Waterproof speakers are extremely popular these days so we decided to test one of the most popular ones out.
For this iHome wireless waterproof speaker review, we tested this product for months and subjected it to splashes as well as submersions in water to see how it would fare.
In this post, we aim to determine whether this product is worth your hard-earned money or not. We also compare it to a couple of similar speakers to see if it’s better or worse
iHome IBN6BEX Rugged Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Stereo Speaker
With its exceptional build quality and minimalist design, this speaker is great in terms of providing uninterrupted high-quality audio no matter where it’s placed. You can take this in the shower with you without worrying about it getting damaged from the moisture.
Alternate #1
With an extremely rugged build and high-quality sound, you can use this speaker in the shower as well as by the poolside. It’s also weather-tough so you can easily use it outdoors as well.
Alternate #2
This product features dynamically changing LEDs which make for an extremely aesthetically pleasing audio-visual experience. You’ll find its lights to be soothing and the sound it produces is also quite high-quality which only enhances the experience.
Quick Summary of the Main Product
We were very excited to get started with this iHome wireless splashproof speaker review because it seemed like a high-quality product at first glance and we were hoping it would be a pleasant experience testing it.
This iHome speaker definitely did not disappoint. It features a very simple and minimalist design that is very unassuming. That being said, the sound it produces is anything but simple. In fact, it’s very nuanced in its tones with the mids being very distinct, the highs being very bright and punchy and the lows being extremely deep and noticeable.
Furthermore, the iHome speaker is IPX7-rated waterproof which means that it can be submerged in water of a depth of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. Of course, we put this claim to the test and found afterwards, that the speaker was able to play music without breaking a sweat.
It can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device for easy music playback and it’s also NFC-compatible. Furthermore, it even has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
Features and Benefits
Wide Variety of Input Options
It features Bluetooth connectivity which makes it very easy to pair this with any Bluetooth-enabled device such as a phone, tablet, PC or Mac.
Furthermore, it’s also NFC compatible.
Lastly, it even has an AUX input so you can have wired music playback if you’d like.
Can be Used as a Speakerphone
Gone are the days when you had to disconnect your speaker from your phone every time you got a phone call.
You can use the iHome speaker to listen to phone calls seamlessly without having to disconnect it.
Long Battery Life
This speaker features a 2000MaH lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 14 hours on a single charge. As you can probably tell, this makes it very appropriate for outdoor use and you can easily take it on camping trips, etc. without having to worry about the battery running out with no way of charging it.
IPX7-Rated Waterproof
As mentioned earlier, IPX7-rated waterproof means that it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.
We tested this out and found that this speaker still operated flawlessly with zero distortion in the audio and no interruptions in music playback either.
Comes with AUX Line-in Cable and USB Charging Port
It comes with an AUX line-in cable that you can use to listen to music.
The USB charging port can be used to charge the speaker itself along with other rechargeable USB devices.
Pros and Cons
- Its build quality is excellent and it can withstand moisture as well as being dropped and handled roughly. You also don’t have to worry about rough weather conditions when using it outdoors.
- The audio performance of this speaker is excellent and when compared to other similar products in a similar price range, this one really stands out.
- It features a number of different ways to connect your devices and play music.
- It has an extremely long-lasting battery.
- The USB charging port that comes with it can be used to charge other devices as well.
- Some reviews say that the battery life gets lower as time goes on. Although we did not experience this over many months of testing.
Social Proof
Looking at customer reviews online before purchasing a product can be an extremely good idea to determine whether it’s worth buying or not. We scoured the internet for reviews about the iHome waterproof speaker so we could compare our experience with it to other people’s experiences.
We were pleased to see that it had a majority of positive reviews with 5 stars with many people praising its sound, its build and its battery life.
More Recommendations!
#1: Best Rugged Bluetooth Speaker Alternative - BOOMPODS AQUABLASTER - Waterproof Bluetooth Portable Wireless Speaker Review
We’re always very excited to test any product that claims to be extremely sturdy or “indestructible” because it gives us an excuse to test the limits of that product.
