Amazon Echo review (2017): Good price, bad sound

Two years after its birth, the device that inspired dozens of copycat smart speakers and spawned thousands of integrations is getting a makeover. Amazon's "all-new" Echo is smaller, cheaper and promises better sound. But, with a pile of new competitors and even more in the pipeline, the second-generation Echo needs to prove it's still worth your money. But it also sounds worse than those devices, delivering somewhat flat audio that emphasizes the high end and vocals at the expense of bass. Still, the second-generation Echo is quick to decipher your commands and Alexa is smart as a whip. Unless you're married to Google Assistant or Siri, this is a decent option for those buying their first smart speaker.