How to Use the Alexa Equalizer to Fine Tune Your Music Listening

While Amazon Echo smart speakers provide convenient music listening from a variety of streaming services, their sound quality (even from the higher-end Echo Studio) isn't as good as a larger stereo or home theater system. However, you can improve the sound quality of the Echo smart speakers using Alexa's equalizer (EQ) settings.

What Is the Alexa Equalizer?

The Alexa Equalizer allows you to adjust treble (higher frequencies), mid-range (frequencies associated with voices), and bass (lower frequencies) so that the sound can be tailored to suit your room and listening preferences.

The Alexa Equalizer works with Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Studio, Echo Show, and Echo Spot. The Echo Input is not included.

How to Access and Use the Alexa Equalizer

There are three ways to access the Alexa Equalizer on compatible devices:

Voice Commands
The Alexa Smartphone App
Echo Show Touchscreen

Using Alexa Equalizer with Direct Voice Commands

While music is playing on a compatible Echo device you can use the Alexa Voice Assistant to adjust various settings. Say "turn up or increase the bass," "set base to 6," "set treble to 5 or increase treble," "increase the midrange or set midrange to 6," etc. If setting by number, the range goes from -6 to +6 dB.

Using the Equalizer via the Alexa Smartphone App

If you don't want to use voice commands, equalizer adjustments can be made by navigating the Alexa app using the smartphone's touchscreen.

On the Alexa app home screen, tap the Hamburger Menu > Settings.
In settings, tap Device Settings and choose the Alexa or Alexa compatible device you wish to adjust the EQ (aka equalizer settings) for.
Tap Sounds > Equalizer.
Adjust the treble, mid-range or bass using the app's touchscreen slide controls.

Using the Equalizer with the Echo Show

With the Echo Show, Echo Show 8, 5, or Echo Spot, you can use Alexa's voice commands directly, or use touchscreen controls on the Alexa app or Echo Show/Spot screen to make EQ adjustments.

On the Echo Show home screen, swipe down, then tap Settings.
Tap Sounds in the settings menu.
In the Sounds menu, tap Equalizer.
In the Equalizer settings, adjust the treble, midrange, or base using the touchscreen or voice commands.

Using the Alexa Equalizer With Other Devices

As mentioned previously, the Alexa Equalizer works with the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Studio, Echo Show, and Echo Spot. However, Amazon has also made it available via its developer protocols for third-party devices with Alexa built-in at the manufacturer's discretion in the form of EQ band settings (bass, treble) and/or listening modes (Movie, Music, Night, Sport, TV).

One example is the Polk Audio Command Bar, where the band and listening mode controls are available via Alexa.

Alexa can also be used to set listening modes on the Sonos Beam.

To find out if your device allows the use of the Alexa Equalizer, in the Alexa app tap Devices > Settings > Device Settings > Sounds.

If the equalizer prompt doesn't appear for your device in the Sounds Menu, then the Alexa Equalizer is not provided for that specific device. This means you have to use the remote and menu settings for that specific device to make sound setting changes if provided.

Alexa App – Sound Settings – Equalizer vs No-Equalizer

The Alexa Equalizer isn't available on Fire TV devices or Fire Edition TVs. For Fire Edition TVs, you have to use the provided remote control to navigate to the TV's sound settings.

Alexa Sound Settings on Fire TV Devices

If you select Fire TV or Fire Edition TV in the Alexa app, there is no Sounds prompt. Fire TV sticks and boxes don't provide any sound settings as they're controlled by your TV or sound system.

However, for Fire Edition TV's, you can use voice commands to control TV volume and mute functions.

Here are some Alexa voice commands you can use with Fire Edition TVs:

"Set the volume to 6 on Fire TV."
"Turn up/down the volume on Fire TV."
"Mute Fire TV."

For other Fire Edition TV sound settings including bass, treble, and sound modes you have to use the physical buttons on the Fire Edition TV remote.

If you try to use Alexa voice commands to control Fire Edition TV sound settings (other than volume and mute) you will hear a message stating "I can't adjust EQ on this device". This means you have to use the buttons on the remote.

Here is how to access Fire Edition TV sound settings using the Remote.

Select Settings on the Fire Edition TV Home Page. Alternatively, you can say "Alexa, go to settings."
Once in the settings, you have to use the remote control's menu navigation buttons to proceed further. Using the remote, select Display and Sounds.
In Display and Sounds, select Sound Settings, then select one of the preset, custom, or advanced sound settings options and follow the prompts to adjust the sound settings to your preference using the remote.

Amazon is continually expanding the capabilities of Alexa, Alexa app, and both is own and other branded Alexa-compatible devices. If the Equalizer isn't currently available on your Alexa-compatible audio or audio/video device, it may be added in a forthcoming update.