Small amplifier with Alexa?

[clockworks]

Looking for a small amplifier to drive Monitor Audio ceiling speakers in the kitchen/diner.
Needs to have an aux/line input for the TV sound, and be fully compatible with Alexa (including selecting inputs) for playing Internet radio and local mp3 using My Media ( Alexa skill).

Currently using a Tangent Ampster and Echo Dot, which does all I need, but it's a pain having to use the remote to change source and volume.

I'm getting confused looking at " works with Alexa" stuff on Amazon, as it isn't clear if amps have Alexa on board, or need a separate Alexa device.

[Lucid_AV]

clockworks said:

I'm getting confused looking at " works with Alexa" stuff on Amazon, as it isn't clear if amps have Alexa on board, or need a separate Alexa device.

My read on the 'works with' thing is that your Alexa device in the room listening to your commands will control the other networked device. So, the 'works with' amp might not have Alexa built in, but as long as it is networked within the same system then an Alexa device will drive it.

[clockworks]

Thanks

This is what I'm struggled to understand - how does an Echo device like a Dot control a separate amplifier that "works with alexa"?

As an example, the Denon CEOL 11 is listed by Amazon as "works with Alexa", but the user manual doesn't mention Alexa at all.

[smn159]

Lucid_AV said:

clockworks said:

I'm getting confused looking at " works with Alexa" stuff on Amazon, as it isn't clear if amps have Alexa on board, or need a separate Alexa device.

My read on the 'works with' thing is that your Alexa device in the room listening to your commands will control the other networked device. So, the 'works with' amp might not have Alexa built in, but as long as it is networked within the same system then an Alexa device will drive it.

That's right. My Sonos stuff works like that. Telling Alexa to "Play [whatever] on Kitchen" means it gets played on the Sonos speakers rather than the Alexa device. You can also control volume, skip tracks and so forth with voice commands

I'd imagine that the Denon stuff works the same way.

[clockworks]

smn159 said:

That's right. My Sonos stuff works like that. Telling Alexa to "Play [whatever] on Kitchen" means it gets played on the Sonos speakers rather than the Alexa device. You can also control volume, skip tracks and so forth with voice commands

I'd imagine that the Denon stuff works the same way.

OK, so it's basically using an Alexa "skill" to convert Alexa voice commands heard by the Echo device into native commands for the Sonos or Denon device, and sending them onwards to the device via WiFi?

As such, "works with Alexa" is purely a software thing?

[smn159]

clockworks said:

smn159 said:

That's right. My Sonos stuff works like that. Telling Alexa to "Play [whatever] on Kitchen" means it gets played on the Sonos speakers rather than the Alexa device. You can also control volume, skip tracks and so forth with voice commands

I'd imagine that the Denon stuff works the same way.

OK, so it's basically using an Alexa "skill" to convert Alexa voice commands heard by the Echo device into native commands for the Sonos or Denon device, and sending them onwards to the device via WiFi?

As such, "works with Alexa" is purely a software thing?

Yes, that's my understanding.

[clockworks]

Denon CEOL units are out then, as they only have one analogue input.

[clockworks]

Solved the "problem" without spending a penny.

I dug out a spare Logitech Harmony hub and remote, and set up TV and Music activities using the TV, Tangent amp and Echo Dot.

Added the Harmony Skill to the Alexa app, and linked the Dot to the Harmony Hub.

I can now control the TV and amp with voice commands, as well as with the Harmony remote.