The company that made this speaker claims that it can withstand being dropped as well as being submerged in water. We tested both of these claims out and we’re pleased to say that it was able to play audio flawlessly even after we dropped it from a height of 10 feet and submerged it in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
Features of BOOMPODS AQUABLASTER – Waterproof Bluetooth Portable Wireless Speaker
- Weight: 14.8 ounces
- Pocket-sized speaker
- IPX7-rated waterproof
- Amazon Alexa Integration
- Contains an AUX input as well
- Compact and portable
- Fairly cheap
- Loud and clear sound
- Great build quality
- Does not have navigational controls on it; It can only be controlled from your phone
Best Rugged Bluetooth Speaker Alternative
The best rugged Bluetooth speaker alternative is the BOOMPODS AQUABLASTER as it’s built like a tank and is also very easy to use. You can use this by the poolside or in the shower with no worries of it getting damaged.
#2: Best Aesthetically-Pleasing Bluetooth Speaker Alternative - Clever Bright Store Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review
Along with providing you with a great auditory experience, this product aims to provide you with a lovely visual experience as well. Featuring an elegant design made from acrylic material, this speaker features dynamically changing LED lights that look awesome while you’re playing music on it.
Not to mention that it has a very small footprint which makes it extremely portable. It’s small so it can easily fit in your backpack and it’s also very lightweight so you barely feel it inside when you’re carrying it around.
Features of Clever Bright Store Portable Bluetooth Speaker
- Weight: 0.8 pounds
- Bluetooth version 5.0
- 6 different color themes that it changes between
- IPX4-rated waterproof (splashproof)
- Comes with an AUX-line cable as well
- Easy to use
- Decent battery life
- Pleasing to look at
- Excellent sound performance
- Budget-friendly
- Slightly flimsy
Best Aesthetically-Pleasing Bluetooth Speaker Alternative
The best aesthetically-pleasing Bluetooth speaker alternative is the Clever Bright Store Portable Bluetooth Speaker because of its dynamic color-changing accent lighting and excellent sound quality. Not to mention it’s quite affordable too.
Guide to Buy
When you’re looking to buy a bluetooth speaker, it can certainly get confusing as you might not really know what you want. Just opting for whatever product that has gotten 5 stars on Amazon is not always the smart thing to do because a speaker that is fulfilling most others needs may not necessarily fulfill yours.
That’s why it’s a good idea to take a step back and assess what exactly you’re going to be using your bluetooth speaker for. Going over certain aspects can help you determine what type of bluetooth speaker would be most appropriate for you.
Some of these aspects are:
Battery Life
Many people are heavily concerned about the battery life of the bluetooth speaker they’re opting to buy. While this may be a huge aspect for many people, it may not concern you as much if you’re just going to be using your bluetooth speaker indoors where you have access to charging stations at all times.
On the other hand, if you’re going to be using your speaker outdoors a lot where you won’t have access to a charging station, then opting for something with a long battery life is definitely a smart move.
Water-Resistance
Again, this is going to depend on what your use is going to be like. If you’re going to be outdoors a lot or if you’re going to be using it in the shower or by the poolside, then you definitely should get something that’s at least IPX5-rated waterproof and has a rugged weather-tough build.
Portability
In most cases, the heavier and bigger a speaker is, the better it’s going to sound. However, sometimes, sound quality isn’t the only aspect you’re looking at when it comes to a speaker. You’re also looking at its portability.
Once again, this is going to depend on what your lifestyle is like. If the speaker is just going to be sitting in one place all day long, then it doesn’t matter if it isn’t portable.
Sound Quality
Of course, the sound quality of your speaker is going to matter. It’s often a good idea to test out the sound performance by hearing it in person before you opt to buy a speaker.
However, this is often not possible as a lot of people buy products online. In that case, it can be a good idea to go over customer reviews to get an estimate of what the speaker sounds like and whether it’s something that you’re looking for or not.
Price
While you should definitely not overspend when it comes to any product, underspending can also be harmful.
This is because while you may save money in the short-term, there’s a chance that the product you get might be of sub-par quality and may break down in a month or two. Then you’d have to get a replacement and it would end up costing you more in the long run.
Thus, try to balance it out between quality and price when you’re opting to get a speaker.
