Kohler’s New Shower Has Touchscreen-Controlled Speakers and Mood Lights

Kohler

I used to think there was no better way to kickstart my day than blasting “So Fresh, So Clean” in the shower while loofaing my shoulders. But I was wrong—turns out I could be having a multi-temperature water and steam shower experience while blasting Outkast in four-speaker surround sound with a full-on light show.

Kohler calls its new DTV+ shower system a “Digital Showering Experience.” It refuses to simply call it “a shower,” because it’s so much more than just a stall for cleaning yourself. Sure, it is a shower, or at least it has the components of one. But depending on how much money you want to spend pimping it out, it’s also a touchscreen-controlled surround-sound booth, a disco light show, a two-temperature standing spa, and a steam bath/shirt dewrinkler.

Kohler

The base package includes three components for $1,940: A touchscreen interface that’s installed in the shower itself, a mounting bracket for that interface, and system controller that’s installed outside of the shower.

The controller acts as a power supply for the touchscreen and a connection hub for all the system components. It also provides a way to control valves and water temperature independently for each shower head in the system—important for those multi-temperature standing spas.

From there, you can customize the system with different audio hardware, steam modules, showerheads, and “chromatherapy” components. For example, the system supports up to four SoundTile speakers, and a separate amplifier module allows you to stream tunes from a Bluetooth-connected device. The amplifier component also has two 3.5mm inputs for hardwired audio sources.

Kohler says a fully kitted-out system runs around $9,000. That’s with four speakers, the amplifier unit, a steam adapter, some steam heads—and of course the WaterTile Ambient Rain showerhead unit, which features 88 nozzles and includes a multicolor light show. Once everything is hooked up, you can use the six-inch touchscreen to access personal presets, switch up the lighting and water temperature, control your music, or take a schvitz.

Kohler

You can also cue up a few “spa experiences” with the system: A Well-Being mode that targets your pulse points, a Relaxation mode that cranks on your stressed-out muscles, and an Energy mode that wakes you up by alternating between hot and cold water. If you want to save a few thousand dollars, rest assured you can simulate Energy mode by having someone flush the toilet while you’re in a normal shower.