Sure, you can always turn on the bathroom radio when you want to soak in the tub, but if you really want to become one with the music you need an immersive music tub system. Kohler and Lasco showed just the thing at KBIS in Chicago last week, demonstrating new whirlpools with underwater speakers that distribute the sound evenly through the water for the ultimate bath experience.

Kohler’s VibrAcoustic baths—72 and 88 inches long—include programmable LED lighting, overflow sensors to keep water from exceeding a prescribed level during filling, a media module, 8 speakers and an LCD controller for management of music, tub and light functions. Sound waves are delivered in two parts: one set of transducers delivers music and the other vibrations.

The goal is relaxation, according to Michael Wandschneider, marketing manager for bath products at Kohler, not the kind of thundering bass you hear next to muscle cars at the stoplight. “The vibrations are soothing, not pulsing,” he said.

A headrest on the back of the tub is shaped to allow partial submersion so that users can get the benefit of the sound through the water while relaxing. The combination of music and vibration is intended to reduce the heart rate and establish a measured breathing level. Wandschneider describes the experience as “a subconscious way to do yoga. It tricks you into breathing the right way.”

The system comes with 4 tracks of commissioned music specifically designed to synchronize with the beat of the music. Each track is 20 minutes in length. Users can also pipe in music from their iPods or PCs (the latter requires an Ethernet connection), although those tunes won’t have the same synchronicity between music and vibration.

Chromatherapy is also part of the DTV offering. Users can choose one of 8 colors to illuminate the bath. The baths are expected to retail for $11,000-$13,000 when they arrive in stores in June. The system is part of Kohler’s DTV series of spa products which also includes hydratherapy showers.

Lasco’s immersive audio system is found in the company’s Contours models. Called SonicSplash, the music option is an alternative to in-wall or on-wall speakers in the bath or shower area. “The new SonicSplash immersive music system is yet another sensory option Lasco offers for customization,” said Dave McFarland, director of marketing for Lasco Bathware.