After doing the research and comparing ten of the best shower speakers available on the market today, we found Fugoo Sport to be the top pick for most showers and baths.
We have spent 15 hours researching, testing, reviewing, and collecting customer feedback from authoritative sources from all over the internet to bring you this unbiased shower speaker review and help you make the right decision.
To come up with the top 10 shower speakers we assessed them based on their price, waterproof or water resistance rating, battery life, connections, and audio quality.
As a result, there are multiple great shower speakers that get the job done, but like with most things – they have their strengths and weaknesses. Some have superior Bluetooth connectivity, some focus on audio quality more than anything else, others are more rugged or deliver a better overall value. Keep reading to find the best shower speaker that works for you.
Best Shower Speakers – Top 10 Quick Comparison
Image | Battery Life / Weight / Power / WaterproofTop 10 Best Shower Speakers | ||||||
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Best Overall – Fugoo Sport (Editor’s Choice) |
Best Overall – Fugoo Sport (Editor’s Choice) Best battery life we’ve seen in portable shower speakers. Interchangeable jackets let you change the looks and toughness. Great, balanced sound and IP67 rating. |
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Best Budget – AYL Soundfit |
Best Budget – AYL Soundfit Compact, portable and extremely affordable. The included strap is helpful for added mounting options. |
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Best Mini – BOOM Swimmer |
Best Mini – BOOM Swimmer The smallest Bluetooth waterproof speaker we’ve tested. It does has limited sound capacity, but is good enough for podcasts and light music. |
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Best General Purpose – Treblab HD55 |
Best General Purpose – Treblab HD55 One of the loudest shower speakers in our review. Clear, balanced and full body sound, but not for bass lovers. Great for general use too. |
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Best Compact Sound – UE Roll 2 |
Compact Size & Premium Sound – UE Roll 2 Compact, but surprisingly capable and bassy sound for its size. One of the most user friendly apps on the market to control audio settings and pairing. |
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Best Cheap – SoundBot SB510 HD |
Cheapest – SoundBot SB510 HD An extremely affordable speaker specifically developed for the shower use. Suction cup and easy to use controls make speaker placement very flexible. |
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Loudest – UE WonderBOOM 2 |
Loudest & Best Bass – UE WonderBOOM 2 The loudest and the most bass-heavy speaker in our review. It features a tough design with the highest waterproof and dust-proof rating in Bluetooth speakers that can also float in water. |
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Best With Suction Cup – VicTsing |
Best With Suction Cup – VicTsing Durable, portable and compact Bluetooth shower speaker that is amongst the best in the budget range. It comes with a removable suction cup and a carabiner. |
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Best Value – OontZ Angle 3 |
Best Value – OontZ Angle 3 A plain and simple looking budget Bluetooth shower speaker that packs more punch than you’d expect. Rubber sides protect the speaker from drops. |
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Best Premium – Libratone ONE Click |
Best Premium – Libratone ONE Click If you want to feel special in your shower, Libratone ONE Click is the most premium waterproof speaker out there which comes with a respective premium price. |
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1. Best Shower Speaker Overall – Fugoo Sport
Fugoo Sport, in essence, is the same as Fugoo Style we have previously reviewed and given it an Editor’s Choice award.
The only difference between the Sport and Style is the ‘jacket’ they are wearing, hence the difference in their names.
Fugoo Sport wears a rubber jacket which has been developed specifically to provide an extra level of protection from water, dust, and physical impact.
The IP67 water resistance rating allows the speaker to be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, which is one of the best results in our review.
To make it even more attractive for travel use and stay true to its name, Fugoo Sport boasts a 40-hour rechargeable battery capacity. This makes it the longest-lasting Bluetooth shower speaker in our review by a country mile as no other speaker gets even close.
The speaker delivers an all-around sound with the help of six built-in speakers. There are two neodymium woofers, two tweeters, and two passive radiators that create a vibrant and balanced sound unrivaled in our review. If, however, the stereo mode is something you fancy, you can pair two or more speakers with a single audio source.
Unlike most speakers on our list, here you get a voice-enabled speakerphone built-it. It allows you to use Google Now or Siri as your virtual assistant and even take conference calls.
