Before you invest in the Kohler Anthem digital shower system, you need to read what I went through.
While it promises an advanced showering experience with modern features and sleek control, the reality left me questioning if the hefty price tag is worth it.
Some elements shine, but others might leave you frustrated. Here’s everything you need to know before hitting that “buy” button.
My Real Experience with the Kohler Anthem System
I’ve always been that person who geeks out over smart home upgrades, so when I decided to redo my bathroom, I thought, “Why not go all out with a digital shower system?”
The Kohler Anthem looked like the ultimate solution: sleek, tech-forward, and fully customizable. I ordered it with high hopes and a whole lot of excitement.
The install wasn’t simple, and I had to get a licensed plumber familiar with digital thermostatic valves.
After setup, the interface definitely impressed. The touchscreen was clean, responsive, and beautifully lit. It made you feel like your shower belonged in a luxury hotel.
Adjusting flow, temperature, and switching between outlets (handheld, main head, tub spout) was intuitive. I especially liked the nine user presets — I set mine up for early mornings, post-workout cooldowns, and one for relaxing hot showers.
The Eco-Mode feature? Clever in theory. It lets you use one outlet at a time, so you’re saving water. And it tracks usage.
But here’s the problem: the system doesn’t let you disable unused ports. I had five outlets connected to a six-port valve, and there was no way to deactivate the unused sixth port.
Every time I toggled, I had to skip past that dummy port. It felt like a software oversight for such an expensive unit.
Things got worse a few months in. The touchscreen started acting weird — freezing, sometimes not responding, and occasionally restarting on its own mid-shower.
I reached out to Kohler for help, and that’s when things got really frustrating. The support process was slow, unhelpful, and borderline dismissive.
I was bounced back and forth between reps and eventually told it was out of their hands unless I had proof the purchase went through a verified partner.
At that point, I was regretting my decision. For something I expected to be seamless and luxurious, it ended up feeling like a high-maintenance gadget that needed more babysitting than enjoyment.
Maintenance Tips to Keep Kohler Anthem Running Smoothly
If you already own the Kohler Anthem or are set on trying it despite its flaws, you’ll need to keep it maintained carefully.
First and foremost, always ensure firmware updates are installed properly. Kohler occasionally pushes software improvements through, but they don’t always notify you directly — you have to check via the Kohler Konnect app or through your installer.
The touchscreen should be cleaned regularly with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Avoid glass cleaners with ammonia — stick with water and a microfiber cloth. You don’t want to risk damaging the display or reducing sensitivity.
Also, don’t skip routine checks on the thermostatic valve. While it’s tucked behind your wall, it’s worth having your plumber do seasonal checkups to ensure it isn’t clogged or leaking.
If your system ever starts to act weird — flow issues, uneven temperature, or slow response — the valve might be the culprit.
If you’re in an area with hard water, consider installing a water softener. Scale build-up can affect sensor accuracy over time.
And about that Eco-Mode — it’s easy to turn off if you’re not into it, but if you use it, just be mindful of toggling only one outlet at a time to avoid the system glitching out.
Lastly, document your warranty and purchase path clearly. If something goes wrong (and based on my experience, it might), Kohler support will ask for proof that you purchased from an authorized dealer. Keep all receipts, confirmations, and installation records.
Pros and Cons of Kohler Anthem:
Pros:
- Sleek and modern digital interface that looks great in any luxury bathroom.
- Offers control over temperature, pressure, and multiple outlets from one screen.
- Nine customizable presets for personalized experiences.
- Eco-Mode supports water conservation by using one outlet at a time.
- Allows quick adjustments using the large intuitive dial.
- Tracks water usage with a summary screen.
Compatible with remote on/off button (sold separately). - Durable materials and stylish design.
- Kohler’s premium branding and finish options elevate bathroom aesthetics.
- Integrates with Kohler’s wider smart ecosystem.
Cons:
- Faulty touchscreen issues reported by multiple users, including myself.
- Poor customer service experience with warranty support.
- Cannot disable unused outlets, leading to potential confusion or plumbing concerns.
- High upfront cost, especially when bundled with the thermostatic valve.
- Additional hardware like the valve or remote sold separately increases total expense.
