Can You Use Sonos Roam In The Shower: Risks and Concerns
Some speakers are designed for use in just about every scenario. From a workout at the gym to a swim at the beach, some electronics have water-resistance ratings that make them safe to take in areas where they will come into contact with various liquids.
But what about the Sonos Roam? Can the Sonos Roam go in the shower and not get fried? Just how waterproof is a Sonos Roam anyway?
Table of Contents
- Can You Use Sonos Roam In The Shower: Risks and Concerns
- What is an IP rating?
- How much water can the Sonos Roam withstand?
- Why should you avoid showering with the Sonos Roam?
- Will steam damage the Sonos Roam?
- What happens if you leave the Sonos Roam in water for more than 30 minutes?
- Are other Sonos speakers able to go in the shower?
- Closing Thoughts
Can You Use Sonos Roam In The Shower: Risks and Concerns
With an IP67 rating, you can expose the Sonos Roam to some splashes and even submerge it in about 3 feet of water for 30 minutes without causing damage. The problem with taking it in the shower isn’t the water itself but the chemicals contained in your toiletries.
These chemicals might seep past the water-resistant barriers and damage the Roam’s internal electronic components.
Before I committed to buying a Sonos, I did my homework. I was interested in the Roam but not really sure if it was bathroom-safe. I love to sing in the shower (as horrible as I might sound), and I wanted a speaker with excellent sound quality that could be as close to me as possible while I belt out my favorite tunes.
What did I learn about the Roam?
Well, with an IP67 water-resistance rating, the Sonos Roam is able to take a bit of a beating. Having been released in early 2021, Sonos hit the mark with this quality sound-producing wireless, portable speaker.
Sure, at 7 ounces, it is one of the heavier Sonos speakers on the market right now, but it has a lot of durability backing it.
But just because you can take it in the shower doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Let me explain.
What is an IP rating?
So, just what is an IP rating? The European Committee for Electro Technical Standardization developed Ingress Protection ratings (IP Ratings) in order to create uniformity for water-resistance ratings and guidelines that accompany them. The first digit of an IP refers to the device’s protection against solids. 0 means there is no protection at all while a 6 means it has the maximum amount of protection.
The second digit marks protection against liquids. 0 means there is no protection while 9K means it is fully protected from liquids.
With an IP67 rating, the Sonos is totally dust-tight (as indicated by the 6). The 7 means that it can be immersed in 1m (3.28 feet) of water for up to half an hour without the water causing any damage.
But, beyond that time or depth, the water-resistant protection could wear down, causing leaks to spring and water to therefore seep in, destroying the internal electrical bits.
How much water can the Sonos Roam withstand?
The Sonos Roam is built to be able to withstand half an hour of being submerged in up to 3 feet of water. It probably cannot do that much more. It can certainly handle being in the rain or snow.
Why should you avoid showering with the Sonos Roam?
Chemicals contained in your body wash, shampoo, lotion, and other showering essentials are not exactly electronics-friendly. Even though the Sonos Roam offers a good amount of protection against water itself, liquids containing harsh chemicals can wreak havoc on a speaker. They can break down the water-resistant exterior and cause leaks to form.
When it comes to showering with the Sonos Roam, your best bet is to leave the speaker outside of the shower so that your liquid soap will not get into the speaker.
Will steam damage the Sonos Roam?
A bit of steam from the shower probably will not harm the Sonos Roam. It is rated against moisture invasion, and it can handle some relatively warm temperatures. Just don’t make a habit of taking the Roam into a sauna with you; it might not survive that excursion, as the sauna could be too hot for the Sonos Roam to handle.
What happens if you leave the Sonos Roam in water for more than 30 minutes?
So, what actually happens to the Sonos Roam if you leave it submerged in water for more than 30 minutes or drop it into more than 3 feet of water? Well, it might not last too long.
Water pressure can cause some of the more sensitive parts of the Sonos Roam to break, and the port on the back of the speaker might eventually give way.
If you do plan on taking the Sonos Roam into any amount of water, I recommend buying a dust plug for the port. You can find them for cheap online, and since they’re made of silicone, they hold up against water as well as dust. Just search for ‘silicone dust plug for Sonos Roam’ in your web browser, and you will get plenty of results.
Are other Sonos speakers able to go in the shower?
Sure, the Sonos Roam tends to be everyone’s top pick for a great bathroom speaker, but the company makes other (some being more affordably priced, mind you) speakers that have high enough IP ratings.
Some folks like to buy the Sonos One and place it in the bathroom for all-day use. The Gen 2 One is rated IP67, just like the Roam. The One will run you about $219 while the Roam is typically priced around $143. So, yes, the Roam is more affordable right now.
The Sonos Move is rated IP56, so, while it cannot be submerged, it can take a few splashes of water. But, with the Move being about $100 more expensive than the Gen 2 Sonos One, your best bet is honestly going to be the Roam.
Closing Thoughts
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you ought to, and that certainly holds true for taking a speaker into the shower with you.
If you’re only using water – sans body wash or shampoo – then your speaker should be just fine. It is built to withstand the splashes, steam, and humidity.
But, if you are doing the full shebang with your showering routine, it is best to set the speaker outside of the tub, safely on the bathroom counter, where it won’t risk any exposure to chemical-based liquids.