How to get the best sound from your Amazon Echo Dot

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Amazon’s Echo Dot is a solid way to access the Alexa voice assistant while having a small speaker for playing different types of audio, but users may not get the best sound right out of the box. Since Echo Dots have been able to pair for stereo sound since the third generation of devices (check your device for compatibility), users should be aware that Amazon has included a few options to help users get the best sound.

With an Echo Dot, users can control their audio settings, adjust how they hear notifications and alarms, and even change how Alexa notifies them that she’s listening. Even for those who don’t consider themselves audiophiles, these options can really change the way you interact with a Dot, and some may even find that there are still older Echo devices worth buying in 2026.

We can show you the exact steps users need to make these changes, and most of these processes can be done either through the Alexa app or by asking the voice assistant directly. It’s also worth remembering that there can be terrible places to install an Amazon speaker, especially if audio is a major concern. Still, check out these tips if you’re looking for bigger sound in a small package.

Since Echo Dots include a speaker, users can adjust several settings to change the sound of a Dot. While some may know that users can adjust the volume of an Echo Dot with its physical buttons or by asking Alexa to do so, there is also an option to adjust the device’s equalizer (EQ). With an equalizer, you can adjust the bass, mid, or treble frequencies to suit your tastes.

To adjust the Dot’s EQ settings from the Alexa app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Alexa app on your phone.

2. Select Devices at the bottom of the screen.

3. Select Echo and Alexa.

4. Select your Echo Dot.

5. Select the device settings (gear icon) located in the upper right corner.

6. Choose Sound.

7. Tap Equalizer.

8. For each item, adjust the slider to your liking.

9. Save your settings by selecting the back arrow.

Users can repeat these steps for each Amazon Echo Dot they have. Asking Alexa to make adjustments is also an option. You can ask it to reset your EQ settings (“Alexa, reset EQ”) or even ask it to adjust things like bass (“Alexa, turn up the bass”). You might also want to learn more about these lesser-known Alexa commands.

One thing that might benefit users is the fact that you can adjust notification and alarm volumes separately from other sounds on your Echo Dot. This can be good if you don’t like listening to audio at high volume, but still need a loud alarm to wake you up in the morning.

Here are the steps:

1. Open the Alexa app on your phone.

2. Choose Devices.

3. Select Echo and Alexa.

4. Choose the device you want to adjust.

5. Select Device Settings (gear icon).

6. Choose sounds.

7. Adjust the volume using the slider. You may also have the option to gradually increase the volume of an alarm.

8. You can also change the alarm and notification sound by choosing Notification or Alarm under Custom Sounds.

Finally, since we’re talking about sound, it’s worth mentioning that you can add a sound effect to notify you when Alexa starts and stops listening to you. This can be handy if you don’t want to look at your device to see pulsing light.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Alexa app.

2. Select Devices.

3. Choose Echo and Alexa.

4. Choose your echo point.

5. Tap Device settings (gear)

6. Select Sounds.

7. Look for the start and end options under Request sounds.

Of course, you can always ask Alexa to turn these sounds on or off. If you enable them, you’ll receive a notification sound and a pulsing light to indicate Alexa is listening. Knowing the ins and outs of your Echo’s sound options can be a great way to get more use out of an older Echo.