What is the AUX port on your Alexa Echo speakers used for?

Amazon Echo speakers are one of the most popular and versatile smart home devices. Not only can you use them to automate other internet-connected technology with voice commands, but they’re also a great way to stay on top of your to-do lists, calendar events, news and weather, and much more. There are a lot of features and settings to sort through – so many, in fact, that you may have completely missed the fact that some Echo speakers also include a 3.5mm aux port.

That’s all well and good, but what does that analog connection do on a smart speaker? Depending on which Echo device you have, the AUX port can function as an output (most common) or an input (less common). The fourth generation Echo Dot has an AUX output and its main purpose is to route audio to an external speaker. The Dot packs a pretty average punch for its size, but if you want bigger, better sound, use the AUX port with a secondary speaker.

An Echo AUX can also function as an AUX input, which bodes well for those of us who don’t want to pair devices via Bluetooth to an Echo speaker. Simply put, an AUX input allows you to connect an audio host device (such as a phone, tablet, or laptop) using a 3.5mm auxiliary cable. The original Echo Studio is the only speaker with an AUX input; The standard fourth-generation Echo (now discontinued) has an AUX port that you can assign as output or input in the Alexa app.

Amazon’s first-generation Echo Show included an AUX port, but later versions of the smart display have ditched the connection. That said, if AUX is a must, you’ll have to stick with the Echo smart speakers; You’ll also need to go out of your way to find older generation Echo hardware, as nothing in the current lineup has an AUX port. And unlike other smart speakers on the market, the Echo line doesn’t play with USB-C, so you can’t even buy a USB to 3.5mm adapter.

Truth be told, if you have the latest version of Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max, you might forget about the missing AUX port. Both speakers sound great right out of the box, and both support lossless audio streams and acoustic optimization; the latest Studio can even decode Dolby Atmos. Although the Max supports less audio bandwidth than the Studio, it still hits around 16-bit/44.1kHz, allowing you to get very close to CD audio quality.

It’s hard to deny how convenient Bluetooth is, but when it comes to Echo speakers, the wireless protocol is on the low end of the quality scale. Amazon technology doesn’t support codecs like aptX Adaptive, so there’s no way to improve Bluetooth audio streams. An AUX (or USB-C) port would serve as a happy medium between lossy Bluetooth and high-end lossless playback on a high-end flagship-speaker Echo speaker, but those are the cards we’ve been dealt, my friends.