Bottom Line |
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Fugoo Sport is our top pick for the best shower and bath speaker that is also perfect for general use. It is ultra-durable, waterproof and you could enjoy your music for two days on a single charge. Couple that with a premium audio delivery and you have an exceptionally versatile speaker that will be your perfect companion for travel, camping, shower and any other use you can think of. Not only is it one of the best-rated shower speakers in our list, it is also the most versatile speaker we’ve tested. We can’t think of one way you can go wrong with it. |
- Design 90%
- Features 80%
- Usability 90%
- Sound Quality 90%
- Value 90%
POSITIVE | |
---|---|
Waterproof and dustproof | |
Exceptional audio quality | |
Best battery life we have ever seen in portable wireless speakers | |
Incredible value for the money |
NEGATIVE | |
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Mediocre bass response |
2. Best Budget Shower Speaker – AYL Soundfit
The AYL Soundfit is one of the smallest waterproof shower speakers in our review.
Despite its size, it packs 5 watts of acoustic power in a fairly compact and rugged body.
The sound delivered, given the physical dimensions is very decent. In fact, the speaker is louder and more prominent at low-frequency than we have expected.
The speaker comes with a heavy-duty rubber strap which you can either use for carrying or attach a carbine to it and hang it off your backpack or a bike.
The bottom of the speaker comes with a threaded hole allowing you to use all types of mounts with it to endlessly expand your mounting alternatives.
Since the speaker is compact and ultra light, it makes it one of the most portable speakers in our review.
AYL Soundfit also supports a 3.5mm jack connection, so if your device does not have Bluetooth wireless connectivity, you can always use the good old auxiliary cable to connect (comes in the package).
The battery provides around 12 hours of music playback and takes 3 hours to recharge, which is an excellent result for such a cheap Bluetooth shower speaker.
Bottom Line |
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AYL Soundfit is a great little speaker that is full of surprises. It is light, tough and has an IPX5 rating which makes it ideal for shower and outdoor use. The included strap makes it versatile to hang or mount almost anywhere. With around 4000 positive reviews on Amazon, it has become one of the best cheap shower speakers around. |
- Design 80%
- Features 70%
- Sound 80%
- Battery Life 80%
- Value 100%
POSITIVE | |
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Decent sound reproduction | |
Tough body | |
Strap and mount thread | |
3.5 mm connector support |
NEGATIVE | |
---|---|
Sound distortion if pushed to the limit |
3. Best Mini Shower Speaker – Polk Audio BOOM Swimmer Duo
Boom Swimmer Duo is the latest model from Polk Audio that replaces the original Polk Boom Swimmer.
In addition, the tiny speaker is one of not many that has been designed and built with specifically shower use in mind.
It has a flexible tail that can wrap around taps, shower rails and shower heads making it extremely easy to mount. If your shower does not have any of those things you can use a suction cup that comes with the speaker.
The body is made of a tough rubber that makes the speaker shock resistant and durable. Combining that with an IPX7 water rating that allows the speaker to be immersed in water for 30 minutes – you have a pretty rugged speaker that is ready to survive almost everything you can throw at it.
The integrated battery allows up to 8 hours of playing time, which is quite modest compared to the competition. Moreover, the updated version allows speaker pairing if you need to add some volume.
To recharge the battery, the top cap needs to be unscrewed and open a rubber flap inside. It may not sound too bad, but in practice is quite uncomfortable.
Polk Audio Boom features a 30mm driver, which is tiny and you should not expect a punchy or immersive sound from it. The high and mids are not the most refined either, delivering an acceptable performance overall.
Although the speaker is tiny, it can get relatively loud. Yet, you don’t want to push it beyond 70-80% of its volume,as it starts to generate a side with low-end distortion blurring the overall experience.
Bottom Line |
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Polk Audio Boom Swimmer Duo is a great little speaker if you use it to its strengths. It is the smallest and the lightest speaker in our review by a mile. It will not blow you away with the most amazing audio performance, but it compensates it with a durable waterproof design that is also extremely travel-friendly. If you are looking to use this speaker indoor, there are probably better speakers to select from, if however, you need a speaker that takes close to no room in your backpack and you are not very demanding on the audio quality – this is the best speaker for your shower in the smallest size there is. |
- Design 80%
- Features 80%
- Sound 60%
- Battery Life 60%
- Value 90%
POSITIVE | |
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Can be attached to almost anything | |
Pairs with another speaker | |
Decent sound for the size | |
Built-in speakerphone |
NEGATIVE | |
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Sound distortion at high volume | |
Rolls on tabletops due to the round shape | |
USB charging port is not easy to use |
4. Best For Mixed Use – Treblab HD55
You may know Treblab from their headphones as that is the niche they have started out in and their main specialty. But not so long ago, Treblab has released their first speaker with Bluetooth capabilities – HD55.
