A Dedicated Shower Speaker With Impressive Performance
The Comiso C15 shower speaker does everything a shower speaker should, offering a waterproof design, good sound quality, and easy-to-use controls. I went into this review with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised by its performance, and while some of its features are novel, that’s what one should expect from these dedicated shower speaker designs. However, there are some incorrect claims in the marketing material that will be discussed.
Towards the end of this review, I will also discuss whether it’s worth going for a speaker like this or simply opting for a portable Bluetooth speaker with waterproofing for use in and around the shower.
Key Takeaways
- Available in 5 different color variants.
- Has a clear sound with strong vocal emphasis.
- Buttons cover the essentials, including track skipping.
- Despite claims, this is not a stereo speaker.
Comiso C15
What I Like:
- Clear vocals.
- Vibrant RGB lights.
- Able to get sufficiently loud.
- Quite affordable.
What I Don’t Like:
- Some incorrect claims made in marketing material.
- Doesn’t have much bass.
- Relatively narrow sound spread.
A Classic Design Vibrant Lights
The Comiso C15 resembles many other shower speakers, with a circular disc-style design with an adjustable rubber loop so it can be hung from the shower head or faucets.
There’s no suction cup in the design, which is a commonly found feature in some shower speaker designs. However, given that nearly every shower either has faucets or a shower head, there’s no particular need for the suction design.
With five different color options, one can also achieve the desired aesthetic. Kids may prefer the brighter pink or blue options, but I find the black or white variations are the most mature and best suited for most bathrooms. There’s also a translucent option which many will find appealing, as it shows off the most light.
Much of the speaker showcases LED lighting, which also has a nifty feature where the volume level can change how the LEDs show. More volume = more lights.
What I like about this speaker is that it doesn’t fully limit itself to being a shower speaker. Some shower speakers are bulky and look out of place in the outdoors, but that’s not the case with this. It’s compact enough to be used as a portable Bluetooth speaker, too.
A Reasonably Durable Design With Rubber Cover
Let’s be real, durability isn’t exactly the first thing that springs to mind when one’s discussing Chinese audio products, especially white label products. But this speaker hasn’t got that completely cheap feel that many other shower speakers on Amazon have.
That’s because it’s comprised of a relatively thick plastic shell, but it is wrapped in a rubber cover that not only ties the aesthetic together, but it also helps to protect the speaker if it gets dropped. This rubber wrap also makes the speaker easier to handle in the shower, even with slightly soapy hands.
IPX7 Waterproofing
Like all shower speakers should, it’s protected from water intrusion by a comprehensive IPX7 water-resistance rating, meaning your speaker will be protected throughout your shower session, regardless of how much water hits it.
Comprehensive Controls With Track Skipping
Controls are arguably the most important feature of a shower speaker. It’s also what separates a standard IPX-rated speaker from a true shower speaker design. After all, we don’t take our phones into the shower, meaning every time you want to change a track or adjust the volume, you’ll be using the speaker.
The C15’s buttons are decent, but could be improved. There are four buttons located on the top, right, bottom, and left of the speaker, and they control everything from power and playback to volume control, track skipping, and even give a quick way to adjust the RGB lighting.
Top: Power & Play/Pause
Right: Volume Up / Skip Track
Bottom: Lighting Effects
Left: Volume Down / Skip Track Backward
Unfortunately, these buttons can be difficult to see, especially in the shower, where those of us who wear glasses are already at a disadvantage. I’d have liked the buttons to be backlit or even just use a white paint to mark them. It would just have made them a bit easier to see.
Bluetooth 5.3 Connectivity
This speaker keeps things simple, as shower speakers should be. It only supports Bluetooth connectivity, but does so using Bluetooth 5.3, making it efficient and stable, even at range. I found I could leave my phone on the bed and use the speaker in the en-suite bathroom without any connectivity issues.
TWS Pairing
I can’t say that I’ve personally ever felt the desire to TWS pair two shower speakers together, but if you’re so inclined, the Comiso C15 does provide the option. Though this feature would be best utilized out of the shower and perhaps in a broader bathroom setting where the area is large enough to benefit from two stereo sources.
Loud Enough To Fill A Shower With Clear Sound
Important Note: On Amazon, Comiso claims the C15 is a stereo speaker, but this isn’t the case. We opened it up and found a single driver, which means it doesn’t produce stereo sound.
Hearing this speaker for the first time, it dawned on me how fast audio quality has improved over the last few years. The C15’s sound isn’t as deep as something like the JBL Clip 5 can produce, but it’s got a more vocal-dominant sound, which is great for casual listening and also for podcasts or audiobooks.
When the volume is pushed high, there’s some loss of clarity, but this is standard for most small speakers, where dynamic range is limited.
It’s loud enough to fill any shower, and even most bathrooms.
Overall, though, this speaker sounds better than I expected. The only downside is that these shower speakers can’t benefit from a companion app in the same way regular speakers can, meaning you can’t change the sound profile without downloading third-party EQ apps.
Battery Life
This speaker features a relatively large capacity battery (2000mAh), which is essential given the number of lights it has. With the lights turned off, it produces around 18 hours of playtime at 60% volume, but with the lights on, I found it lasted closer to 10 to 12 hours during actual use.
This is a decent playtime, especially when one considers that leading flagships of this size released in the last year last around 10 to 12 hours as well.
It has a USB-C charging port, which can be found on the bottom of the speaker. It’s covered by a rubber seal to ensure water doesn’t enter. Always ensure this port is sealed when using the speaker around water.
Should You Be Buying A Shower Speaker Or A Portable Bluetooth Speaker?
A common question around shower speakers is whether it’s worth going with a dedicated shower speaker or something like the JBL Go 4 or Soundcore Select 4 Go, which can both be used in the shower, but also have the benefit of being used outdoors during hiking or just around the house.
If you’re looking for something versatile, then the JBL or Soundcore would be a better bet, but for a speaker that’s going to be used solely in the bathroom, a dedicated shower speaker like the Comiso C15 has its benefits.
The lighting effects, for example, add an ambience to the bathroom, and its front-facing buttons are a bit easier to reach than those found on traditional Bluetooth speakers.
Conclusion
Shower speakers don’t always perform as advertised; they often sound hollow, lack clarity, or simply feel cheap. This speaker doesn’t do any of these things. Its clear sound is ideal for casual listening and is a marked improvement over the quality found on cellphone speakers, and its relatively affordable price tag makes it a worthwhile consideration as a dedicated shower speaker. It typically retails for just under $30, but during sales can be found for closer to $20, which is a great price.
