Key Takeaways

  • You can achieve a better home theater experience by linking up Echo speakers and a Fire TV device, without the need for a soundbar.
  • Alexa Home Theater/Cinema feature allows you to use up to two Echo speakers and an optional Echo Sub for improved sound performance.
  • Compatible Echo speakers include Echo Dot (4th Gen) or newer, Echo (3rd Gen) or newer, Echo Plus (2nd Gen) or newer, Echo Studio, and Echo Pop. Compatible Fire TV devices include Fire TV 4-Series, Fire TV Omni Series, Fire TV Omni QLED Series, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen).

Amazon lets you do a fair bit with its Echo speakers, whether that's syncing them up for multi-room audio, or using an Echo speaker to control a Fire TV. But did you know that you can also link up Echo speakers and a Fire TV device to boost your TV sound?

In other words, you can now achieve a much-improved home theatre experience, using just your Amazon devices - instead of forking out for a soundbar, for example.

This is thanks to a feature Amazon calls Alexa Home Theater, or Alexa Home Cinema - depending on where in the world you are. It works with a bunch of Echo speakers and Fire TV devices, but you can only connect a maximum of two speakers, plus an optional Echo Sub.

Confused? No worries. Here's what you need to know.

What is Alexa Home Theater / Alexa Home Cinema?

Alexa Home Theater, or Alexa Home Cinema, allows you to build a more immersive sound performance for your Fire TV, or Fire TV device, than the television's built in speaker can manage. You can use up to two Echo speakers, for 1.0 or 2.0 configurations, as well as an Echo Sub for 1.1 or 2.1 set ups.

Depending on the Echo devices you use, that will mean you can stream Dolby Audio wirelessly, with Echo Studio owners being able to play back Dolby Atmos soundtracks.

If the Fire TV device you're using is one of Amazon's own televisions, like the Fire TV Omni QLED, then this will work with all content you are listening to. However, if you are using a compatible Fire TV Stick, like the Fire TV 4K Max, or the Fire TV Cube, the Echo speakers will only work with content streamed while using the Fire TV device.

Which Echo speakers support Alexa Home Theater / Home Cinema?

Echo speakers that are compatible and can be connected are:

Echo Sub can also work alongside any of the above, and will certainly help the smaller devices to pack a bit more punch.

We think Echo Dots are a great option for this setup, due to their size and cost, but obviously the bigger devices will provide a bigger sound, and you may not then need the Sub. If you're buying Echo devices with this setup in mind, just weigh up the cost compared to going for something like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) instead.

Which Fire TV devices support Alexa Home Theater / Home Cinema?

The following Fire TV devices are compatible and can be connected:

How to set up Alexa Home Theater / Home Cinema

There are two ways to set up Alexa Home Theater, either through the Alexa app or via your Fire TV device's on screen menu.

To set up via the Alexa app:

  1. Connect your Fire TV and Echo to the same network through one Amazon account.
  2. Open the latest version of the Alexa app on your mobile device.
  3. In the Alexa app, tap Devices and then the '+' icon.
  4. Select Combine speakers from the pop-up.
  5. Tap Home cinema on the next screen.
  6. Pick your Fire TV device
  7. Select up to two Echo speakers you would like to use in your setup, plus an optional Echo sub
  8. Name your Home Theater system and assign it to a room in your house - it must be in the same room that your TV is in.
  9. Follow the instructions on your TV to finish setup.

To set up directly on your Fire TV device:

  1. Go to Settings on your Fire TV device
  2. Select Display & Sounds
  3. Choose Alexa Home Theater / Alexa Home Cinema
  4. Select Create your Alexa Home Theater / Begin Setup
  5. Choose the Echo speakers you'd like to use, and a sub if you wish. They'll need to be in the same room as your TV.
  6. If you are using two Echo speakers, you'll need to confirm which is on the right and left.
  7. Finish setup by adjusting lip sync and any remaining settings

Need helping to connect an Echo and Fire TV in the Alexa app? Here's how.