Purchasing a Shower Speaker? The IPX4 Rating Explained

So you're considering purchasing your next speaker and want to be sure that whatever you buy performs the way you intend. But what exactly do you have in store for this speaker? We know in day to day life people may encounter messes including spills and if you go outside, it might rain. Life gets messy sometimes. You may drop your device in the sink or even a puddle. But today we are focusing on the shower speaker.

An Intro to the IPX4 Rating

The IPX4 rating is the minimum protection rating that any bluetooth shower device must have. Basically, it’s really the minimum for any device which may be used close to water should have whether it’s rain, sweat, or your shower’s jets!

IPX4 is a fancy way of calling a device splash proof. However, these types of shower speakers cannot be submerged in water, so don’t drop it if you are taking a bath. If you are in need of a device that can actually be submerged in water, you may wish to consider “waterproof” devices with IPX7, IPX8 or IPX9 ratings. Essentially, IPX4 is water resistant but not waterproof.

So What Does IP stand for anyway?

IP is the abbreviation for International Protection (also known as Ingress Protection). It's the marking that defines the extent of protection against the intrusion of water. Ratings go from 0 to 9. Below are the key protection levels explained.

• IPX0: The product offers no special protection from water.
• IPX1: Can resist water that drips vertically onto the product.
• IPX2: Can resist water that hits the product at a 15° angle or less.
• IPX3: Can take water sprays of up to 60°.
• IPX4: Is resistant to water splashes from any direction.
• IPX5: Can resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray.
• IPX6: Can resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water.
• IPX6K: Can resist water jets of extremely high pressure. Rarely used.
• IPX7: Can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes.
• IPX8: Can be submerged deeper than 1 meter. The exact depth is specified by the manufacturer.
• IPX9K: Resists high-pressure, high-temperature sprays at close range. A very special case that’s dictated by a separate standard. Rarely used.

The Use of Devices with IPX4 Rating

Originally, IPX4 was considered to be the minimum rating for electronic devices that will be used outdoors so that the device would survive conditions like rain. Soon came the bluetooth earbuds, which needed to survive human sweat so that we could use the treadmill without fear of losing connection to our podcasts and music. Nowadays, we can place an IPX4 bluetooth speaker in our shower and have no fear of it getting damaged from light splashes.

Is IPX4 Enough?

Before you purchase your next bluetooth shower speaker, you need to determine the level of protection you really want. If you wish to use the speaker within the shower, the IPX4 rating ought to be enough. On the other hand, if you wish to use the speaker while taking a bath, and want to be sure that incase you drop the speaker in the tub, then you might want to go with a speaker with an IPX7 rating just to play it safe. When making this decision you will need to factor in the cost associated with these products. IPX7 devices will be more expensive than IPX4 as their level of technology is more advanced. You may be able to find reasonably priced IPX7 devices, but you should be good with IPX4. A lot of these products are sold on Amazon, so read the product reviews to make sure the device has performed the way it is advertised. The IP rating is only part of the equation, you will want to make sure that the sound quality of the speakers is up to the quality that you seek.

Considering Buying a Bluetooth Shower Speaker?

If you are considering buying a bluetooth shower speaker you should head over to My Shower Speakers for an in depth buying guide for many different shower speakers. There really isn't a better resource in my opinion.