The company is known for outstanding customer service and hence gets a disproportionate amount of positive and glowing reviews. But have they managed to pull it off with the Bluetooth speaker? Let’s look into it!
The speaker has a classical cylinder shape, similar to the well known UE Boom 2 that we have reviewed previously.
Treblab HD55 comes with a spare red color cover, so if you feel that you need to add a little bit of excitement to your music device, it comes in the package.
The playback controls are simple, yet quite innovative. To change the soundtracks, you merely need to swipe your finger on the panel left or right. It is simple to use, and it works well, even with the fingers being wet.
As far as the speakers go, the body has four of them integrated, one dual bass radiator, two tweeters, and a single midrange. This arsenal results in 12 watts of pure acoustic power that makes Treblab HD55 one of the loudest speakers in our review. It produces powerful, vibrant, and crystal clear sound, even at high volumes.
One innovative feature that sets the Treblab HD55 apart from the competition is the indoor/outdoor button. It adjusts the frequency response to fit your environment. Opting for indoor mode enriches the sound with better bass, whereas the outdoor mode results in louder, but slightly less detailed performance.
The speaker has a built-in microphone, so you can easily use it to make cellular calls, and the voice quality is great making it a good fit for both music and podcasts.
The rechargeable battery delivers average results, providing the speaker with around 10 hours of your favorite tunes. In addition, it takes around 5 hours for the battery to recharge, which we found to be quite long.
Bottom Line |
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Treblab HD55 is a great lightweight speaker that delivers loud, clear, rich and distortion-less sound at any volume. Although we appreciate the balance across the frequency range, the bass lovers will find the lows lacking punch. Otherwise, it covers the portable Bluetooth speaker basics perfectly and we are sure you’ll find this versatile speaker ideal for any type of use, including your bathroom or shower. |
- Design 80%
- Features 80%
- Sound 80%
- Battery Life 70%
- Value 70%
POSITIVE | |
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Loud and balanced 360-degree sound | |
Light and relatively portable | |
Lifetime warranty | |
Integrated speakerphone |
NEGATIVE | |
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Not for bass lovers | |
No battery charge indicator | |
Requires flat surface to stand |
5. highest Waterproof Rating – UE Roll 2
Ultimate Ears is one of the best speaker brands specializing in portable bluetooth audio on the market.
UE’s occurrence of coming up with something that stands out from the crowd design-wise is slowly becoming their signature and Roll 2 is no different.
For us, it started with the UE Wonderboom, which we have reviewed below and it looked like a can of coke that was about to burst. The UE Roll 2, on the other hand, looks like a squashed can of coke.
In real, Roll 2 is bigger than we have expected it to be based on web pictures. It keeps the design lines of its predecessor and visually remains identical.
The body is robust and is made of waterproof and shockproof grey color military-grade mesh. At the same time, if you feel that speaker colors in our review are dull and boring, then UE has prepared a whole array of modern color options for you. They even come with artistic impressions, such as ‘Drippy’ created by the artist Jen Stark.
Similar to the original speaker, the Roll 2 features a bungee cord at the back. This is quite useful for most showers given that you have a hook or something similar. The speaker also comes with an inflatable base that can be used in a pool if you want to have your music as close to you as possible.
With speaker controls, again, nothing has changed. The massive and simplistic plus and minus signs at the front of the speaker still control the volume, which we find convenient. Conversely, the absence of playback controls on the speaker constrains you to use your smartphone to skip or pause a song.
The Bluetooth connection range has improved, and UE claims 100 feet, yet in practice, we found 60 to 70 feet (in the open) to be more accurate.
The claimed battery life of 9 hours can be achieved when using the speaker at moderate volumes. At the same time, as you make it louder the battery drains exponentially quicker.
The area where UE Roll 2 is ahead of the competition is the mobile app that lets you control the sound equalizer levels, pair up to 50 other speakers and set the alarm.
Inside the body, you’ll find a 2″ main driver and a pair of 0.75″ tweeters. The speaker manages to maintain clear mids, highs and distortion-free bass throughout the volume range. The lows, however, seem to fade as you are maxing out the speaker to avoid distortion as it does not have built-in passive bass radiators.
