We received an Echo Plus for Christmas. I'd like to listen to music in another room in the house and control lights in another room. Do I need a Dot? Another Echo? If I don't get an Echo Plus, will I have to buy a hub? I suddenly know how my father must have felt trying to use the VCR! Thank you!
If you want to listen to music, it all depends on the sound quality you're happy with. For me, a Dot in the kitchen works fine, for others they would want better speakers, so either a Dot + a decent separate speaker (bluetooth or line-in) or a better Alexa speaker like a Show or full-size Echo.
If the room IS the kitchen and you're buying new anyway, I'd recommend getting a Echo Show for the screen (recipes and such).
For controlling lights in another room FROM that other room, any Alexa device will do. A Dot would be the cheapest option there. If it's a bedroom, you could consider a Vobot alarm clock instead, but those don't do Spotify and you have to touch the top of the clock before speaking to it.
If touching a device to wake up Alexa first is OK, and speakers and Alexa-enabled Spotify not that important, an Amazon Fire HD 8" or 10" tablet would work as well.
Again, if speakers ARE important, you'd better buy a full size Echo or a nice separate speaker.