Everyone loves listening to music and singing in the shower. It has been scientifically proven that music sounds better in the bathroom! That’s because of the bathroom acoustics, which makes sound reverberate.
So why not blasting your favorite songs on a Bluetooth shower speaker while you take a relaxing bath?
Waterproof speakers are a great option for those who wish to listen to music in the shower. In fact, a waterproof Bluetooth speaker would be one of the best options available! You can check the pros and cons of these devices yourself if you are not convinced yet.
What is a Bluetooth speaker?
Under normal circumstances, speakers need a cable that connects them to an audio source (be it the cable from a pair of speakers that connect a stereo system with an amplifier or just a simple 3.5mm cable that leads to an iPod).
Bluetooth speakers avoid the physical limitations that cables and wires have by using the same Bluetooth protocol and audio system that wireless headphones and other wireless accessories have. That is the most basic component of any Bluetooth speaker in the market.
What sets them apart from a Wi-Fi system?
Bluetooth speakers are different from Wi-Fi-based audio solutions. First of all, these wireless speakers are usually highly portable, while Wi-Fi solutions are usually installed in fixed places, since they need a link point, such as a wireless router.
Second, Bluetooth speakers connect directly to their source (usually a phone or tablet) and do not require a mediator, while Wi-Fi speakers require the source and the devices to be connected to the Wi-Fi network.
Finally, the audio quality is slightly better in Bluetooth audio systems than in Wi-Fi systems, simply due to the nature of the transmission.
Advantages and disadvantages of Bluetooth speakers
Bluetooth speakers are the latest wireless technology available. Working with the same wireless technology which lets you share any file on your mobile phone with your friends, Bluetooth speakers provide you with a high-quality listening experience. No need for any messy cables!
If you have a mobile phone, you have most probably already used Bluetooth technology. Today, you can get many phone and computer accessories that work wirelessly with this technology. Even though Bluetooth is still in its early stages, it offers convincing performance.
When it comes to wireless speakers, the two most common technologies are Radio Frequency (RF) and Infra-Red. Their functionality, however, is rather limited. Radiofrequency can occasionally struggle with reception problems and signal interference, while an infrared connection requires that the device and the speaker be aligned together, which makes portability limited.
Bluetooth speakers operate without space restrictions provided that they are at a distance of 30 feet from the phone or computer. The pairing between them and the Bluetooth speakers is quite seamless and can be established wirelessly.
Advantages of Bluetooth speakers
- They normally require very little power. Most of the time, an external power adapter is not needed. In fact, many Bluetooth speakers work with AA batteries or have an internal battery that can be charged with a USB cable.
- Portability is one of their main advantages. Many people carry a pair of speakers in their rucksacks for outdoor use. Their low energy expenditure makes them the perfect pick for this type of use.
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Since these devices work without any cables, there will be no need to deal with annoying adapters or wires.
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Easy to use. The paring of the speakers and the music device is automatically established. You do not need to search for drivers online or run installation CDs.
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Perfect for outdoor activities. If you are hiking or picnicking with your friends, the Bluetooth speakers will be very useful. As no installation is required, all you need is set them up and you will be listening to music in a matter of minutes.
- They work perfectly with mobile phones. Bluetooth is ever-present in these devices, while other wireless speakers use RF or infrared, which are nowadays not as common. And since most new phones, and definitely all smartphones, already have the ability to play music, you will be able to listen to your favorite songs instantly.
Disadvantages of Bluetooth speakers
- Reach. The device (i.e., music player, cell phone, laptop, etc.) and the speakers must be at a distance of 30 feet from each other for them to work. This means that you will find it difficult to play music while sitting in another room.
- Compatibility. Although most mobile phones come with Bluetooth, many music players do not.
- Power. Bluetooth speakers cannot compete with normal speakers when it comes to supplying raw power (i.e., watts). Your sound will be weaker, lacking the richness and depth of regular speakers.
Who are Bluetooth speakers perfect for?
Bluetooth speakers are perfect if you want to listen to music while you are doing other activities, both indoors and outdoors. If you want to catch up on your favorite songs from anywhere, this kind of speakers is an ideal investment. However, for other uses, such as watching movies or throwing out a party, you may want to look for other types of speakers that can provide more power and better sound quality.
Keys to choosing a good personal speaker
Thanks to Bluetooth technology, more and more people are turning their mobile phones into a complete music center with these small and powerful speakers.
In general, there are two kinds of personal speakers, the so-called indoor ones, which are more fragile but with a superior design and those considered suitable for the outdoors, which by means of a deep sealing treatment, resist splashes and dust.
