Sonos speakers are prominently known for their multi-room music experience. But do you know they are also made to use outdoors? Outdoors, it means they can be carried along for traveling, put by your poolside, or can be mounted on your patio or deck.
But for Sonos speakers to be used outdoors, they should necessarily be waterproof or at least able to withstand minor water splashes. Do all Sonos speakers qualify for the same, or are there particular Sonos speakers more waterproof than others? To answer, not all Sonos speakers are waterproof. However, Sonos has certain speakers made exactly to be used outdoors and thus can withstand to a far extent.
Table could not be displayed.Further reading: What is Sonos? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Wireless Sound System
Are Sonos Speakers Waterproof?
It’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to whether or not a Sonos speaker is waterproof. Even though some speakers are called “waterproof,” they probably can’t handle much more than a light sprinkle. Waterproofing can mean different things to different manufacturers, which is a shame.
The IP rating, which is the only industry standard we have, is based mostly on how much water can get in, but a product that says it is waterproof usually doesn’t live up to its claim. It would be hard to find a speaker system that is truly waterproof among consumer electronics.
Even though the Sonos Move (available on Amazon) can handle some water, you couldn’t leave it outside for too long without damaging it. To choose the best speakers for use outside, you should look for ones that are rated and made to be left outside. Sonos has heard the calls for a smart Hi-Fi option, but we’ll talk more about that later.
When you look at the speakers in the Sonos ecosystem, most of them are not made to be used outside. You can still use them outside, but you shouldn’t leave them out in the weather. Products like the Sonos Five (available on Amazon) might have great sound, but they wouldn’t last long outside.
List Of Sonos Speakers That Are Waterproof To An Extent
Sonos Move
Sonos Move is one of the best Sonos speakers that can move outdoors. Sonos Move is one of the most powerful speakers of Sonos in terms of sound quality and resistibility.
Sonos Move can be hooked with a wall-mounted bracket and connected over Bluetooth with other Sonos indoor speakers. This will allow users to enjoy a multi-room music experience throughout the house, both indoors and outdoors.
Sonos Move is fitted with amplifiers, tweezers, and mid-woofers that provide deep and rich sound with clear highs and lows, making it suitable for an outdoor environment.
About its waterproof ability, it has an IP56 rating which makes it shock absorbent and can withstand all weather i.e., humidity, rain, sun, snow, and extreme temperatures. It can also withstand accidental drops.
Most users also use it whilst traveling, on the beach, or while traveling, as it comes with a travel bag.
Sonos Roam
Sonos roam is another Sonos speaker that is waterproof and also Bluetooth-enabled. Roam is a completely portable Sonos smart speaker. Since it’s portable, it’s manufactured considering its ability to withstand rough handling.
Sonos Roam is IP67 rated, which makes it shock absorbent, dust and water-resistant. To be specific, Roam can remain submerged in water of up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. This makes it truly waterproof.
Since it’s Bluetooth enabled, you can play songs of your choice from your device directly. Place it by the poolside, in the backyard during lunch party, or accompany it wherever you go without any worries.
Outdoor speaker by Sonos and Sonance
If it’s an outdoor speaker, it has to be waterproof. The outdoor architectural speakers by Sonance used in conjunction with the Sonos amp are another option for users finding Sonos waterproof speakers.
These outdoor speakers come in pairs and are passive speakers. This means they must be paired with an external source like Sonos Amp.
When it comes to its resistibility, outdoor speakers by Sonance have the ability ow withstand harsh weather conditions like humidity, rain, water, heat, UV rays, salt spray, and even severe cold temperatures. This makes it suitable to install on your patio, deck, backyard, or anywhere within or outside your home.
Understanding IP rating
To know if your speaker is waterproof or not, users should necessarily know how to read IP ratings.
Each device has a two-digit IP rating. Each one of these digits depicts the intensity of the device resistance. The first digit of the IP rating stands for the device’s capacity to withhold dust particles. The scale ranges from 0 to 6. For instance, Sonos Move has an IP rating of 56, which means, at 5, Move is protected from all dust particles except minor ones.