Bottom Line |
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Overall, UE Roll 2 is a special speaker due to its unique design. It is surprisingly loud for its size and delivers a clear sound with a good punch of bass. The waterproof construction, bungee cord, and being compact makes this speaker perfect for outdoor or bathroom use. If you are on a limited budget, this might be one of the best Bluetooth speakers under $100 you can find. |
- Design 90%
- Features 80%
- Sound 70%
- Battery Life 60%
- Value 80%
POSITIVE | |
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Ultra compact and portable design | |
Great and loud sound for the size | |
Amazing color options | |
Inflatable life preserver |
NEGATIVE | |
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Bass slightly fades at higher volumes | |
No speakerphone | |
No playback controls |
6. Best Cheap Shower Speaker – SoundBot SB510 HD
SoundBot SB510 HD is the second speaker in our review that has been designed with shower use in mind.
It comes with a suction cup that allows the speaker to be attached to the shower tiled wall quite easily. In fact, it sucks up on the wall so well, that it stays on it very solidly and does not lose suction.
You have a number of fun colors to pick from, such as green red, white, blue and others.
The speaker is water-resistant and splash-proof, yet it does not come with an official certification. It is designed to be mounted on a wall and hence not fully submerged in water as it may cause damage.
The battery allows for up to six hours of non-stop listening and takes around three hours to charge. The result is nothing spectacular, but given that this is the cheapest Bluetooth speaker in our review, we think it is acceptable.
We did find the playback controls at the front of the speaker to be handy and easy to use. It allows you to pause and skip songs without having to leave your shower. Conversely, to the initial impression, there is a volume control which is hidden behind the long-press of the ‘next’ and ‘previous’ buttons.
Additionally, SoundBot SB510 HD has an integrated speakerphone, yet we are not sure how practical it could be to answer calls in the shower.
The sound quality won’t blow you away, yet it is very decent given how small and affordable this speaker is.
Bottom Line |
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SoundBot SB510 HD has been specifically designed for shower use and given its price point – it is the best cheap Bluetooth speaker we could find. It features an easy to use playback controls, that are very handy as well as delivers a very respectable sound quality. If you are looking for an affordable shower speaker, SB510 HD is not to be missed. |
- Design 80%
- Features 70%
- Sound 70%
- Battery Life 70%
- Value 100%
POSITIVE | |
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Extremely affordable | |
Can be safely mounted on a shower wall | |
Easy to use playback controls | |
Good customer support |
NEGATIVE | |
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Battery life could be better | |
Unintuitive volume controls |
7. Best Shower Speaker for Bass and Volume – UE WonderBOOM 2
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is a versatile portable waterproof speaker that was designed to compensate where smaller brother UE Roll 2 was lacking – the bass department.
The body is inspired by athleisure and features a high-performance 2-tone knit fabric with a range of stylish colors. It also gives the speaker an IP67 rating for water resistance making it your floatable pool pal or a reliable shower buddy.
The top and bottom end feature a durable plastic that is designed to absorb the impact in case of a drop. UE claims that the speaker can be dropped from a 5 ft height and guarantees no damage to the speaker.
At the top of the speaker, you will find an elastic bungee cord, which is not extremely practical due to its short length. However, you can hang it in the shower or on the towel rack.
The feature array, however, is pretty dull. It does not support the UE mobile app, does not have a 3.5mm jack and does not feature a speakerphone. The only physical connection on the speaker is the micro-USB port for charging. At the same time, it comes with an improved 13-hour battery life and 30-meter Bluetooth range.
Wonderboom 2’s sound quality is incredible for its price range. You can listen to the powerful bass and crisp vocals in any direction thanks to the powerful 360° sound projection. It also has an Outdoor Boost function that delivers louder, more powerful audio that’s specially tuned for listening outside.
Although the speaker is relatively small, it can fill an average size room with a punchy sound. In fact, despite being quite compact, the UE Wonderboom 2 is the loudest speaker in our review, hence it takes our best shower speaker crown for sheer volume and bass performance.
