Why would anyone pay $150 for a waterproof speaker? The same reason you pay up for any speakers: better sound.
The Soundcast VG1 comes in at 1 pound. With an IP67 rating, it’s going to withstand quite a bit of water and shocks, though I wouldn’t sink it in the pool just for fun. The VG1 has a 15-hour battery, Siri integration, and two VG1s can be paired for stereo playback. It also comes with generous pack-ins including braided cables.
What sets the VG1 apart though is its sound. Like the Audioengine HD3s and Master & Dynamic MW60s we recently covered, the VG1 integrates aptX, and offers a balanced sound signature and surprisingly good bass. It’s not going to replace your living room setup, obviously, but you’ll be pleasantly impressed outdoors or poolside.
If you spend a lot of time listening to music outdoors, and care about audio quality, consider trading in your $15, 5W, single driver waterproof speaker for the VG1, or maybe two of them.