iLuv Aud Dock Speaker Compatible with/Replacement for Amazon Echo Dot - Black

UPDATE: Disappointingly, after not quite three months of use, our Aud Dock died and wouldn't power on. However, I can now say that iLuv has an excellent customer service department that is prompt to reply and quick to resolve issues. I stared a service ticket on the iLuv website and after providing some information (date of purchase, serial number, nature of the issue), I was e-mailed a shipping label to return my defective unit. As promised by the rep I chatted with, I received a brand new replacement two weeks after they received the return. Yes, it's concerning that the first unit didn't last long but I'm hoping it was just a fluke and not a common issue with quality control. Time will tell but I won't change my rating JUST yet.- Original Review -This speaker dock offers good sound and a nice design. The bass response is actually pretty good, too! The "bass boosters" shown in the exploded rendering appear to be passive radiators like those you'd find in some subwoofer enclosures. It's an effective design. You won't get room-filling, bone-rattling bass but it does a decent job for a $50 speaker.I did a side-by-side comparison of this unit to the VAUX speaker dock and the second generation Echo. Compared to the VAUX, the Aud Dock is about on par for clarity but has much better bass. However, the VAUX can get louder. The 2nd gen Echo outperforms both with much better clarity and bass. If it were a "good, better, best" comparison between the three, I'd put the Aud Dock at "better" with the Echo being "best".As for its build quality and design: the Aud Dock is lightweight and sleek-looking. The mesh grille lends it a high-tech, premium look similar to the designs of Sonos speakers. Inside the well for the Echo Dot are rubber grips that hold it snugly and securely in place. The Dot sits flush to the top surface, making it look like one fully integrated unit. The back has a kind of knurled texture, adding to its techy, high-end look. The Aud Dock is bigger than both the VAUX and 2nd gen Echo, but not so big that it'll look too awkward or obtrusive on a counter/shelf/end table, etc.As shown, the I/O ports include an AUX IN and a micro USB charging port. This dock can't charge other devices, though.I can't really vouch for iLuv's battery life claim since our Aud Dock is always plugged in. Although, I did initially do a few casual tests by playing music for a bout 2-3 hours off battery power and it held up just fine.I was hesitant to buy a product with no user ratings made by a manufacturer I wasn't familiar with. I'm glad I took the chance and I'd definitely recommend this dock to anyone looking to boost the sound of their Echo Dot. Plus, it gives you the convenience of portability.

My first part of this review is regarding two others, that I ultimately returned, but thought it good to include for comparison sake…I tried out three different models. I had bought two at the same time, with every intension of keeping / using both. Those two were the MOKCAO POWER+, and the VAUX Cordless. They both had the same issue though... 'White noise' or hiss all the time in the background. While playing music or some sort of sound it might not have been noticeable, but it should be 'quiet' when idle. Perhaps they were both defective, but since it was the exact same issue out of both... I cannot help but think it was not a coincidence and that maybe they were both the same hardware in different packages. They were actually quite different in size and shape. The MOKCAO POWER+ was about 40% taller, and larger in diameter. Other than that, the build design regarding how the hookups and the cover were, they seemed identical. It was quite interesting. I tested the audio quality of both; both had virtually the exact same quality. The sound quality was lacking in full range, they just didn't do well in the lows, and that was a disappointment. It was almost impossible to separate the difference between the two, and that is another reason I cannot help but wonder if it is the exact same hardware in a different shell. I was very surprised that the MOKCAO POWER+ was not louder. I figured on first glance, larger package means maybe it has a larger sound capability. It just was not so. They sounded the exact same. For a potential portable speaker, if I were to choose one of them, I would have gone with the VAUX. In the end, since I cannot stand the white noise though, I sent both back.In came the third unit it tried...The iLuv Aud Dock. I like that the outside of this unit is metal not fabric. However, that is just a personal preference. I do wonder though if it would be dented if I were to accidentally tip it over and it land on something else nearby on the table. I still like it over fabric regardless. I had read in the item description how it had a dynamic digital sound processor, called jAura. I thought "well that sets this unit apart, let's try it". The sound difference, quality and loudness was like night and day from the prior two models, and there was absolutely no ‘White noise’. When idle, it is completely silent. It really surprised me how good it sounded. It might still not rival the full size echo models in clarity at the highest volumes, but it is sure a contender. Anyhow, the quality was so good it really made me feel like 'happy feet' when I turned up the tunes. One last note… I currently have it plugged into a lamp, which happens to have a 1amp USB port. I wanted to see if it would maintain charge with that. It certainly does. If I were to use for while portably, I might would recharge it with the 2amp adapter that came with the Dot, but for maintaining power the lap is really quite convenient.Final thoughs regarding one issue… All three models, when booting up the Dot after being off. There is an obnoxious pop / clicking sound. I suspect that is not a ‘fault’ of any of the models, I bet it a factor of when the Dot is booting and enabling the auxiliary port for these docks. Of the three units, the iLuv Aud Dock seemed to handle it the best, but all three had the pop. The first two it was very loud, and made me worry the speaker would pop. The iLuv was less loud, so it seemed to handle it better, but maybe that was just that the Dot volume was lowered at the time. Since I did not have iLuv at the time as the first two docks, it is hard to say, but it could very well be that the volume was just lower perhaps. An improvement would be to have these manufacturers build in a time delay before the speaker gets activated, that would allow the pop to not happen. Maybe that’d be too hard to do.

After reading all of the reviews, I was psyched to buy this. Well, not so psyched after plugging it in. We listen to a lot of music and the quality of the sound for music from the 1960's is horrendous. We tried to play Here Comes the Sun from the Beatles and you can barely hear the lyrics of the song, only the music. We tried 3 other songs from this time period and experienced the same thing. I am going to keep it because I LOVE the fact that this is portable; however it's larger than I'd like and it's heavier that I'd like too.

I love echo dot and really wanted a nice speaker that gave echo dot a mobility to take it out to back yard. I was willing to pay for a great sound and mobility and looked good doing it, and tried one of the better rated speaker. Without mentioning the name, I will say the one I got gave me the mobility I was looking for, but it just didn't have the bass. I almost gave up thinking I won't find one that offered great sound, until I came across iLuv version. Without any reviews, I decided to take a chance after looking at the exploded view. Other speakers do not have much of a design or technology that focused on improving bass, but this one did - two passive bass enhancers aided with digital equalizer. I'm happy to report that the sound is great. Echo and echo 2 I have still sounds better, but this one I close. It's too bad there aren't many options for echo dot, but iLuv definitely does what I wanted.

The sound has the bass I was looking for!However, I'd like to exchange mine for after six months the power outlet sunk in and now I can only charge it if I stand there and hold the cord at an angle. I've tried different cords, no luck.

My unit won't fully charge battery if plugged into echo dot (2nd gen) power supply and is in the unit, powered on. If I leave turned on, plugged in for a day, disconnect - I get only 1 hr 38 minutes operation at 30% volume - *much less than advertised. Will probably keep it, sound is ok but not better than a regular full size echo. I use it for a stand alone streaming solution on y Deck - works well at that as long as batteries don't go dead!

This dock sits tall and looks good. The photo does not resemble my purchase. The base does heat up though, if left on. Also my green light is red and is constantly flashing when it used to be steady green.

Easy to connect long life charge..great sound

alles bestens, gerne wieder

Klasse Gerät. Hat einen guten Klang und große Reichweite.