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Alexa (Echo) > DAC > Receiver: Any good solutions?

Bryce Sharp

New Member
I want to stream amazon HD music and control it with alex, is there a good dac that can take bluetooth input? or an alex device that can output digital?
 
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The only Echo device with a digital audio output is the Echo Link. And you still need another Echo device to actually control it. If you really want to use Alexa to control your music and you want it as high quality as possible, this is your only real option.

Bluetooth is a compromise, and not recommended unless you're desperate.
 
Sadly the Link does not support the highest resolution content from Amazon Music HD. The Link requires an Echo Dot for Alexa's voice control.
 
Just installed the echo link + dot in my office, and I am pleased with the CD quality sound, no complaints at all.
Trying this with a schiit modi 3 on my listening room set up tonight.
Be sure to try/compare the Link's internal DAC vs. the Modi 3. Looking forward to your findings.
 
Yeah, receiving the modi 3 tonight, I am pretty curious, the diff between the streams was extreme, if am able to articulate the difference between dacs I would be really suprised, but it would be pretty fun, it would mean I have a lot more fun stuff to do/buy!
 
Yeah, receiving the modi 3 tonight, I am pretty curious, the diff between the streams was extreme, if am able to articulate the difference between dacs I would be really suprised, but it would be pretty fun, it would mean I have a lot more fun stuff to do/buy!

And by the way, welcome to AK
 
While I agree the Modi 3 is a much better DAC, using digital out of the Link up samples/limits everything to 48khz. Analog out of the Link plays the original file resolution. To me, it sounds much better this way.
 
I can tell you I was proper shocked at the difference in sound quality from Echo Dot, 3.5-RCA out to receiver and the Echo Link out to receiver with RCA. Thanks for the welcome.
 
While I agree the Modi 3 is a much better DAC, using digital out of the Link up samples/limits everything to 48khz. Analog out of the Link plays the original file resolution. To me, it sounds much better this way.

But the Link doesn't support Amazon Ultra 24/192 from it's analog out, correct?
 
But the Link doesn't support Amazon Ultra 24/192 from it's analog out, correct?
I have been told by a few Amazon reps that it does support the full resolution up to 24/192. I have no way to test this. When casting/controlling from the Fire HD8 it does not display resolution info when tapping the HD/ULTRA HD icon.
 
I've read a lot on this topic particularly feedback from owners and it seems the only Amazon product that supports Ultra HD is the Echo Studio.
 
I've read a lot on this topic particularly feedback from owners and it seems the only Amazon product that supports Ultra HD is the Echo Studio.
:dunno: I wonder how one would go about testing this theory on any device, especially an Echo Studio?

From the webland of Bezos:
Screenshot 2020-12-10 110114.png
 
I listened to jazz at low volume all day with just the Link ->luxman, it sounded great huge improvement over low res music through the echo dot. Lets say 10 times better.
then when I was wrapping up for the day I played the flaming lips, this sounded terrible.

After work, I hooked the Dot>Link>Modi> to my pioneer sx737 with cs99a speakers.

As a baseline, I put on Nora Jones on Vinyl, then listen through the Link, then the link->modi (Modi was so much better than either it was not even close) I suspect this pressing of the Nora Jones record is not good.
Next I did the same thing with a brand new copy of Graceland, Paul Simon, this time the vinyl and modi were both lovely, Link was flat, and a little harsh.
So we started a fire and opened some Kiona Cab, and proceeded to listen to all of our favorite music at this point we were both completely convinced that the modi simply made nicer music so we just compared it to vinyl.

The biggest surprise was that the distinctiveness of the individual instruments of the lossless digital through the modi, in most cases that was better than the vinyl.

tl;dr, in no uncertain terms the modi 3 improved the sound of everything i played through it over the Link->reciever, and sitting there with a bottle of wine with your spouse and sharing your favorite music is a heck of a nice date. We decided this is going to be a pretty regular date night!
 
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