Before you rush off and spend any money, we’re going to explain the best way to do it, and the precise kit you’ll need. The Echo Input is designed specifically for this task. It’s very similar to an Echo Dot but doesn’t have a speaker of its own. Instead it comes with a 3.5mm minijack cable to connect to the aux input of your speaker or hi-fi system. The Echo Input costs £34.99 / US$34.99 which makes it the cheapest option, if you pay the normal price. There’s little point in picking any other Echo with an aux output because they’re more expensive and bulkier.
How do I connect an Echo to my speaker?
First, your speaker or hi-fi must have an auxiliary input, preferably 3.5mm minijack, or a Bluetooth speaker that uses a compatible standard and does not require a PIN code to be entered. Most speakers, then, can be connected to an Echo Input but if there’s no aux input, you’re out of luck.
Cable
The Echo Input comes with a 3.5mm minijack to minijack cable in the box, and this may be all you need. But if you speakers have a 1/4in input then you will need an adapter or a minijack to 1/4in cable.
Bluetooth
For Bluetooth speakers, choose the Bluetooth option when setting up the Echo Input and put your speaker into pairing mode. In the Alexa app you should see the speaker appear in the list of discovered devices. Just tap on it and it should connect.
The connection method isn’t part of an Echo Dot’s setup, so you need to delve a little deeper into the app to find the option. In the app open the main menu (top left) go to Settings > Device Settings. Now find your Echo device and tap on its name then tap Bluetooth Devices > Pair a New Device. As long as your speaker is in pairing mode, it will appear in the list.
If you have multiple Bluetooth speakers, your Echo will automatically pair with the most recent device next time it’s in range. But you can return to the Bluetooth Devices list in the app to pick a different one. That’s really all there is to it. Now you can use Alexa through your own speaker. Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
