Portable Bluetooth speakers are sold for the beach, the pool and the bathroom, and many of them really can be dropped in water. They still sound terrible while wet. Others are only splash resistant and need quick action. The first step is knowing which kind you have.
Check the rating
| Rating | What it handles |
|---|---|
| None | Nothing. Treat any liquid as an emergency. |
| IPX4 | Splashes and light rain. |
| IPX5 / IPX6 | Water jets, heavy rain. |
| IPX7 / IP67 | Immersion to 1 metre for 30 minutes. |
The rating is on the box, the underside of the speaker or the maker's website. It usually applies only when the rubber flap over the charging port is firmly closed.
If your speaker is waterproof (IPX7 or IP67)
The water has not harmed it. It sounds muffled because the fabric grille and the bass radiators are holding water.
- Shake it out. Hold it firmly and shake with the grille facing down.
- Rinse after salt water, pool water or sand. Makers such as JBL advise rinsing with fresh water after the sea or pool.
- Pat the fabric dry with a towel.
- Play it dry. Put on bass-heavy music at moderate volume. The moving drivers and radiators push the water out. You may see it spit droplets.
- Leave it to air-dry before charging.
If it is only splash resistant, or has no rating
- Switch it off and unplug it.
- Shake and drain with the openings facing down.
- Dry the outside.
- Leave it in moving air for 24 to 48 hours. A fan helps. No hair dryer, oven or direct sun.
- Only then switch it on.
Using a tone to clear the drivers
Once the speaker is safe to switch on, a low tone clears it faster than music does:
- Connect your phone to the speaker by Bluetooth.
- Open the frequency generator and choose a sine wave between 60 Hz and 100 Hz. Portable speakers have larger drivers than phones and move most at lower pitches.
- Set the volume to about half. These speakers are much louder than a phone.
- Point the grille downward and play for 30 to 60 seconds.
The standard water eject sound also works if you prefer one tap.
The charging port rule
Never charge a wet speaker. The port is the one place where electricity meets the outside, and charging while it is damp corrodes the contacts. Open the flap, dry around the port, and let it air for a few hours first. Many speakers will refuse to charge and flash a warning if they detect moisture.
Still muffled or distorted?
- Dull after a day: salt, chlorine or sand in the grille. Rinse with fresh water and dry again.
- Rattle or buzz: sand or grit against a driver or radiator. Rinse and shake it out.
- Crackle at every volume: water reached the electronics or a driver is damaged. Contact the maker.
- Will not power on or charge after two days: internal damage. Check the warranty, though most exclude water damage beyond the stated rating.