Bottom Line |
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UE WonderBoom 2 features an ultra-portable, waterproof and durable body that is sure to fit your bathroom or shower perfectly. It is also versatile enough to be used indoors, outside, at the beach or anywhere you can imagine. In fact, it is not only one of the best shower speakers around, but it is also one of the top general-purpose speakers in the price range. With the updated WonderBoom 2, Ultimate Ears have once again positioned themselves as one of the top Bluetooth speaker brands on the market. |
8.2/10
- Design 80%
- Features 70%
- Sound 90%
- Battery Life 80%
- Value 90%
POSITIVE | |
---|---|
Drop-proof (tested from 5 ft / 1.5 m) | |
360-degree sound with Outdoor Boost | |
Solid bass and clear vocals | |
Floats in water | |
Up to 13 hours of play |
NEGATIVE | |
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Some sound distortion at max volume | |
The cord is a little too short | |
No speakerphone |
8. Best With Suction Cap – VicTsing Shower
VicTsing Bluetooth speaker is one of the smallest speakers in our review, yet unlike other small speakers – it packs 5 watts of sound power.
The speaker body is made of durable plastic and silicone making it dustproof, shockproof and waterproof as it comes with an official IPX5 rating. In fact, we had it fallen off the shower wall twice, yet the speaker has remained fully functional.
Although the speaker has been designed for general use, it fits showers perfectly.
First, it comes with a removable suction cap that allows to mount the speaker on the bathroom wall.
And second, it comes with a simple carbine that allows you to hang the speaker on a shower rack or a tap.
Unlike a similarly priced SoundBot SB510, the VicTsing has full playback controls including volume, skipping, and pausing. You can even use the speaker as a hands-free alternative by pressing the play/pause button to dial the last number dialed. Answering the phone is as easy as tapping the button once, whereas holding it rejects the call.
It also comes with two integrated microphones, which manage to capture the voice surprisingly well. This is perhaps a small feature, yet may come in handy depending on how you use the speaker.
The speaker is powered by a 500 mAh battery which can give you up to 6 hours of playing time given that you keep your volume levels below 70%. It will take 3 hours to recharge the battery fully, which we found to be a little too long compared to the competition.
As mentioned before VicTsing boasts a larger driver compared to other speakers in the same category which gives it a more powerful sound that can get pretty loud. It comes out relatively balanced across the frequency range making it one of the cheapest shower speakers you can buy.
Bottom Line |
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We are quite pleased with the performance of VicTsing. It is durable, water resistant and ultra-portable which puts it amongst the top budget Bluetooth speakers you can get for your shower. If you are looking for a pick where you could save some money and get a whole lot of value in return, you may have just found it. |
- Design 80%
- Features 80%
- Sound 80%
- Battery Life 70%
- Value 90%
POSITIVE | |
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Ultraportable | |
Tripod mount support | |
Looks and feels tough | |
Extremely affordable |
NEGATIVE | |
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Nothing, given the asking price |
9. Best Value Shower Speaker – OontZ Angle 3
We have previously reviewed the Oonts Angle 3 in our portable Bluetooth speaker review and were greatly surprised with how much value has the speaker managed to deliver for such a small asking price.
The speaker looks quite plain and some may even find it boring, yet it is practical, compact and robust at the same time.
It won’t win any beauty contests, but the solid, rugged mesh and rubberized sides are sure to protect the speaker from dust, water, and physical damage.
The sound is delivered by two precision acoustic drivers and a passive subwoofer that adds an excellent punchy note to the overall balanced sound.
Angle 3 delivers 10 watts of clear, loud and side noise free sound. Highs are clean, and midrange is detailed with decent vocal reproduction. The passive radiator is positioned at the bottom of the speaker, so placing the speaker bottom down, delivers a more profound and pronounced bass compared to the vertical speaker position when it stands on one of the silicone ends.
The speaker has an integrated microphone allowing you to take phone calls hands-free.
Bottom Line |
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If you are looking for an extremely affordable speaker that is simple, durable, waterproof and packs more sound power than the entry-level, smallest size speakers – Oontz Angle 3 is one of the best shower speakers as far as value is concerned. It can generate an impressively loud yet relatively distortion-free sound for your bathroom. |
- Design 70%
- Features 70%
- Battery Life 70%
- Sound 80%
- Value 90%
POSITIVE | |
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Impressive sound for the size | |
Integrated speakerphone | |
Stunning value | |
Good battery life |
NEGATIVE | |
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Boring design |
10. Best Premium – Libratone ONE Click
We have previously reviewed one of the larger Libratone Bluetooth speaker, the Zipp and were quite pleased with the aesthetics and the sound quality.
