BassPal Shower Speaker is, as its name suggests, a small, splash and water resistant Bluetooth speaker that is convenient to use anywhere, from the bathroom or on the beach, to a party with friends or in the garden.
Simple and faithful it also has an internal LED and a built-in FM radio. In practice it is a fun, “universal” and comfortable solution in various situations, capable of bringing a soundtrack even in places where one would not usually expect to have a system like this.
Suction cup supplied
BassPal is very small: just 8.5cm in diameter by 5cm thick (suction cup excluded). What is striking, unlike many competitors supplied in a very sloppy package, is the really neat packaging, in matt black painted cardboard with the small speaker inside, the USB A-MicroUSB cable for charging and a couple of sheets for instructions.
Pairing is simple, at the first start BassPal shower speaker searches for the last device used and an item indicates the status of the ignition and the pairing.
The first thing you notice is that the small diffuser has a quite flashy look, with the black / blue combination accompanied by a no different “parade” of multicolored lights that are comfortable in the shower or in the garden at night.
Thanks to a suction cup (removable) the small diffuser sticks to all smooth surfaces, such as glass or tiles and if it falls into the water, patience, because it floats
With buttons, for independence
In the upper part there are five buttons: the first is dedicated to switching on, the other two to control the volume and the playlist, one to pause in playback and finally one to playback mode, via Bluetooth 4.0 or FM radio.
Unfortunately, the implementation of the radio function is definitely to be improved: tuning is poor and, although the management of the basic commands is convenient, we have not found any station with a clean and quality signal. It could be a problem caused by the lack of a real antenna.
Otherwise, the music playback function via Bluetooth proved to be good. Let's be clear, the speaker is meant more to be used anywhere than to compete with other high quality competitors, however it offers important features when considering the intended use of the speaker. Musically speaking (if it makes sense to talk about musical quality in a device of this type), we can testify that BassPal lives up to its name: not only are the mids of a good level but also the bass are very present. The sound is therefore suitable both for those who want something “pumped” even in moments of casual listening …
This is joined by a soft rubber coating that isolates the electronic parts from water, but which also protects it from falls: the suction cup, supplied, is good and supports the small BassPal shower speaker when placed on a smooth surface and if it falls into the tub, don't worry, the speaker floats.
Conclusions
There are several water-resistant speakers, it is not an absolute novelty in the market, but compared to many competitors the BassPal shower speaker was created to be used in the shower or in the bathtub, with for example all the buttons for control, to change the song or change the volume without leaving the box and to silence it for a moment when they call you.
The light is comfortable even if a little too flashy, the audio quality well calibrated for the use you have to make of it and the absolutely affordable cost: no one knows if we will go to the pool or the sea this summer, but for now you can enjoy it at home, in the bathroom.
The look is not exactly discreet and the lights are perhaps a bit tacky, but in the shower, in the garden or at the sea they help
Pro:
• Small, light, with the suction cup it sticks everywhere • Control the playback without leaving the box • Water resistant and … floats
Cons:
• Radio function to be reviewed
Price:
• 29.99 Euro
BassPal Shower Speaker is available from the Amazon.co.uk pages. If desired, readers can also find a model with an integrated display for the time.