On the other hand, Sonos Roam, with a 6 rating, is resistant to all sorts of minute dust particles.
The second digit of the IP rating tells a lot about water resistance. The rating is given from 0 to 9. Sonos Move has a 6 rating, which makes it partially waterproof. This means it is not capable of getting submerged deep in the water. However, it can withstand minor accidental splashes as long as it’s quickly removed and dried off thereafter.
On the other hand, Sonos Roam has a 7 rating regarding water resistance. This makes it capable of submerging in 1-meter deep water for 30 minutes maximum.
Can Sonos speakers be left outside for a long time?
If you want to keep your speakers safe for a long time, you’ll need to do more than just look for outdoor-rated speakers like the Sonos Architectural Speakers. A good plan is to keep them as much as possible out of the weather. Use an eve or another place that will keep the speakers out of the rain as a place to mount them.
Even though most Sonos speakers aren’t made to be used outside, they are still well-made. This means they are more likely to last longer outside than cheaper brands. Some anecdotal evidence also suggests that Sonos speakers, even the ones that aren’t meant to be used outside, can handle some rough conditions.
Always keep in mind that putting electronics outside is not a good idea. Even with the best speakers, thermal cycling and UV light will always make you age faster. At some point, things outside of them will cause them to fail.
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Compare the table of some Sonos speakers
| Sonos Speaker | Speaker Strength | Power Source | Connectivity | Waterproof | Voice Control |
| Move | 2 Class-D amplifiers, 1 mid-woofer, and 1 tweeter | Rechargeable battery | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay 2 | IP56 rating | Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant |
| One SL | 2 Class-D amplifiers, 1 mid-woofer, and 1 tweeter | AC power cord | Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 | Humidity resistant | No |
| Beam Soundbar | 5 Class-D amplifiers, 4 full-range woofers, 1 tweeter | AC power cord | Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 | No | Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Outdoor Architectural Speaker | 6.5-inch woofer and 1- inch tweeter | Connects to amp with speaker cable | Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 | IP66 rating | Available through the Sonos Amp |
| In-Ceiling Architectural Speaker | 6.5-inch woofer and 1- inch tweeter | Connects to amp with speaker cable | Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 | No | Available through the Sonos Amp |
FAQs:
How resistant is Sonos to water?
Sonos is not waterproof and is meant to be used inside. But it can handle a little bit of moisture and humidity. Sonos should be dried off as soon as possible if it gets wet, so that it doesn’t break.
Is the Sonos One waterproof?
Yes, Sonos One can be used in damp places. You can use it in the shower, by the pool, or anywhere else where there is a lot of moisture without worrying about it.
Can the Sonos 1 be put in the bathroom?
Yes, Sonos 1 can go in the bathroom. But because water damage is possible, we don’t recommend putting Sonos 1 in the shower or near the sink.
Can water get into the Sonos Roam?
No, you can’t put Sonos Roam in water. Roam is made to work in all kinds of weather, but it is not waterproof and shouldn’t be exposed to too much water or liquid.
Does Sonos make speakers for the shower?
Yes, Sonos makes a speaker for the shower. The speaker is called the Sonos Roam, and it can be used in the shower because it is waterproof and has Bluetooth. The speaker has a microphone built in so you can take calls while you’re in the shower. It also has Amazon Alexa built in so you can control it with your voice.
Conclusion
In short, Sonos Roam is the most feasible waterproof speaker among all the choices. For mounting a waterproof Sonos speaker on the wall, Sonos move and the outdoor speaker by Sonance are also worth it.
It is rare to find fully waterproof speakers. To answer the above question, yes, a few Sonos speakers are waterproof. The top ones include Sonos Move, Sonos Roam, and outdoor architectural speakers by Sonos and Sonance.
Settle for no less than these three when looking for Sonos waterproof speakers. Also, keep in mind that with a waterproof speaker, you can be careless with them. It just means that they can be saved from accidental water splashes.