Echo Auto Vs Roav Viva

[Buffalo]

Looking for any experience/opinions on these two devices for a car without DAB and/or ability to fit an Android Auto head unit. I don't have any experience of Alexa (or Siri) but I appreciated android auto in my last company car.

The Echo Auto is probably the favourite at the moment as it's slim nature means I can put it on the steering column. The Roav would require being in the centre console cubby box as I don't have a 12v socket on the dash face, and would mean having to lift lid etc all the time to operate. Although I probably could retrofit a smokers pack...

Any thoughts?

[RRH]

I put and Echo Auto in our Discovery and it's pretty good. I have both a USB (for power) and aux input in the centre console.

It's a little lumpy controlling spotify with voice commands but it does work.

It's easy to forget how much Alexa can actually do though when you're in a car environment.

I currently handle calls through the onboard bluetooth (I chose not to connect the amazon device through bluetooth) but it handles internet radio etc perfectly.

I do actually have a Pure Highway still in its box for my other car, which is 2006 and sadly has no aux in or bluetooth, so I'd have to run it through a bluetooth > FM modulator, at which point the whole thing becomes rather convoluted!

Hope this helps

[Buffalo]

Thanks. Decided to try an echo anyway. Will likely connect as yours, i.e. using aux rather than Bluetooth. Arrives later in the week.

Edited by Buffalo on Tuesday 23 November 22:16

[mike9009]

I have an Alexa Auto in my 2007 BMW.

Pretty good really. Works well for calls, radio, Amazon Music etc. Nice to be able to do everything with two cables. Dead easy to fit and set up. Need to remember to have the Amazon Alexa App open on my phone.

Only disadvantage is the patchy mobile signal we have locally, so it drops out from time to time, not really the fault of the auto. It does buffer to a limited extent.