These Bluetooth boxes are perfect for the bathroom
Enjoy nice music while showering or listen to the radio news – no problem if the speaker is waterproof and easy to use even when wet. We present three models that are suitable for showering or bathing without hesitation.
What exactly is that supposed to be, a “shower speaker”? Can’t you just connect any Bluetooth speaker to your cell phone and take it with you into the shower? My answer to that is no, because there are a few things to consider.
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When the speaker can go in the shower
What makes a good “shower speaker” is this:
- The speaker is waterproof. This not only means “protected against splashing water”, but also the colloquial “waterproof”. In Europe, there is an official standard for this (IP rating or protection class), which can also be found on smartphones. The protection class against water should be as high as possible. For example, IP67 = “Dustproof (6) and protected against temporary immersion (7)”. It is better not to use a loudspeaker below this protection class (e.g. IP54) in the shower cubicle.
- In terms of operation, the speaker model should be included hardware buttons be equipped to press. Some Bluetooth boxes only offer smooth user interfaces with touch controls – this looks chic, but is practically useless with wet hands.
- My personal advice: get one brand device, which may well cost a little more. The selection is huge, especially when it comes to speakers. There are hundreds of cheap speakers on Amazon that cost temptingly little and are advertised with properties such as “waterproof”. The problem: No-name manufacturers save on every corner (e.g. decent rubber seals on the case) in order to lower the price. Well-known brand manufacturers, on the other hand, put more effort into quality testing and durability. They have a reputation to uphold and simply cannot afford to have their model short out on the second use.
JBL Go 3: The cheap one
The American manufacturer JBL knows a thing or two about loudspeakers: from the really big festival sound system, to great home cinema speakers, to compact Bluetooth loudspeakers, everything is there – always accompanied by praise from customers and the trade press. Perhaps the smallest (8.8 x 7.5 x 4.1 cm) and cheapest entry into the world of JBL sound is the JBL Go 3 (view at MediaMarkt), which is available in numerous color variants.
Waterproof according to IP67 and equipped with a practical loop. In terms of sound, however, it can neither be particularly deep nor loud and is therefore particularly recommended for podcasts and news broadcasts.
Bose Soundlink Micro: The powerful sound
“Top sound for speaker voices (podcasts) and pop music at room volume,” was my conclusion in the detailed GIGA test Bose SoundLink Micro at MediaMarkt(), which is extremely compact at 9.83 x 9.83 x 3.48 cm. Thanks to multipoint Bluetooth, several devices can be connected to the box (e.g. two mobile phones) and switched quickly – ideal for several users who want to share a shower loudspeaker.
Protection class IPX7 means that, in extreme cases, you can submerge the speaker in 1 m of water for up to 30 minutes. There may be a small disadvantage: the SoundLink Micro is charged via a micro-USB connection – I would have preferred a more modern USB-C socket instead.
Sonos Roam: The multiroom speaker
Of the Sonos Roam (view at MediaMarkt) is “exactly the speaker that many Sonos fans have rightly been waiting for: Handy, flexible to use, beautiful, without serious weaknesses,” is my conclusion in the detailed GIGA test. The special feature of the portable box is that it can not only be controlled via Bluetooth, but also accepts music in your own four walls via WLAN.
The Roam is an ideal complement to existing Sonos multi-room setups: If you are listening to a Sonos One (watch Tink) in the kitchen at breakfast, you can play the same song synchronously in the bathroom. Thanks to the automatic room calibration, the compact speaker can also counteract the challenging room acoustics in the bathroom by adapting its sound. The Sonos Roam is water resistant to IP67 and supports AirPlay 2 from Apple. It’s almost a bit too expensive for just using it in the shower – so buying the Roam makes sense if you’re looking for a good-sounding speaker for indoors and outdoors anyway.
The cheaper version – without a microphone for voice control and room measurement – is called Sonos Roam SL.
Our video gives you an overview of how to get started with Sonos:
Loudspeakers in the shower: what to look out for
Finally, three points that are actually self-evident:
- Even if a Bluetooth speaker is waterproof and can even be submerged for a short time, it should be used in direct jet water (shower spray) be careful. The high water pressure could overwhelm the seals of the housing. That’s why the speaker should be placed a little further away, preferably on a shelf next to the shower stall.
- Soap and especially hot ones cleaning supplies should never come into contact with the speaker.
- It’s a good idea to completely recycle the speaker every now and then dry to permit. Leaving a Bluetooth box in a corner that is constantly damp for days is not good for it.
- That Charge of the battery should always be done when it is dry and never while the speaker is in use and in contact with water.
You can find more information about Bluetooth speakers in our detailed purchase guide:
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