The ultimate bathroom stereo setup on the cheap
I always wanted to be able to listen to music in my bathroom when I got ready for work. It seemed like overkill to get what I really wanted. I first tried to use one of those small Bluetooth speakers (JAM Classic) connected to my phone. I sent my phone’s audio to the speaker and It worked OK, but the sound wasn’t what I was hoping for. I also couldn’t get the volume up high enough for when I was in the shower with the exhaust fan competing for my auditory attention. These wireless type of speakers, and there are many, are generally reviewed well, but are not meant to fill a noisy room. I knew I needed a more complete system and I was determined to find one that met my needs and wasn’t too expensive.
Amplifier
I started researching amps first. I came across the Lepai LP-2020A+ amp. Only $20, currently $26, with over 1000 reviews. The amp came with two different connectors, left and right RCA and a 3.5 mm stereo input jack. Seemed like that would be pretty good, but I wasn’t sure about the volume capabilities. It is hard to determine for sure from the reviews as everyone’s situation is a little different, but I got the sense it would provide enough umph with a 20 watt output. The unit is small at 4.7 x 5.8 x 1.7 inches. I wasn’t thinking I could do any better than the Lepai so I turned my attention to the speakers.
Speakers
My needs weren’t audiophile quality and I didn’t think I would need very large speakers either. I was set on something in the 6”-8” range of round speakers. I had read several reviews and articles about weatherproof and waterproof speakers. Some experts and regular home owners felt you didn’t really need the extra protection in the bathroom and a cheap set of speakers doesn’t cost much, so if they wear out in a few years, just buy another pair.
I wasn’t sure if I needed weatherproof speakers for the bathroom, but when I decided to put one of the speakers directly overhead of the shower, I knew I wanted to go this route. Enter the Pyle PWRC81s. My past research on speakers never led me to Pyle. They are usually rated in the low to mid 3 stars and other alternatives were always worth a few dollars more. This time, however, I looked at the 4 star rating and decent price ($53, now $56) for the 8” pair and went for it.
I won’t waste too much of your time on speaker wire as you can just search for a near 5 star rating that competes on price. My resulting choice was Mediabridge 16 gauge (SW-16X2-100-CL). I didn’t need 100 feet, but I wanted to be sure I had enough to fish it anywhere, it was cheap ($11), and I could use the rest on a different project.
Installation
I put the amp in the closet as I had an outlet in there. Again, the amp is small so just a couple of screws kept it securely attached to the wall about 4 feet off the ground, a good height to get at for changing the inputs and volume. I made a simple DIY wall holder for my cell phone and I was ready to run some speaker wire. I connected my 16 gauge Mediabridge speaker wire to the amp and ran the wire up a corner of my closet and made a hole in the same corner of the ceiling big enough to push the wires through to the attic above. One wire when to my shower and the other just over my bathroom vanity. Those are the two spots I am stationary, so they seemed to make the most sense. I cut the two holes for the speakers and installed them in the ceiling. After I tested the sound I filled in the extra space around the hole I made in the ceiling around the speaker wire with some drywall compound. A snug fit and the color was a very close match.
The Results
. The sound quality is very good and the volume is more than enough even when standing under a shower and my extra noisy ceiling fan running. All in all I spent around $85 dollars for my setup and I am very happy with the final results. I say final, but I think I can add to my system to create the ultra cheap bathroom TV setup. Stay tuned.
