Is IPX5 Waterproof Enough For Shower?

My dear readers, a new day, a new article, and a new challenge I’m greatly looking forward to keeping you informed and current on a variety of new developments that will improve your life. Particularly if you are an audiophile like I am, this article is crucial.

I don’t know who you are, but I can say with confidence that I am an audiophile and that I cannot picture my existence in any way without music. I enjoy listening to music when working, studying, exercising, and of course, taking a shower. It may seem a little strange, but it is what it is—I literally can’t stop myself. I also know that I’m not the only one; many others feel the same way.

Guys, that is the main reason I’m writing this article. If you’re wondering whether you can listen to music on your headphones while taking a shower and relaxing in the tub, this article will provide you with a thorough explanation.

Given that we live in a technologically advanced society, there is a good likelihood that many of you have heard of the IPX rating. However, I will offer you some crucial details and go into greater depth about what this IPX rating implies, what it is used for, and why it is so crucial in this post. This IPX grade has many levels that provide various levels of protection. Let me now begin to explain them and provide a sufficient response to the issue posed in the title.

What Are Waterproof And Water-resistant Earphones?

Since earbuds are now a common item in everyday life, many manufacturers enter the market with a variety of earbuds that claim to be waterproof or water-resistant, but this is not a true guarantee. Although these earbuds seem to offer some degree of water resistance, it’s important to remember that no headphones are completely waterproof. The earbuds’ waterproofness allows them to endure some water-related scenarios, but we should be aware that when water is running rapidly, harm to the device will result. These kinds of earbuds have additional functionality.

First and foremost, they must be strong enough to resist repeated usage. Next, the sound quality must be excellent to drown out the sound of running water. Finally, and most importantly, they must be waterproof.

What Is an IPX Rating?

A crucial component of modern technical equipment is the IPX certification. We may state that IPX, which stands for Ingres Protection or International Protection, is a measurement that indicates the degree to which a gadget is protected against liquids or other foreign items. We have seen this ranking in a variety of gadgets, including watches, earbuds, and of course, phones. We are all most interested in the extremely crucial topic of protecting earbuds, especially against liquids. Therefore, a headphone will be coated with various coatings and may have rubber seals along the seams to make them water-resistant.

Since no one wants to own a product that will be harmed by water or dust, the IPX rating is still a very important consideration for someone who has decided to purchase a set of earbuds. So, the first thing we must look for when purchasing a set of earphones is the IPX rating to determine whether or not they are water-resistant. But there are several degrees of IPX rating that we should take into account, and it is crucial to understand what each level of IPX rating entails. I’ll give a brief explanation of each IPX level as a result.

IPX0: This grade indicates that there is absolutely no protection. Therefore, avoid using these earphones in the shower if you have a pair with this rating level.

IPX1: This indicates that the earphones have extremely little water resistance.

IPX2: Your headphones can resist drops striking at a 15-degree angle for just 10 minutes thanks to the slightly increased protection it provides.

IPX3: It provides defense against water droplets striking at 60 degrees.

IPX4: It gives complete defense against water coming at it from any angle. However, just for brief periods.

IPX5: Provides your headphones good protection from water damage coming from any angle. You may use your earphones in the shower as long as it doesn’t take more than 10 minutes since according to this rating your headphones will be safe for 10 minutes.

IPX6: It provides three minutes of intense jet water protection.

IPX7: Protection against water for 30 minutes in either direction.

IPX8: For continuous submersion, this rating is appropriate.

IPX9: It provides all forms of water with practically complete protection.

What Can We Do With IPX5 Certified Earbuds?

As I said above, the IPX5 grade provides your headphones with 10-minute protection against water in all directions, but let’s see what more we can do if we have a set of IPX5-certified earbuds.
You can use these headphones while taking a shower, but only if the shower will last less than 10 minutes. This is because the rating only protects your earbuds against water damage for 10 minutes; if the shower lasts longer, it may harm them. Since the IPX5 certification is done with cold water (13-18 °C), you can use your IPX5-certified earbuds if you decide to take a brief cold-water shower. However, we should also take into account the protection from water jets because the IPX5 rating doesn’t provide that protection, so we should be careful.

With water-resistant earbuds IPX5, you may go to any beach or pool party, but you should be cautious with your earphones and make sure you won’t lose them in the water, because a promise cannot be made in full.

Running is a great example of a sport where IPX5-certified earbuds are excellent to use since you won’t have any problems and the perspiration won’t harm your earphones at all.

In a conclusion, I’d like to emphasize that if your earphones are IPX5-certified, you can use them in the shower, but there are a lot of things to take into account, such as the water temperature and the strength of the water jet. Although the final decision is yours, in my opinion, IPX5-certified earphones do not provide adequate protection to be used when taking a shower.

Final Words

Every beginning has it, and my article is no different. I always try to include as much information as I can in my writings so that you are aware of every aspect and can make judgments with ease. This time is no different; perhaps there is a lot to read, but it will be worthwhile because we don’t want to harm our earphones by using them in the shower. I wish you luck in deciding whether or not to use your IPX5-certified headphones in the shower after reading this post.

I’ll be returning soon, people, with lots of fresh content. Thank you.

Further Reading

My further reading will include audio interfaces. You can read more about the difference between Focusrite and PreSonus Audio interfaces. 

Since I mentioned Focusrite, read more about the difference between Scarlett 2i2 and 2i4.

And you can also change the direction and read about the difference between Shure SE425 and Shure SE215 Pro.