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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 |
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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 |
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|
IPX7 |
Protected against the effects of immersion in up to 3.29 feet of water for 30 minutes |
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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 |
IP6X |
IPX5/8 |
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IPX4 |
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IPX4 |
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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 |
IP6X |
IPX5/8 |
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IP6X |
IPX5/8 |
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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 |
IP6X |
IPX7 |
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IP6X |
IPX7 |
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IP6X |
IPX5 |
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IPX5 |
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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!
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