Libratone One Click seems to confirm the overall minimalistic yet classy design philosophy of the brand, however technically it is a very different speaker compared to the Zipp.
It features a partially modular design allowing some level of customization if you want to tailor the looks of the speaker to your taste.
The speaker comes with a hard rubber hook and a soft rubber loop in the box, and you can pick one of five places on the speaker to attach it to.
The unusual fitment points play a role of a rubberized bumper bar protecting the device from damage in case of a fall.
The speaker is using a mesh fabric we have seen in other Libratone speakers, which is both functional and visually appealing. The fabric offers a good grip in the hand and prevents the water from getting in as it is IPX4 certified.
At the back of the speaker, you will find a power button which like the Zipp comes with a touch-sensitive pad. The touch sensor is meant to be a feature that sets Libratone products apart, which it does, but probably not in the way Libratone has expected it. Unfortunately, with both Zipp and One Click we had a similar issue where some of the finger gestures take multiple times to register. Throughout our testing, we only had issues trying to connect with the speaker as you need to hold the finger on the button over time.
The speaker lives up to the manufacturer’s claim of 12-hours on a single charge, which is fine, but not exactly noteworthy.
The sound is delivered by a 1″ tweeter, 3″ woofer and two passive radiators. The Libratone claims a 360° sound, yet to achieve that you need to have the speaker standing upright, which is not very practical. If you do feel that one speaker is not enough, you can connect two One Click speakers to take your shower party to the next level.
The frequency response is mostly balanced. The lows are present, not too punchy, yet manage to boom-out due to not being entirely controlled at times. The mids are slightly elevated and can fill up the room quite easily, yet are not as refined as we would like it to be as some vocals come out a bit processed. The highs do not come across as harsh, even at high volumes, but they do lack a tiny bit of clarity.
Bottom Line |
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Libratone One Click is definitely not your everyday speaker and it is not trying to be one. In fact, it is the most expensive shower speaker in our list and it is not only the sound quality that makes up for the asking price but also the looks. If you are searching for a speaker purely for sound, there are better options out there within this price range. If however, you are after a lifestyle speaker that can also be a feature in your bathroom or a shower, this is is one of the prettiest waterproof speakers on the market. |
- Design 90%
- Features 80%
- Battery Life 80%
- Sound Quality 80%
- Value 70%
POSITIVE | |
---|---|
Neat and simple design | |
Customizable and modular design | |
Wide and clear soundstage | |
Smart capacitive volume controls |
NEGATIVE | |
---|---|
Too expensive | |
Rivals sound more refined |
11. Small Size, Big Sound – Anker SoundCore Sport
Anker SoundCore Sport represents Anker’s line of the smallest wireless Bluetooth speakers that are light and compact.
You may know Anker as it is a big name in efficient and affordable power banks, one of which we had the privilege of using and reviewing before.
We were pleasantly surprised with the close-to-perfect balance that Anker has managed to strike between quality and value, but can they do that again with a portable speaker that is general-purpose but could be easily used in the shower?
With the weight of only about half a pound and a tiny size, the speaker is ultra-portable and can fit the smallest of handbags. The speaker is certified with the IPX7 waterproof rating which is the highest rating the Bluetooth speaker can get, especially in such a small size and such an affordable price.
Also, the speaker has been built to float in the water, so if you ever wanted to take your music to the pool, with SoundCore Sport you definitely can.
The case is made of hard plastic which is reasonably sturdy, yet not as impact resistant as Oonts Angle 3, we have reviewed earlier.
The layout is simple as it only has three buttons. Two buttons are reserved for volume control whereas the third one is used to pair your speaker, answer or end calls, pause or skip forward the tracks. Our only complaint is that the buttons are a little hard to press due to them being so sealed behind the protective rubber.
You can also use a 3.5mm cable connection which is hidden behind a rubber flap to protect the port from water exposure.
The battery seems to provide 10 hours of playtime which is neither good nor bad.
The sound quality is where this little speaker truly shines and punches well above its weight. It is loud, clear and despite being small, it delivers a very reasonable amount of bass. Music, radio, and podcasts come out clear and balanced across all frequencies, which is not typical for mini wireless speakers powered by a single driver.