- Not DIY-friendly; requires professional installation.
- Presets sometimes reset randomly after updates or power cycles.
- Limited customization in software — icons can’t be removed or changed easily.
- Unreliable long-term performance; multiple failures within months for some users.
- Amazon purchases may not be supported by Kohler warranty depending on seller.
Kohler Anthem Vs. Other Brands
- Kohler Anthem Vs. Moen Smart Shower
Moen Smart Shower, also known as the U by Moen, felt much more streamlined and reliable during my testing.
The app is intuitive, and it doesn’t freeze or require regular resets like the Anthem did.
Moen also allows better control over outlet configurations — I didn’t run into the issue of being forced to assign icons to unused ports.
The Moen system integrates well with smart assistants too, which gave me full voice control without bugs.
Overall, it offered similar features at a slightly lower price point and with a smoother user experience.
- Kohler Anthem Vs. Grohe SmartControl
I tried Grohe SmartControl in a showroom before committing to Kohler.
It was mechanical-digital hybrid — meaning you could feel the knobs click into place.
That tactile control was actually more reliable in practice than Kohler’s full-digital screen.
Grohe didn’t have quite as much visual customization, but what it lacked in touchscreens, it made up for in stability.
It felt durable and didn’t seem like it would crash mid-shower. Also, no need to worry about touchscreen calibration or updates.
Simpler, maybe less flashy, but more dependable overall.
- Kohler Anthem Vs. Delta Temp2O
Delta’s Temp2O isn’t as “smart” in the tech sense, but it’s a strong competitor if you care more about function than flash.
It uses LED temperature readouts and maintains strong control over water temperature without a complex interface.
In my opinion, it’s a great middle ground.
I never had to worry about software updates or touchscreen issues.
The value was clearly there — reliable, safe, and affordable.
It lacks presets and multi-outlet control, but it also never failed to work. That says something.
- Kohler Anthem Vs. Brizo Sensori
Brizo is known for luxury, and Sensori definitely has that designer appeal.
It’s not as touchscreen-focused as Kohler, but it offers solid thermostatic control and great finish options.
The standout with Brizo was the build quality — everything felt premium and solid.
There’s less tech complexity, which can be a blessing.
The Brizo system hasn’t tried to go fully digital and instead leaned into timeless design.
While I missed a digital display, I never had reliability concerns.
It’s a brand that clearly knows how to build for the long haul.
- Kohler Anthem Vs. Thermasol ThermaTouch
Thermasol’s ThermaTouch was the most comparable to Kohler in terms of full digital experience.
It’s basically a tablet built into your shower wall — complete with media streaming, weather updates, and more.
But the setup was intense, and the price was even higher than Anthem.
That said, it worked beautifully when I tested it.
Smooth transitions, no lag, and full control over steam, lights, audio, and water.
If you’re already spending luxury dollars, Thermasol gives you more innovation for the price.
Kohler looks modern, but Thermasol feels like the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Anthem is Kohler’s more recent digital control system, built to offer intuitive temperature and outlet control through a touch screen. DTV+ is more complex, integrates steam and lighting features, and connects to Kohler Konnect. While Anthem focuses on streamlined shower control, DTV+ is more of a full spa system.
The Kohler Anthem is a digital shower control interface that allows users to manage temperature, pressure, and water flow across up to six outlets. It includes features like presets, Eco-Mode, and touchscreen functionality for a customizable showering experience.
The physical dimensions of the Anthem touchscreen unit are compact enough to fit most modern bathrooms, but it must be paired with a compatible thermostatic valve (sold separately), which can vary in size based on the number of outlets.
Pressure is regulated by the thermostatic valve, not the Anthem controller directly. The system is designed to work with standard household water pressure levels and allows manual adjustment of flow rate per outlet through the digital dial.
Final Thoughts
Honestly? Not for me.
While Kohler Anthem nails the design and brings tech-driven control to your bathroom, its issues outweigh the benefits.
Between faulty touchscreens, missing features like disabling unused ports, and poor customer support, I ended up more annoyed than impressed.
If you’re set on a digital shower system, look elsewhere.
Better reliability, clearer support, and smarter functionality exist in the market — and usually for less money.
Save yourself the hassle.