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Author: shabaz
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Amazon Echo Dot 2nd Gen Teardown

shabaz

This is a teardown of a second-generation Amazon Echo Dot (purchased around January 2017, UK). The photos are fairly high-res and can be clicked to enlarge.

There is a lot of intricate detail in the design.

 

 

The underside has a peeling part before the self-tap screws can be removed.

 

Almost the entire unit comes out, but there is still some stuff in the black plastic shell : ) Notice the two metal contacts for the speaker.

 

What the unit looks like outside of its shell.

 

The speaker unit can be extracted. The side that was hidden from view is now visible, and you can see the speaker grille too (it's where the arrow is pointing), and there are small holes for it in the outer shell too as you can see. Also notice the radio tag stuck inside.

 

Closeup of the speaker unit:

The top removed. Now the buttons are visible. The array of holes all around the unit are for the microphones. The are six mics around the circumference, you can see the holes for them in the foam shaped pad. There is also a center microphone.

 

The other side; this is the underside of the main control board. That flat flex has a black piece that flips up to open it, easy to miss and damage while removing it : (

The PCB antennas are visible here too, near the top and bottom of the photo:

 

The main PCB removed. There is a SIL-PAD type thing for thermal transfer, and two pads for presumably electrical contact to the metal chassis for shielding.

 

The metal chassis portion of it can be removed from the black plastic:

The top PCB is removed here too, and the underside of it can be seen. The white plastic acts as a light diffuser for the ring of LEDs.

 

The plastic removed from the top PCB. Now the microphones and LEDs can be seen.

 

Closeup of the two boards:

 

Closeup of the top board, microphone soldered side (the buttons and holes for the mics are on the other side).

 

The top facing side of the top board:

 

The main processor board:

Other side of the main processor board:

Anonymous
  • in reply to 14rhb

    Yes I understand that feeling and I hate to experience it!

  • in reply to dixonselvan

    Hi Dixon,

     

    I remember you mentioning in your Roadtest that the connectors were awkward; luckily we could take a good look at the connector. But you know that feeling  when you are trying to prise something apart and cannot quite see inside or there isn't enough cable slack to get a good look.

     

    Rod

  • in reply to 14rhb

    Sharing the same agony as you! I literally went to a point were I was about to thrust them into their slots, even if that would break them. But hopefully after few minutes of struggle I succeeded.

  • in reply to shabaz

    Hi Shabaz,

     

    As I read your article I was thinking about making a comment at the end, regarding "I dislike those little fiddly connectors"...and you seem to have reinforced my opinion.

     

    When I did this roadtestNXP I.MX RT1050 EV KIT and Display - Review there was no documentation explaining how the similar connectors worked; I used a magnifying glass to have a really good look at the flex connectors whilst testing them lightly with a scalpel blade to see what moved where. Some have slide mechanisms other tilt up and down: but they look very similar

     

    Thanks for sharing though - if I ever have to repair one I'll refer back to your fantastic article and photos.

     

    Rod

  • in reply to jkutzsch

    Hi John,

     

    Thanks! No I killed it : ( I was defeated by the flat flex, from memory it doesn't stay in place any more although I could possibly hold it in place with tape or something. I had not realized the black part lifted, and I pulled the cable way too hard.

     

    I didn't throw it out though, I kept it in case I wanted to refer to it again, lots of nice design ideas inside there and the PCB antennas looked very interesting too, but I was particularly interested in what they had done with the audio. Also it was quite interesting how many layers of PCB, plastic and metal they neatly sandwiched into the 1-inch or so height!