Bottom Line |
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Anker SoundCore Sport is a great little performer. It is super small, light, sounds good and boasts the highest water protection rating we’ve seen in waterproof speakers. If you are shopping for the best mini Bluetooth speaker for your shower, you may have just found a perfect mix of size, features, sound quality, and extremely affordable price tag. |
- Design 80%
- Features 80%
- Sound 90%
- Battery Life 80%
- Value 90%
POSITIVE | |
---|---|
Best mini Bluetooth speaker we have tested | |
Punchy sound | |
Speakerphone integration | |
Ultra compact and portable |
NEGATIVE | |
---|---|
Buttons are not easy to press |
How and why to use Bluetooth Shower speakers?
There are three main ways that people tend to use Bluetooth enabled speakers in bathrooms which depend on the mood you are in or perhaps your morning or evening rituals.
More often than not, people like to spend their shower time with more fun, so some light, yet energizing music is a great way to start your day, especially if you like singing.
For some of us, we like to take a bath and wind down after a hard day at work, so quiet and peaceful music will surely help you get to the relaxing state sooner.
For others, productive geeks like me, we like to spend our time listening to a podcast while showering to make sure no time is wasted getting clean again.
With wireless Bluetooth speakers becoming increasingly popular and the abundance of consumer options available on the market – which speaker should you pick to take with you to a shower or bath?
We have reviewed a variety of candidates and have shortlisted top ten shower speakers currently available on the market.
Buyers Guide – How To Choose A Shower Speaker?
How We Tested
Like with all other tech, picking the top-rated Bluetooth shower speaker requires you to determine a set of features that are essential and the ones that are secondary or good enough. Going into this shower speaker review, the key five factors we have considered for our buyer’s guide are listed in separate sections below.
This is not to say that other factors such as charging time, long battery life, watts of power, the detachable cup that attaches to the wall, LED and mood light, connect features, true stereo sound, USB cable, and other accessories are not important. They could be for some of us, but, in general, we feel they have less of an impact on your showering experience than the key elements we’ve mentioned below.
To ensure that we remain objective and unbiased, we have purchased the ten top-rated shower speakers that our reviewers tested for 40 hours. Each speaker has been reviewed against the key criteria listed below.
Waterproof Ratings
Whether for shower use or bath, waterproofing ability is the key consideration in choosing the top speaker to buy. All speakers in our review except SoundBot SB510 carry waterproof certifications that will help you understand the speaker’s capability to withstand water.
A widely accepted IPX waterproofing standard is now used by all major speaker manufacturers to describe precisely the capabilities of the speaker to protect itself from water damage. The scale starts with IPX0 and goes all the way to IPX8, however, IPX6 or IPX7 rating is as far as you’d want to push the shower speaker. If dust proofing is also required, it is recommended to check out shower speakers with the IP67 rating.
If waterproof capabilities are not on your ‘must-have’ list for portable speakers, consider checking out our top-rated portable Bluetooth speaker review and comparison.
Ease of Setup and Use
A bath or a shower is a place where setting up, tuning, fixing, or controlling a speaker could be troublesome. In other words, the practicality of using the product in a wet, damp, noisy, and often hot environment is one of the top features to consider when making a purchase.
Audio Quality
Despite showers being reasonably noisy environments, we want our speaker to deliver a good audio quality nevertheless. To listen to music, radio, or podcasts over the sound of running water, you may need to push the speaker slightly. Hence, it should be capable of reproducing the sound at high volume without any side noise or distortion.
Feature set
With technology advancements, speaker features have never been more exhaustive. At the same time, it is easy to get lost in this variety of options, so we have made it our mission to highlight speaker functionality relevant to the shower use.
For example, the ability to charge the speaker while in use or having an integrated speakerphone is close to irrelevant for shower use. On the other hand, music and voice clarity, volume, voice controls, waterproofing, Bluetooth connectivity, and a capable battery is what make a good general-purpose speaker a great shower companion.
Battery Capacity
Speaker placement may play a vital role in the overall listening experience, especially in a damp and noisy environment such as your bath or a shower. Suction cups and special attachments help you better position the speaker and channel the sound waves more efficiently. Most of the time, mounting your speaker and taking it down takes some time, hence we recommend a long-lasting battery as it saves you time and nuisance.
Alternatively, another way to prolong the life of your speaker is to use quality portable battery packs as they can provide you with additional battery power on the go.
