First impressions? This stand screams 'Star Wars fan' with its sleek, angular design. I popped my Echo Dot 3rd Gen onto it, and instantly my boring smart speaker became a conversation piece. The black/grey color scheme blends surprisingly well with both modern and geeky decors.

The sound projection is noticeably better when elevated on this stand - my morning news briefings suddenly had more oomph! I love rotating the spider-like legs to create different display angles on my bookshelf. Bonus: It securely holds heavier devices like the HomePod Mini without wobbling.

But here's the rub - assembly is frustratingly unintuitive. That 'extra' green plastic piece? Still have no idea where it goes after three attempts. The power cord routing requires removing parts in a way that isn't obvious, especially for Echo Dot 5 users (the plug hole is annoyingly small).

While the plastic feels cheaper than expected, at this price point it's forgivable. Just don't expect premium materials - this is more about fun functionality than luxury build quality.

Final verdict? A great gift for Star Wars-loving techies who value style over perfection, but serious audiophiles might want to invest in sturdier options.