In the latter category, we can find shower Bluetooth speakers and other waterproof speakers, which are a bit more expensive because they have to comply with the IP67 rating. This enables them to be submerged up to half an hour in the water, without their sound being affected.
What to look for in a shower speaker
If you are planning to buy a new speaker to take with you on your daily shower, there are four things you have to bear in mind:
1. Portability and resistance. You need a speaker that is easy to move around and is resistant to water and dust.
2. Good battery life. The idea of a wireless product is that it does not have to be connected to anything and, for this, a powerful battery is required.
3. Good sound quality. You have to choose a waterproof speaker that does not only offer sturdiness but also great audio quality.
4. Long-distance connection. The further one moves away from the receiver, the worse the quality of the connection gets until the signal is completely lost. Make sure your waterproof Bluetooth shower speaker works well at a distance you find convenient.
The cheapest models are usually of the Bluetooth type two or three, although it is recommended that it be 4.1 in order to take advantage of lower energy consumption and a larger distance range.
Other aspects to take into consideration
Even though the four features that we have mentioned before are key when choosing a new Bluetooth speaker, there are other characteristics you should consider.
Ability to pick up calls
Unless the phone is on airplane mode, if there is an entering call a while the music is playing, the sound will automatically be blocked and the call will be prioritized. To be able to comfortably pick it up, it is essential that the speaker has a built-in microphone, in order to speak as if it were a hands-free device.
Interference with other devices
Bluetooth uses the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band of the radio frequency spectrum, also known as the industrial, medical and scientific band. This implies that if there are wireless devices operating on the same frequency nearby, the microwaves which they produce can cause interference or performance problems.
Multiple linking capacity
An interesting function for your Bluetooth speakers would be to have your music playing in different rooms of the house simultaneously. To do so, several speakers (of the same brand) would have to be linked to extend the sound coverage. The same music will sound on each channel, without wires.
Data transmission speed
When the first Bluetooth devices came to the market, they could transmit data with a speed of 720 KBS, which was a surprising speed for the time. However, to this day that speed is not the best one and you should look for a Bluetooth speaker that has a great data transmission speed. The most current rates reach speeds of up to 24 Mbs, so don’t settle for less.
Compatibility and updates
On some models, updates can be installed via a USB port. When purchasing a device, the version with which it is compatible must be verified, since the quality of bandwidth and range depends on it. Models that are less expensive, are usually Bluetooth type two or three, although it is recommended that it be 4.1 to take advantage of lower consumption and a wider distance coverage range.
Incorporated volume control
Another feature you might want to look into is a control menu keypad that is attached to the speaker's body. This is key for any shower speaker since you don’t have to resort to the phone if you want to increase the volume or change the track while you’re taking a bath or a shower.
Best Bluetooth speakers for your bathroom
When buying Bluetooth shower speakers, you should aim for the greatest quality. Bear in mind that these speakers are going to be in constant contact with water, and will be used -if not daily- every other day. For that same reason, the best Bluetooth speakers should not be missing the following features:
- Protection against water: If you want to be sure that you will not have problems with your device in the shower, what the speaker should be offering is IP6X compatibility. Do not be tricked by cheap speakers that are limited to splash protection (IP5X)! Those devices have a limited life in the shower.
- Design: It is recommended that the dimensions of the speaker are small so that you can place it anywhere in the bathroom. Those models that use a suction cup mechanism are an interesting choice since the suction cup makes it possible to place them on the wall and access the Bluetooth speakers straight from the shower. It is also essential that they include integrated controls for volume and track navigation.
- Compatibility: The most important thing here is that the Bluetooth version is at least 3.0, in order to ensure that it can be used with virtually all iOS and Android terminals. Another great option is to buy a speaker that includes a microSD card reader, to be able to listen to music without the need of having your smartphone nearby.
- Autonomy: Ideally, the speaker’s battery should last at least four hours when in use, and the battery should be integrated to make sure that the interior is waterproof. Check that the Bluetooth speaker has no interchangeable batteries, and the charging port is either micro USB or Type C.
Water speaker
Water speakers are a great addition to any bathroom. They have a compartment with water in them and LED lights that light up to the rhythm of the music.
In spite of their name, not all water speakers are waterproof. They are called that way because of the water they have in their inside, which sometimes moves thanks to a small wind turbine or bubble generating mechanism.
Their design is in many cases very elegant. They are perfect to have next to the bathtub when you are taking a relaxing bubble bath. You can relax while you listen to your favorite slow music and see the water moving and the colors lighting up.
