Sony’s best IP rated audio products

[_J.G.M_]

First things first: What is an IP rating?

IP stands for Ingress Protection Marking. The rating system classifies the degree of protection provided by the mechanical and electrical casings of a product against dust, water, and other intrusions.

You’ll find the IP rating of a product on the box, in the manual, or listed under its specifications online. If you can’t find an IP rating, the product is not officially resistant to dust or moisture (and yes, that includes sweat!).

What do the numbers mean?

An IP rating will look something like this: IP65. The first number refers to how your product handles solids and the second number refers to how it handles water.

This infographic explains what each number means.

Protection from solids and dust		Protection from water
IP0X	No special protection	IPX0	No special protection
IP1X	Protected against solid objects > 50mm in diameter	IPX1	Protected against dripping water
IP2X	Protected against solid objects > 12.5mm in diameter	IPX2	Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees from the normal position
IP3X	Protected against solid objects > 2.5mm in diameter	IPX3	Protected against spraying water
IP4X	Protected against solid objects > 1mm in diameter	IPX4	Protected against splashing water
IP5X	Protected against dust; limited ingress (no harmful deposit)	IPX5	Protected against low-pressure water jet spray for at least 3 minutes
IP6X	Dust-tight	IPX6	Protected against heavy jet spray for at least 3 minutes
		IPX7	Protected against the effects of immersion in up to 3.29 feet of water for 30 minutes
		IPX8	Protected against the effects of continued immersion in water depths greater than 3.29 feet. The exact conditions are specified for each device by the manufacturer.

Is it actually important?

Ok, so you’re not intending to go deep sea diving in your new headphones but it’s still important to pay attention to their IP rating. For example, you may think it’ll be harmless to wear them during an outdoor workout, when in fact, sweat or dust could enter your headphones and cause damage, fire or electric shock. Even dust, rain, snow or being stored inside a damp pocket can damage a pair of headphones with no IP rating.

Sony’s dedicated engineers work hard to build technology that can stand up against the elements, developing a range of options to suit different lifestyles and audio requirements.

Sony’s best IP rated audio products

For the sports enthusiast

All of Sony’s current sports headphones have a rating of at least IPX4, which means they’re splash-proof and capable of withstanding gruelling, sweaty gym sessions. If you want to take your workout even further, the WF-SP900 feature a dust-tight, swimmable IP65/8 rating in both fresh and salt water, allowing you to dive 2m deep with the swimming earbuds attached.

Model	Protection from solids and dust	Protection from water
WF-SP900	IP6X	IPX5/8
WF-SP700N		IPX4
WI-SP600N		IPX4
WI-SP500		IPX4

We’ve made several IP rated MP3 players too, designed to be the perfect training partner, capable of handling a variety of terrains. Swimmers can rely on an IPX5/8 rating across the Sony Walkman^® sports range whilst runners, climbers and bikers can train without restraint using the dustproof, IP6X rated NW-WS620 and NW-WS410 series.

Model	Protection from solids and dust	Protection from water
NW-WS620	IP6X	IPX5/8
NW-WS410	IP6X	IPX5/8
NWZ-WS610		IPX5/8

For the party starters

Whether you want to bring your music to the pool, beach or forest, there’s a portable Sony speaker ready to go! The SRS-XB01, SRS-XB10 and SRS-XB501 are all IPX5 rated, which means water can hit them from any angle without causing damage. The SRS-XB402M and SRS-XB12/21/22/31/32/41 speakers come with even higher IPX7 ratings, meaning they can be safely immersed in up to 1m of water (salt water included), so you don’t need to worry if someone accidentally drops your speaker in the sea! These models also possess the highest dustproof rating of IP6X, as does the SRS-XB501.

Model	Protection from solids and dust	Protection from water
SRS-XB12/21/22/31/32/41	IP6X	IPX7
SRS-XB402M	IP6X	IPX7
SRS-XB501G	IP6X	IPX5
SRS-XB01		IPX5
SRS-XB10		IPX5

For your home

Of course, robust tech is useful to have at home too, particularly in splashy kitchens or bathrooms! Our LF-S50G Google Assistant Built-in Wireless Speaker has an IPX3 rating, plus our engineers have designed it so the cover can be removed and rinsed under the tap too.

Have you used IP rated products? Let us know what you like about them below!