permissions and general privacy with these. This just isn't really an issue. Simply accept the privacy requests to set up your buds and then go back to change them in your settings. I don't get all that caught up in Amazon and Google listening to me honestly. If you find my conversations compelling, you have bigger issues. However, if given the choice, I would prefer they didn't. So far, I have seen no change in performance. The one that surprises me is that Alexa pulls up with voice commands just like it is supposed to. I figured Alexa needed access to the mic to pull that off but it doesn't. Listen, if you are an Amazon Alexa / Google Home / Siri user, you have to know that these devices are inherently invasive. Privacy is a good point to consider when you are buying any of these devices. That said, these are no more prying than any other device. Just make sure to tweak your settings after the initial install. Now, back to the review!
-Sound Quality: I have been using the new $400 Bowers and Wilkins PI7 buds heading into receiving these which is probably the wrong thing to be listening to heading into a review of a $100 set of buds. I have to say, however, that I am pleasantly surprised by what Amazon has done here. You get solid lows, decent present mids, and pretty darn crisp highs. It all sounds darn good to me. There isn’t a lot of separation in the music. It is a bit flat when comparing them to more expensive buds. There is an EQ in the app that allows you to tweak the sound a bit as well which I am glad to see. Amazon includes the AAC codec here but does not support AptX. Apple owners should be happy but no advanced codec support is here for Android which may help explain the more flat sound I am hearing on my S21 Ultra. Also, when watching video there is no noticeable latency. The screen matches up to what you are hearing. This is often an issue at lower price points. I was really expecting lackluster sound here and I just am not getting it. Is it really five star sound? No but, at $100, it is punching well above its price tag. Well done!
-Active Noise Cancellation: This is Amazon’s first go with ANC in house (the first Gen used Bose Active Noise Reduction tech) and it is pretty darn good. Not close to the class leading Bose QuietComfort Buds but really good. Closing in with what buds from Jabra, Apple, and Samsung give you. There are a lot of complaints here about "barely present" ANC. My recommendation is to really play with the tips. Probably do not install the wings. You need to get a fairly tight seal into your ear in order to have any kind of ANC with a bud. Make sure the tip is small enough to be comfortable and then give these a slight twist up to torque them in a bit. Again, I am certainly not getting world class ANC here but I didn't expect that at this price and what I am getting is good at isolating me from my surroundings. I need to play around a bit more here but, so far, call me reasonably impressed. The Ambient Pass through that Amazon is providing here is also good and adjustable in the app.
-Form Factor / Controls: Tap and controls are precise and accurate. They are a touch sensitive so I often register taps when adjusting or removing the buds but I find that to be typical in this space. Further, the Echo Buds are super light and small in the ear. A real pleasure to wear. I have read about some fit issues and, frankly, I just don't get it. I guess ear fit is pretty subjective but, when compared to my other ANC buds from Bose, M&D, B&W, Jabra, and Samsung, these are easily the most comfortable. There are a number of tips and wings that come in the box. I would really try to go without the wings as much as I like them. The buds don't fit in the case as well with them on which has caused me to need to fiddle with them a bit when returning them to the case. Also, I find that, while the wings make the buds fit more tightly in your ear, they actually break the seal you need to get effective ANC in your ear canal. These buds are so light I think that most folks, with the right tips installed, should be able to get by without the wings. The IPX4 rating is a little on the light side but should handle most workouts which is good because, given the lightweight comfortable fit, you will want to use these in the gym. The battery gives roughly 5 hours on bud and there is another 2 in the case. This is about average for ANC capable buds. You can use either bud independently and they auto-pause your content when a bud is removed. All the high end features you really need without the price tag!
-The Case: So many companies either ignore case design or decide that is a good place to save money. To me, the case can almost make or break a set of ear buds as the case is what we interact with all day even more than the buds themselves. In maybe a first for me, I think Amazon split the gap with this case. They did not ignore the importance of the case but I think they did use it as a place to save money. It is a good size and weight but the plastic feels light and inexpensive to me. The hinge is unsatisfying in the way it closes. I like a lid to snap shut like the Apple cases or the case from Master and Dynamic. This just doesn't have that. There are reasonably strong magnets that keep the buds secured and charging properly. Further, I love the three LED lights that show the battery on both buds and the case. Great addition! The case is not a strong point on the Echo Buds but it is not a glaring weakness.
-The App / Alexa: So, candidly, I am still learning to use Alexa as an assistant and the App you use to control these is the Alexa App. As mentioned, you can control the strength of the ambient pass through and get an EQ that allows you to customize your sound. You can control your music and keep your buds updated. Of course, you have all of the Alexa stuff in there as well for all of the other settings, options, and devices. I wish Amazon made a stand alone Echo Buds app that was less convoluted, but I get the decision. Overall, the set up works.
There is a lot more to unpack with these so I will continue to edit and add to this review as I go. I own a lot of ear buds and, while these aren’t as good all around as many of them, none of them offer such a tremendous value proposition. If you are in the Alexa Assistant world, these are a must own if you need some buds. If you want a solid set of buds at a very reasonable price, Amazon has created a very compelling package here. I want to be clear here that I am rating these a five star based on a value curve. These aren't truly five star buds. It is just that Amazon has managed to give you an awful lot for your hard earned money. You get good sound, decent ANC, really comfortable buds, ambient pass through, auto-pause, single bud usage, Alexa Voice on-board, USBC / available wireless charging, and more. If you need audiophile sound or complete world disrupting ANC, these aren't it. Amazon has just managed to create a good all around package and do so at a price far more reasonable than most. Great job to the design team at Amazon! More to come!
*Update* Worked in the yard all day today including lawn mowing. With music playing rather loudly, the ANC completely blocked the noise of the mower. I could hear it in between songs but it was clearly muffled sounding. The ANC here is good especially for a first effort. Also, range on these is very good. I left my phone on my back porch and took the yard waste to the street. Easily 80-90 feet. Only when I got to the very end of my drive did the buds start cutting out but they never disconnected. Solid!
*Update* Finally got good codec information. AAC is here making these a solid less expensive Airpod Pro alternative. No AptX so us Android folks lose out. Still having a good experience with these. More to come.
