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IP Ratings
Speakers

Updated

It can be devastating to lose your device to the elements. Whether you've accidentally lost it in a pool, dropped it on concrete, or used it in the rain or a very dusty environment, foreign material can get inside your electronics and cause damage to its internal components. Luckily, some devices come with a code or rating to let you know their water, solids, and impact resistance levels. IP ratings or 'Ingress Protection' ratings give the consumer, manufacturer, and retailers a quick way to know a device's protection capabilities. Unlike buzzwords like 'waterproof' or 'water-resistant', IP ratings are also given out by an independent company and are globally standardized, so you can expect the same level of protection between two different devices with the same IP rating.

While we don't currently test these ratings, we report what the manufacturer has advertised. This article explains what IP and IK ratings are in-depth, as well as how to read and interpret them.

What Are IP Ratings?

IP codes or ratings stand for 'Ingress Protection' and are standardized by the IEC or the International Electrotechnical Commission, an international organization that forms global standards for electronic-related technology. This rating is covered within IEC standard 60529, so the same result is comparable between different devices. For many consumer-grade products, it's up to the manufacturer to get their device tested by an independent, certified company to receive an IP rating. However, testing can be pricy, and some manufacturers opt out of this step to save money, resulting in a product that doesn't have a rating.

IP ratings are written in an IPXX format to quickly tell the reader what kind of protection their device has. The first 'X' represents the numerical scoring of your device's ability to protect against the ingress or entering of foreign solids like dust, while the second 'X' represents its numerical ability to protect against liquids such as water into the device. Some IP ratings even include an additional single letter after these numbers to indicate further protection, but this information isn't generally needed for consumer-grade devices. There's also a separate code for impact protection called IK ratings, which was first defined by the European standard EN 62262 and later adopted by the IEC in standard IEC 62262 (2002).

While not all manufacturers test, list, or disclose their product's IP rating, available ratings are a helpful way to avoid damaging your electronic devices in the future. Some manufacturers also use NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) enclosure type coding. It's a North American standard for protection against environmental conditions like ice and corrosive material. However, we currently don't test or report these tests.

The First Digit: Solid Object Protection

The first digit of an IP rating refers to how well that device protects against solids like dust and dirt entering it. For home electronic devices like speakers or headphones, we usually describe dust resistance rather than larger solid foreign objects like wires, as these devices usually have very sealed designs that make it difficult for larger solids to get in.

IP Number Protection Provided
X

 There's no information available to specify its solid object resistance.

0 Not protected against any solid object.
Protected against a solid object greater than roughly 2 inches (50mm), such as a hand.
2

 Protection against a solid object greater than roughly 0.5 inches (12.5mm), like a finger.

3

Protection against a solid object greater than roughly 0.1 inches (2.5mm), like a thin tool.

Protection against a solid object greater than 1mm, like a wire.
5 Protection against dust for between 2-8 hours.
Fully dust-tight.

Generally speaking, some manufacturers don't provide a number for this kind of foreign material as they don't test for it, and many of the electronics we have tested that have a solid object protection rating tend to fall between IP5X-IP6X.

The Second Digit: Liquid Ingress Protection

The second digit refers to moisture resistance and how well a device is protected against water. However, unlike the solid object protection digit, which is measured by the size of foreign material entering the device, liquid ingress protection is measured by angle, intensity, immersion, and pressure. In other words, this rating accounts for the several different ways that liquid can get into your device. These ratings aren't cumulative, so while a device may be rated IPX7 for full water immersion, it may not hold up against other tests like IPX6, which uses powerful water jets. However, if an item has passed several tests, its rating appears as IPX6/IPX7.

IP Number Protection Provided Test Duration Notes
X

 There is no information available to specify its water-resistance.

N/A

 

0 No water resistance. N/A  
Dripping water. 10 minutes Protection against vertically falling water, which includes condensation and light rain.
2

 Dripping water tilted at 15°.

10 minutes Protection against light rain.
3

Water sprays up to 60° vertical.

5 minutes

Protection against rain or getting sprayed.

Water splashes from all directions. 5 minutes Protection against splashes of water like that from a car running through a puddle.
5 Low-pressure jets from a nozzle with a 0.25 inch (6.3mm) diameter at any direction. 3 minutes

Protection against direct contact with water like kitchen faucets or rain.

High-pressure jets from a nozzle with a 0.5 inches (12.5mm) diameter from any angle. 3 minutes Protection against direct contact with water and are generally suitable for outdoor use.
7

Full immersion for up to 30 minutes at depths between 6 inches to roughly 3.3 feet (15cm to 1 meter).

30 minutes

Protection against immersion in water.

