Innovative Ways to Hear Music in the Bath

By Marie Owens

As I began to think about this blog on bathroom technology, I kept coming back to Kohler and their emphasis on music in the bathroom.  A quote in a brochure for their VibrAcoustic^® technology sums it up: “Music moves us.  It lifts us.  It surprises us.  It is an undeniable force resonating throughout our lives.”

There are many studies that show music is indeed a mood influencer.

Music has and will always play a very important part in my life.  As a child growing up, I was surrounded by music.  When our family gathered, there was always a sing along with grandma playing the piano and grandpa the violin.  As a good German child, I learned to polka from my older cousins in the basement of my grandma’s at a very young age.  My favorite memories as a young adult are dancing the waltz and fox trot with my dad.

Whether you realize it or not, music is a driving force in our lives and now Kohler is bringing it into our bathroom in very innovative ways.

• Tubs that soothe your aching body and mind energize through music and musical vibration.
• Shower heads that sing to you or broadcast the news while you shower.
• Toilets – totally hands free that open and close by your movement – and sing to you while doing so.

VibrAcoustic bathtub: I was at a seminar at Kohler and I had the opportunity to experience the VibrAcoustic bathtub.  It was incredible.  Music comes through speakers hidden behind the shell of the bath and sound waves travel through the water.  You can choose from four original compositions created by a sound therapist to promote relaxation in both your body and mind, or you can plug in your smartphone tablet, or MP3 player.  Vibrations from the music surround your body and relax or energize you while you soak.  The tub also has optional chromotherapy lights.

At Callen, we have a VibrAcoustic in our Muskego Design Center.  Lucky for me, it’s in a room with a lockable door.  I have been known – from time to time when feeling stressed at the end of the day – to take a dry plunge!  Even without the water, the vibration and sound soothes.

Another bathing sound experience from Kohler is the Moxie showerhead with integrated speaker.  It installs the same as a standard showerhead and syncs with any Bluetooth^®-device – smartphones and MP3 player – and streams music directly into the shower.  When you’re done with the shower, you can pull the Moxie out and use it for a speaker.  A lithium battery provides about seven hours of playtime; recharging is through a USB cord.

The third Kohler product that has a built-in music system (and does so much more) is the NUMI toilet.  The programmable control panel can access your favorite AM/FM stations.  It also senses motion.  As you walk up to it, it automatically opens up for hands-free operation.  Even nicer, in my opinion is the heated seat and foot warmer.  Great for our cold-weather climate when nature calls in the middle of the night!