Speakers reproduce sound from audio sources such as car head units, home theatre systems, MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, and PCs among others. Today, advanced technology has revolutionized the way speakers are made. Shower speakers and Bluetooth speakers have now made life easier by eliminating the need to use speaker cables between the speaker and the audio source. But are shower speakers better than normal Bluetooth speakers? This article discusses these two types of speakers to assist you in understanding their differences and whether shower speakers outdo Bluetooth speakers.
What Are Shower Speakers?
Shower speakers are a special type of wireless speaker designed for use in the wet shower environment. They’re also ideal for use in other wet areas such as the beach and the poolside. Let’s look at some advantages of shower speakers.
1. Water-resistant
One of the main advantages of shower speakers is their water-resistant nature. Some are designed to resist minor water splashes. This means that you can use them near the beach, poolside, kitchen, laundry room, or shower without risking water damage. Others are fully waterproof such that you can submerge them in water to certain depths for a certain duration without getting damaged.
2. Portable
Shower speakers are compact and lightweight. You can easily carry them with you anywhere you want. Besides, they’re rechargeable such that you don’t have to keep them connected to mains power all the time. You only need to recharge their inbuilt battery and enjoy playing music until the battery gets drained.
3. Bluetooth connectivity
Another benefit of these speakers is that they support Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair them with a Bluetooth-enabled device to stream music wirelessly. This means that you won’t require any cables to use the speaker. Bluetooth connectivity range may differ between different models.
Also, some shower speakers allow for hands-free calls such that you can make and receive calls hands-free. This means that you won’t have to reach over to your phone with wet hands to receive or make a call. Others support voice control such that you can make certain controls using voice commands.
4. Easy to install
Basically, there’s not much installation required when working with shower speakers. You only need to ensure the speaker is fully charged and pair it with a Bluetooth device to start enjoying wireless music streaming. Some shower speakers come with dedicated buttons such as play, pause, next, previous, volume up/down, and other controls that make it easy to control them. Also, it’s easy to mount most shower speakers. Some can be hung on a nail or hanging clip while others can be hung on a wall with a suction cup.
Some disadvantages of shower speakers include:
- Some shower speakers are extremely small and not very loud
- Some don’t deliver deep bass
What Are Normal Bluetooth Speakers?
Normal Bluetooth speakers are regular speakers with Bluetooth connectivity. This means that any speaker with Bluetooth connectivity can be categorized as a Bluetooth speaker. Bluetooth speakers come with several advantages including:
1. Bluetooth connectivity
Just like shower speakers, Bluetooth speakers also have Bluetooth connectivity. Thus, you can pair them with Bluetooth-enabled sound sources to stream music wirelessly. Some Bluetooth speakers allow for making hands-free phone calls.
2. Portable
Most Bluetooth speakers are portable since no speaker cables are required. However, not all of them have rechargeable batteries. Some require a connection to the main power to operate. Also, others may be bulky such as Bluetooth speakers used in some modern home theatre systems.
3. High-quality sound
Most Bluetooth speakers deliver high-quality sound, especially when you choose from the best Bluetooth speakers. While some are compact and less powerful, others are large and powerful enough to deliver room-filling sound.
Some disadvantages of normal Bluetooth speakers include:
- Not all Bluetooth speakers are waterproof
- Some Bluetooth speakers are bulky
- Some don’t have rechargeable batteries
What’s better between a Shower Speaker and a normal Bluetooth speaker?
As you can see, both types of speakers have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Shower speakers are only better than Bluetooth speakers in terms of being water-resistant. Most normal Bluetooth speakers can get damaged by water unless they’re waterproof. You can use shower speakers almost anywhere due to their waterproof nature and portability. However, some normal Bluetooth speakers aren’t ideal for use everywhere, especially those that are bulky and those that aren’t rechargeable.
On the other hand, most Bluetooth speakers outshine shower speakers in terms of sound quality. Powerful Bluetooth speakers can deliver loud sound with deep bass, unlike most shower speakers. Also, a powerful Bluetooth speaker can fill a large room with sound while a shower speaker may not be powerful enough for use in a large room.
Also Read: Can I use Bluetooth Speaker instead of Car Stereo?
Conclusion
When comparing shower speakers with normal Bluetooth speakers, the best option will depend on the user’s needs. For instance, shower speakers are most suitable for use in wet environments where normal Bluetooth speakers can’t be used. On the other hand, Bluetooth speakers are best for use in larger rooms where loud sound is needed. Thus, both types of speakers are great for different situations.
Michael Evanchuk is a San Francisco-based sound engineer with 20 years’ experience installing, troubleshooting, and repairing commercial, automotive, and household sound equipment. Evanchuk owns an auto stereo center, where he offers highly competitive car audio installation and repair services. He has written dozens of articles on different sound engineering topics, all of which have been published in leading journals, blogs, and websites.