Extended immersion under higher pressure. 30 minutes Protection against submersion in water deeper than 3.3 feet (1 meter).
9K

Protection against high pressure, high-temperature jet sprays, wash-downs, steam cleaning.

30 seconds to one minute

Protection against steam cleaning and high-pressure water. This is very rare for home electronic products.

A higher IP rating doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better suited for outdoor use. If you’re looking for a portable speaker you can use while camping or sitting on your patio, like the Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM or the Bose Portable Smart Speaker, which are rated IPX4, you don't need a higher rated device as long as you're careful with how much water it's exposed to. If you’re looking for a more waterproof speaker to listen to your favorite music and podcasts by the pool or in unpredictable weather, you’ll want to consider something with an IPX7-IPX8 rating like the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 or the Bose SoundLink Flex, which are rated IP67 and are advertised to float in water. You also want to consider the overall build of your device. Wood detailing can warp and break with long-term water damage, while metal grilles or screws can become rusty, which reduces its protective abilities over long-term use. 

Just because a speaker doesn't have an IP rating doesn't mean that you can't bring it outdoors with you. For example, you can still take speakers that are designed to be used indoors and don't have an IP rating like the Sonos One Gen 2 outside if you have a power outlet on your patio. However, you need to be extra careful to avoid exposing the speaker to water. Also, some speakers designed and built for use outdoors may not come with an IP rating. For instance, while the Alpine Corporation Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker doesn't come with an official IP rating, it's still advertised to be water-resistant, and you can expect it to withstand unpredictable weather since it's designed to be used and left outside.

An IP rating doesn't account for different types of water exposure like salt water, soapy water, or water with various chemicals. While a speaker with a higher IP rating is more likely to survive being exposed to liquids that aren't freshwater, it may not be able to withstand damage by what's in the water, especially in the long term. For instance, while the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 Gen 2 is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, the manufacturer warns against exposing the speaker to soapy water, salt water, and ionized water.

IK Ratings: Impact Protection

If you're prone to dropping your electronic device, you want to consider its IK rating, or Impact Protection. The IK rating reflects how protected your device is from damage when dropped onto a surface, depending on impact energy (measured in joules). This scoring is very similar in representation to IP ratings and uses the IPXX format. However, it uses 'K' to signify 'kinetic' and is defined in the international standard IEC 62262 (2002). While we don't test for this kind of protection, we report the rating provided by the manufacturer.

IK Number Protection Provided Notes
X

 There is no information available to specify its impact resistance.

 

0 No impact resistance.  
Protected against 0.14 joules of impact. Equivalent to impact of roughly 0.55lbs (0.25kg) dropped from roughly 2.2 inches (56mm) above impacted surface.
2

 Protected against 0.2 joules of impact.

Equivalent to impact of roughly 0.55lbs (0.25kg) mass dropped from roughly 3.1 inches (80mm) above impacted surface.
3

Protected against 0.35 joules of impact.

Equivalent to impact of roughly 0.55lbs (0.25kg) mass dropped from roughly 5.5 inches (140mm) above impacted surface.

Protected against 0.5 joules of impact. Equivalent to impact of roughly 0.55lbs (0.25kg) mass dropped from roughly 7.9 inches (200mm) above impacted surface.
5 Protected against 0.7 joules of impact.

Equivalent to impact of roughly 0.55lbs (0.25kg) mass dropped from roughly 11 inches (280mm) above impacted surface.

Protected against 1 joule of impact. Equivalent to impact of roughly 0.55lbs (0.25kg) mass dropped from roughly 15.648 inches (400mm) above impacted surface.
7

  Protected against 2 joules of impact.

Equivalent to impact of roughly 1.1lbs (0.5kg) mass dropped from 15.648 inches (400mm) above impacted surface.

 Protected against 5 joules of impact. Equivalent to impact for roughly 3.7lbs (1.7kg) mass dropped from 11.811 inches (300mm) above impacted surface.
9

 Protected against 10 joules of impact.

Equivalent to impact of roughly 11lbs (5kg) mass dropped from roughly 7.9 inches (200mm) above impacted surface.

10  Protected against 20 joules of impact. Equivalent to impact of roughly 11lbs (5kg) mass dropped from 15.648 inches (400mm) above impacted surface.

Conclusion

If you're planning to use your speaker outside or think your device may be exposed to water, dust, or impacts, it's helpful to know its IP and IK rating. While some manufacturers claim that their products are 'waterproof' or 'weatherproof', the IP rating indicates the kinds of protection your devices have against foreign solids, liquids, and impacts. However, not all products have IP ratings, and even if they do, it isn't guaranteed protection forever since wear and tear from regular use weaken your device's protective abilities over time. That said, selecting a speaker designed and assessed with these ratings ensures you're not in for a nasty surprise if you accidentally spill water on your device or drop it.