The original, first-generation Kindle Fire had a single speaker, so the only way to get stereo sound from that device was through headphones.
The newer, non-HD Kindle Fire has a hardware upgrade that includes stereo speakers, but its sound quality still pales in comparison to the Dual Dolby Digital speakers of the Kindle Fire HD.
In the video post embedded below, our Editor in Chief April Hamilton demonstrates the difference in sound quality between a first-generation Kindle Fire and the Kindle Fire HD.
If you have any difficulty viewing the video embedded below, you can watch it on the YouTube site by clicking here.
The original kindle fire has two speakers. The stereo is fine without headphones.