Waterproof Speakers

Going to the beach and visiting the swimming pool are two of the best reasons to look forward to hot weather each year. And you’ll probably agree both of those experiences can be improved with your favorite music along as a soundtrack for the day. But historically, water and electronics have had a love-hate relationship. Even when you’re careful, unexpected weather, accidental mishaps or kids being kids can leave you with a wet audio device that’s no longer offering up your tunes. That’s why a waterproof speaker, or at least a water-resistant speaker, is a good idea. Fortunately, today’s speakers are smarter and more capable than ever. They stream your favorite music and podcasts, charge your mobile devices, and even allow you to take calls.

Is there a difference between the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers and the best water-resistant Bluetooth speakers? As you might expect, the difference is the level of protection against water and wet conditions. That level is illustrated by each speaker’s IP rating, a two-digit number. The first number is an indicator of the speaker’s protection against materials, like dust or sand, from 0 to 6. The second number is an indicator of the speaker’s resistance to water, from 0 to 8. So an IP rating of IP68 is the maximum rating for both dust and water. It means the speaker is dustproof, sandproof and waterproof to the extent it can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in water that is up to 1.5 meters deep without damage. An IPX7 rating indicates the materials rating has not been measured, but the water rating is 7, which means it’s submersible for up to 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water without issue. It's a little complicated, but it's helpful to know when you’re shopping for the best waterproof speaker for your needs. Since you’re (hopefully) not likely to drop your speaker in the lake or bathtub, what the IP standard ratings really tell you is the extent you should worry about rainstorms, splashing or spills.

Additionally, there are two ways for you to get wireless content with respect to waterproof speakers: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Waterproof Bluetooth speakers tend to be more portable since they link directly to their source, such as a smartphone or tablet. Speakers using Wi-Fi require the network to bridge the gap between them and the source device. 

When you think of waterproof speakers, outdoor speakers likely come to mind. But there are also some good reasons to get waterproof speakers for inside use. A good Bluetooth shower speaker can help jumpstart your day with tunes. Beyond a shower speaker, other inside applications for a waterproof speaker include installation in bathroom ceilings, laundry rooms, home saunas or any area where there’s a likelihood of high humidity.

When you’re looking for wireless speakers to use on your boat, not just any waterproof Bluetooth speakers will suffice. Instead you need marine speakers, which are specifically designed to function in more extreme environments. They need to withstand huge amounts of UV exposure and perhaps even corrosive salt in the water and air.

Choose a Bluetooth boombox for when you just have to play that special mix CD you received as a gift. It not only works like one of the boomboxes you had growing up — complete with speakers and options like AM/FM radio, CD player or MP3 player — it also allows you to stream your favorite music using your phone, tablet or other music source device.