Engadget Explains Waterproof IP Ratings for Bluetooth Speakers
A new Engadget guide explains Bluetooth speaker IP ratings, which levels suit showers, rain and submersion, and why IP69 remains rare.
According to the article, an IP rating is made up of two numbers: the first measures dust resistance on a scale of 0 to 6, and the second measures water resistance on a scale of 0 to 9. For example, a speaker with an IP56 rating offers high dust resistance and can withstand powerful jets of water.
The guide says that the highest practicable rating for a Bluetooth speaker, IP69, is rarely seen outside a few specialized models. Instead, the most common ratings among major high-quality speakers are IP67 and IPX7, with the X indicating that the manufacturer did not test for dust protection. Those speakers can survive not only water sprayed at them but also brief submersion, it notes.
The article identifies IP68 as a more powerful version of IP67 that can handle submersion in harsher conditions for a longer period, citing the JBL Charge 6 as one of the highest-rated speakers to reach IP68. It cautions that even an IP68-rated device is not fully waterproof.
For real-world use, Engadget advises that someone who wants to bring a speaker into the shower should look for at least IPX6, with IPX7 preferred. A rating of IPX5 is enough for rain, while even IPX2 can survive brief contact with raindrops. The article concludes that a water-resistance rating of 7 will get most users far enough, and such speakers are common among high-end models.