Why Does a Wet Bluetooth Speaker Sound Distorted?
A wet Bluetooth speaker sounds distorted because water sits on the driver and the grille and stops them moving freely. The distortion is usually temporary. JBL's support pages say the sound should return to normal once the speaker is completely dry.
How to Get Water Out of a Bluetooth Speaker
To get water out of a Bluetooth speaker, shake out the excess, drain it speaker-side down, and let it dry at room temperature.
- Shake the speaker gently to throw out excess water, as JBL advises.
- Place it on a soft, dry cloth with the speaker side facing down. Sony advises this to drain water collected inside.
- Leave it at room temperature until no moisture remains.
- Wait about 24 hours before judging the sound. iFixit's JBL Go 2 guide gives the same figure.
- Skip the hair dryer. Heat can warp the driver and the seals.
Can You Use a Speaker Cleaner on a Bluetooth Speaker?
Yes, you can use a speaker cleaner on a Bluetooth speaker after you've drained it. Connect the speaker to your phone, set a moderate volume, and run one or two 30-second cycles of the speaker cleaning tool. The low tone shakes the last droplets off the grille. Stop if the distortion gets worse.
Can You Charge a Wet Bluetooth Speaker?
No, you shouldn't charge a wet Bluetooth speaker. Water in the charging port can corrode the contacts. Wipe the port area, let the port dry completely, and only then reconnect power. A waterproof rating protects the speaker in use, not while charging wet.
What Do IPX4, IPX5 and IPX7 Mean on a Speaker?
IPX4, IPX5 and IPX7 describe how much water a speaker is tested against, from splashes up to temporary immersion. The codes come from the IEC 60529 standard. The X means the speaker wasn't rated for dust.
| Rating | Tested against |
|---|---|
| IPX4 | Splashing water from any direction |
| IPX5 | Water jets from a nozzle |
| IPX6 | Powerful water jets |
| IPX7 | Temporary immersion, up to 1 metre for 30 minutes |
Phones use the same system, often with a dust digit too; see IP68 vs IP67.
Why Does a Waterproof Speaker Still Sound Muffled When Wet?
A waterproof speaker still sounds muffled when wet because the rating protects its electronics, not its sound. Water on the grille and the passive radiator dampens the sound until it drains. That's why a dunked IPX7 speaker can sound bad for an hour and then recover fully.
What If Your Speaker Still Sounds Distorted After Drying?
If your speaker still sounds distorted after a full day of drying, the cause may not be water.
- Reset the speaker using the steps in its manual.
- Update the firmware in the maker's app.
- Listen for rattling at every volume, which points to a torn driver.
- Contact the maker's support if the distortion continues.
Crackling on a phone speaker has its own causes; see phone speaker crackling. For wet earbuds, see water in AirPods.
Speaker cleaner
Free speaker cleaner that plays a 165 Hz tone to push water and dust out of iPhone and Android speakers.