Soundbot has wide range of waterproof shower speakers which are having very small differences in price as well as specifications and hence it becomes very difficult to choose the right one for your need.
In this post I will be comparing its basic models which are sold below $20 price range.
The three models which I have selected have only difference of couple of dollars and hence it is very important to know the precise difference in between them.
And obviously the review is made so simple to find right choice for you in the given budget and required function by you.
Common features of Soundbot SB510, SB521PRO, & SB517
- Sound Quality:
All three models feature 40 mm drivers delivering 3 W power, for a shower speaker surely this suffice purpose 🙂 It provides HD sound with clear highs, powerful mids & deep bass (remember its only 3W) - Ergonomics:
They have good designed buttons, which are easy to use and intuitive. Music control as well as call control is easy and quick - Speakerphone:
Built-in microphone allows receiving phone calls without bringing your phone into water splashes and 33 feet range is more than sufficient for the bathroom purpose 😛
Their Advanced Digital Sound, Noise/wind Reduction Technology helps delivering good sound quality over phone calls. - Music Play Time:
All delivers about 6 hours of music playtime which is more than sufficient, and the charging would take around 3 hours or so. - Compatibility & connectivity:
They are compatible to all Bluetooth-enabled media player devices such as Smartphones, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Macbook, Android, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, PC, MP3 players.
Connectivity is quick and easy. - Suction Cup for quick mounting:
All are provided with good quality suction cup, using which you will be able to place the speaker in convenient position in your bathroom
Major differences in between Soundbot SB510, SB521PRO, & SB517
Now we will discuss the major feature differences which will decide which one you should buy and why?
- Style & Colors:
All three has distinctly different style and color combination, so purely this will be your personal choice. Based on age & sex choice differs much.. so here I will not comment, but you should look into the picture and below table showing available color choices for individual model - Water Resistance : Critical for Showers
Now here is the major difference in three models.
SB510 features IPX4 rating which means it will sustain splashes but not any immersion in water, so you can use it in bathroom or poolside, but need to take care that it does not get continuous showers or submerged into water.
SB512PRO has enhanced water resistance i.e. iPX6 rating which means the speaker is capable of protection from powerful water jets in any direction. So surely it provides an edge over SB510 model, but again this also does not have capability of complete immersion in water.
SB517 features maximum protection i.e. IPX7 which means it can sustain immersion upto 1 meter for 30 minutes, I think this is what you will want if you have children at home dropping the speaker inside the pool every now and then. Also you will be tension free with such high rating. You need to spend about $4 more to buy this speaker - Micro USB charging port: Critical for compatibility with smartphone chargers
Now this is where SB512PRO wins over other two models i.e. SB510 & SB517.
In present scenario it is extremely important to have charger port compatibility with present Android smartphones which means micro-USB charging port, in absence of which you will have mandate to carry the speaker charger cable with you and if you forget it then you are gone for toss.
For Hikers, campers, travelers this feature has most importance, so in that case you have no choice but to go for SB512PRO speaker.
Just have a look at below specs table where I have colored differences quickly to have understanding in a glance of what you get and what not.
SoundBot SB510 vs SB512PRO vs SB517 Specs Comparison Table
| Waterproof Shower Speaker | SoundBot SB510 | SoundBot SB512PRO | SoundBot SB517 |
| Best Buy | Best Buy | Best Buy | |
| Color | Black, Blue, Yellow, Pink, White, Green, Camouflage, Leopard, Zebra, Houndstooth Black and White | Gray, Green | Black/Black, Blue/Black, Red/Black |
| BT Version | Bluetooth v3.0Â + EDR | ||
| Range | 33 feet | ||
| Driver | 40 mm drivers delivering 3 W power | ||
| Frequency Response | 100Hz-20KHz | ||
| Water resistance | Â iPX4 | Â iPX6 | IPX7 |
| Built-in Mic | Yes, Advanced Digital Sound, Noise/wind Reduction Technology | ||
| Hands-Free Speakerphone | Yes | ||
| Compatibility | compatible to all Bluetooth-enabled media player devices such as Smartphones, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Macbook, Android, Tablet, Laptop, Desktop, PC, MP3 players | ||
| Music Play time | 6 hours playing time | ||
| Charging time | 3 hours | 4-5 hours | |
| Battery | 500 mAh lithium ion | 600 mAh li-ion | |
| Add on | Powerful suction cup for mounting in bathroom | ||
| Micro USB port | No | Yes
Very important feature for portability |
No |
| Dimensions | 2.25″ (thickness with suction cup) x 3.25″ (diameter) | ?? | 3.9 x 2.7 x 2.7 inch |
| Warranty | 1 Year Manufacture Warranty | ||
| Waterproof Shower Speaker | SoundBot SB510 | SoundBot SB512PRO | SoundBot SB517 |
| Best Buy | Best Buy | Best Buy | |
final Recommendation for Shower Speaker below $20:
If you wish to use this speaker during hiking, camping, travel then micro-USB port is important as universal chargers can be used, in that case SB512PRO is the choice for you.
If you are using it at home and have children around, best water protection is needed, in that case go for SB517 having highest protection level of IPX7
In all cases SB510 scores pretty low, since spending a penny more I will always go for SB512PRO model, unless you want to have particular color and style, there is no positive point in buying SB510 speaker.