Speaker Placement
Making the decision of where to place your waterproof or water-resistant wireless speaker might sound strange at first. In practice, however, you may be facing a challenge as given the water noise, limited space, and the physical form of the speaker – mounting or placement options could be extremely limited.
Some speakers come with suction caps that could be mounted on bathroom wall tiles, some have special cords or hooks that can be attached to your shower head or taps. Others need to be placed on the floor or your bathtub, but then, you need to make sure the drivers are facing you so that most sound reaches your ears.
Lastly, if you are planning to use your speaker outside of your bathroom, you may want to consider the Bluetooth working range as being important. Otherwise, due to close proximity in the shower or bath, that option is not much of an essence.
Whatever your requirements are or however big your pocket is, we hope you find the best shower speaker for your bath or shower in our top 10 shower speakers of 2020.
Shower Speakers – FAQ
What does different waterproof ratings mean?
How can I make the speaker battery last longer?
There are a couple of easy tips to maximize the battery performance of your wireless Bluetooth speaker:
- Reduce the volume, some Bluetooth speakers will last twice as long when used at 70% volume compared to full volume.
- Keep your phone closer to your speaker.
- Charge your speaker as soon as you have a chance, do not let it run out of battery completely.
What makes the wireless speaker waterproof?
Waterproofing is achieved mainly by using a special outside material that protects the speaker from water damage. The complexity and the reason why only some speakers are waterproof is that the fabric should not let the water through, but should not prevent or block soundwaves and distort the audio quality.
Here is a quick summary of what makes the top shower speakers waterproof:
What if my phone does not have Bluetooth?
How to pair Bluetooth speaker?
- Enable the Bluetooth on your mobile phone
- Hold the main button on the Bluetooth speaker for 2-3 seconds to enable pairing mode
- Devices pair and you can now playback your music
What can I do if the battery runs out of power?
- Recharge the Bluetooth speaker battery using the wall charger
- Use a portable battery pack to recharge your wireless Bluetooth speaker when on the go
What is a suitable wattage for a waterproof speaker?
Waterproof vs. Water Resistant - what is the difference?
Often, people mean the same thing when they refer to water-resistant Bluetooth and waterproof portable speakers. In fact, some key differences could make you easily choose one shower speaker over another. Knowing the difference between waterproof and water-resistant will ultimately help you select the speaker that is best suited for your bath or shower.
Water-resistance is a term that is used to describe the fact that the item will not immediately soak up liquids. Some may also refer to it as water repellant or hydrophobic.
Being waterproof at the same time usually carries a stronger ability to withstand water penetration. Conversely, it also does not mean that the item is entirely impervious to water despite having the word ‘proof’ in the name. On the bright side, waterproofing is governed by international standards that help consumers to understand the degree of water protection. The scale ranges from IPX-0 (having no water protection) to IPX-9 (can survive powerful water jets).
Can you put an indoor speaker outside?
Yes, of course. Speakers for showers can also be used outside or inside. The only consideration to keep in mind that your speaker is also certified with a waterproof rating to be safe.
Checked out Libratone ONE Click and given the price, not sure if it is worth it? Word of advice?
Well, tough question I must admit. If we are talking price-value balance, then probably not as it really wears a premium. Don’t get me wrong, it is good and super portable, but if I had to make a practical sense and spend that money, I would probably go for Fugoo instead and spent the rest on something else. But again, I do not know your budget.
I’ve heard SoundCore from Anker loses Bluetooth connection, has it happened to you?
Nope, never. In fact, we were so surprised with Anker, that if I had to get one for myself, it would probably be that.
I was trying to get OontZ Angle 3 in blue, like on your picture, but it is not there.?!
I guess there are a lot less of those in stock, gotta check with Cambridge Soundworks 🙂
There’s no doubt that the UE Wonderboom is one of the best Bluetooth speakers in terms of sound quality. I also like the Boom Swimmer Duo very much because we can place it anywhere, thanks to its flexible tail. Overall a great selection!
Hey there,
You should know that your SoundBot review isn’t fully correct. It does in fact have volume control – a long press on the “next” button will raise the volume, while a long press on the “previous” button will lower it. Bought one in July of 2016 and it only just died, after pretty frequent and prolonged use, where it served as a shower speaker in a home of four people. The Amazon page has a diagram of the button use, if my explanation wasn’t clear. ^_^
This is so true! Thanks for picking this up, it almost feels like a surprise/hidden feature on a button with no markings 🙂