Floating speaker
Floating speakers are a great option for those who love taking long baths. They can be placed in any tub.
This kind of waterproof speakers is also suitable for pool use. So, you can throw a pool party and have them floating in the pool.
The best floating speakers are completely waterproof and insulated. This means that they can be in constant contact with water and they will suffer no damage at all.
Suction cup speaker
Perfect for those people who don’t have a lot of place in the bathroom! Suction cup speakers can be attached to any flat surface and they are ready to use!
You can attach them on the shower wall or on a mirror and save a lot of space. If you have a small shower stall, you can even place it on the shower door or even next to the faucets.
These speakers are perfect for shower use and they can be easily removed and placed somewhere else!
Hanging speaker
Another great option for the shower is a hanging speaker. This kind of speaker can hang from the shower bar or the shower curtain rail.
Hanging speakers are generally sturdy because they are designed for outdoor use. However, since they are generally waterproof, they are also great for indoor use in the bathroom.
Benefits of listening to music
There are a lot of benefits for our wellbeing that music can bring to us. In fact, it helps reduce pain and favors the production of endorphins.
Music ignites our emotions and makes us re-live varied memories. That’s because listening to music is one of the few activities that involve the use of the entire brain. For this reason, music has a lot of benefits for our health.
Top 3 health benefits of music
1. Slow music helps decrease breathing and heart rate, which prevents the feeling of distress.
2. It can reduce chronic pain from a variety of painful diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
3. It usually helps those with migraines. It helps fight chronic headache and reduce the intensity and duration of headaches.
Music therapy is increasingly used in hospitals to
- Reduce the need for medication during childbirth.
- Reduce postoperative pain.
- Complement the use of anesthesia during surgery.
- This occurs because music serves as a distracting, gives a sense of control and causes the body to release endorphins to counteract the pain.
In short, music is a cultural phenomenon that directly influences our mood. Listening to music also manages to activate parts of our brain in a way that is beneficial to our health. Finally, it makes us release endorphins, which always makes us feel better.
Best music to listen in the shower
Few things are enjoyed as much as listening to music when showering, it is simply magical. Taking a bath can be a ritual since you wait for the water to be at the perfect temperature, you choose the clothes that you will wear after the bath, you can shave and it is the place where millions of ideas are born.
You can find a huge number of playlists on Spotify for anything you are doing, be it running, cooking, sleeping. Of course, there are also lists for taking a bath!
Spotify has over 40k playlists which include the word “shower” and they have more than half a million streams a day, so people actually like to bathe or shower while listening to a certain selection.
Songs to sing in the shower – by Spotify
Spotify has made their own playlist with their top picks to listen in the shower. It includes a lot of classics from the 90s and early 2000s. Definitely a great playlist to start your day with!
Our top 5 songs from this playlist
1. I Want It That Way – BackStreet Boys.
2. Wannabe – Spice Girls.
3. Mr. Brightside – The Killers.
4. TiK ToK – Ke$ha.
5. All Star – Smash Mouth.
Shower Songs 2019 - Shower/sing-a-long – by Playlisted.me
This selection of songs by Playlisted.me is great for singing in the shower. All the songs are wonderfully curated, and you won’t stop humming to these catchy tunes while you are taking your shower.
Our top 5 songs from this playlist
1. They Don’t Know Me – Josephine.
2. Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man.
3. In The Name of Love – Martin Garrix feat. Bebe Rexha.
4. Girls Like You – Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B.
5. Party In The USA – Miley Cyrus.
Bathroom Beats: AM – by Urban Utilities
The best music for your morning shower is compiled in this energetic playlist. Start your day fully energized with all these great songs to choose from!
Our top 5 songs from this playlist
1. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall – Coldplay.
2. How Deep Is Your Love – Calvin Harris feat. Disciples.
3. Temperature – Sean Paul.
4. It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls.
5. Something In The Water – Brooke Fraser.
Bathroom Beats: PM – by Urban Utilities
Nothing as relaxing as taking a bath to this music once you are back home from a long day of work. These songs will definitely help you unwind and let go of all the stress.
Our top 5 songs from this playlist
1. How Far I’ll Go (Moana’s Original Soundtrack) – Alessia Cara.
2. Just Around The Riverbend (Pocahontas’ Original Soundtrack) – Judy Kuhn.
3. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? – Creedence Clearwater Revival.
4. Down By The River – Milky Chance.
5. Rhythm Of The Rain – The Cascades
We hope this article has helped you choose your new waterproof shower speaker and the music you’re going to play next time you take a shower. Remember: you can use any device to listen to music in your bathroom, but don’t forget to take care of the water!
