Speakers for the backyard

[STRONGBADF1]

I'd like to put some outdoor speakers in the back yard. I listen to a lot of hard rock so I'd like some thing that is efficient enough to rock out a bit with a modest I'd like some base response also. Doesn't have to be tons but there if you know what I mean.

The wife and I are thinking rock speakers as opposed to mounted to the house. (just easier) We are not married to rock speakers and she is ok with whatever I decide I'll be most happy with.

Our house is a rancher with an addition that has the back porch behind it. We have Quoit pits on the far left then the entire back yard is fenced in. (not shown) The yard is ~90'-95' wide and I am wondering on the of running 2 zones or just full width coverage. I'm thinking two zones so I don't get an echo effect from across the yard if we are just on the porch relaxing.

I want a new receiver for the inside system so I'll probably use my Yamaha RX-V2500 to power the outside set-up and use an old cd player and our ipods for sources.

So I'm looking for suggestions of brands and types and configurations. Rock vs. mounted, mono vs dual voice coil. What do you use already? I'd like to keep this reasonably priced also.

Sorry, I didn't sleep well last night and this is probably a grammatical nightmare.

 

[Nomo]

These are hardly high end, but I have 2 pairs of these Yamahas on my deck and poolside.
I'm very hapy with them. Pretty good bass for rock music. Highs are not stellar.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-AW350-Indoor-Outdoor-Speakers/dp/B0001VHARO

 

[Jeff R.]

I would not spend to much money. The are so many noises outside sound quality gets diminished quickly

 

[just-some-guy]

here ya go right here.

or if you want to tone it down a bit

 

[Rickster71]

My $0.02.
Mounting under the soffit and on the house will get you some added rebound from the wall so that helps. I wouldn't got any smaller than an 8" driver for outside.

I'm having trouble picturing your layout. You've seen my patio, if the area you want to fill is about that size, I'd try two on the house first and see what you think.
I have a pair in mind, I have to search and get back to you.
As for Rock speakers (if you go that route) I can recommend the Niles 8"

 

[Rickster71]

Hey Doug, I'd look at these:
http://www.jblpro.com/pages/install/JBL_Ctrl29AV-1 rev2.pdf
If I did it over again I'd try these mounted on the house.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

These are hardly high end, but I have 2 pairs of these Yamahas on my deck and poolside.
I'm very hapy with them. Pretty good bass for rock music. Highs are not stellar.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-NS-AW350-Indoor-Outdoor-Speakers/dp/B0001VHARO

I've read that the Yamaha's are decent. They are on the list, especially because of the price.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I would not spend to much money. The are so many noises outside sound quality gets diminished quickly

yeah, I don't want to go crazy price wise because they aren't for critical listening anyway.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

here ya go right here.

Sold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I was going to contact you on this. You're set-up sounded pretty good. We weren't cranking it though so I wanted to get more input.

My $0.02.
Mounting under the soffit and on the house will get you some added rebound from the wall so that helps. I wouldn't got any smaller than an 8" driver for outside.

I've having trouble picturing your layout. You've seen my patio, if the area you want to fill is about that size, I'd try two on the house first and see what you think.
I have a pair in mind, I have to search and get back to you.
As for Rock speakers (if you go that route) I can recommend the Niles 8"

Hey Doug, I'd look at these:
http://www.jblpro.com/pages/install/JBL_Ctrl29AV-1 rev2.pdf
If I did it over again I'd try these mounted on the house.

Nice! Go big or go home! Brenda wants to know if you're smoking crack! Those JBL's are huge! I bet they rock though.

What speakers do you have out back again?

I have to take a picture of the yard...or have you over... (looking for BIA cd... Hahahahaha! Sorry Alex, had too!)

 

[XEagleDriver]

Dual voice coil - highly recommend

The one thing I would definitely change in my backyard speaker set up is to go with dual voice coil speakers.

1) Outdoor listening is very apt to be ICJ a very wide seating arrangment; i.e deck and/or patio, around a pool, part of a party, etc.

2) Limiting the reception of the stereo signal to a small area symetrically between the speakers is just not useful outdoors. Not to mention the nightmare of integrating multiple stereo pairs!

3) Also, allows you to use odd numbers or unusual locations for speaker placement to best cover the desired outdoor space.

FWIW,
XEagleDriver

 

[GranteedEV]

I would not spend to much money. The are so many noises outside sound quality gets diminished quickly

I know JBL recommends a frequency response curve which starts to rise around 60hz as you go down in frequency in this type of noise situation.

 

[Rickster71]

I was going to contact you on this. You're set-up sounded pretty good. We weren't cranking it though so I wanted to get more input.





Nice! Go big or go home! Brenda wants to know if you're smoking crack! Those JBL's are huge! I bet they rock though.

What speakers do you have out back again?

I have to take a picture of the yard...or have you over... (looking for BIA cd... Hahahahaha! Sorry Alex, had too!)

You guys are welcome to come over with your favorite CD, the soundtrack from the Titanic to get a listen. I'll throw something on the grill.

 

[Rickster71]

I'll have to humbly disagree about getting cheap speakers. If you have to stick to a certain price point, I'll stop talking.... and I completely understand.

If the reason for going cheap is because of thinking 'outside isn't a critical listening area,' I don't agree. Yes, outdoors has it's compromises, and it's not like being inside.
But...being outside with no or few walls to rebound from, the name of the game is moving air. To move air you need a big driver.

I don't know your layout, but if it's irregular the dual voice coil is a good idea.....but 2 pairs will be a 4 Ohm load.
That's why I was thinking of two big and efficient speakers to start off with.
Just my $0.02.

 

[deedubb]

I just revived the thread below because I ordered these speakers today. If you want bass, you have to try to audition these. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44355

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Hey Doug, I'd look at these:
http://www.jblpro.com/pages/install/JBL_Ctrl29AV-1 rev2.pdf
If I did it over again I'd try these mounted on the house.

Brenda and I just went to see the boys new school for next year and the speakers in the "cafagymatorium" were JBL's that could have been the same model you suggested. They were hung from the ceiling so I couldn't get a close look. Fate?

 

[Chicagorep]

Niles RS8 rock speakers. Place the speakers away from the house pointing in towards the patio/deck. Wire the amp for mono, stereo is wasted outdoors. Niles speakers have a lifetime warranty.

 

[Rickster71]

Niles RS8 rock speakers. Place the speakers away from the house pointing in towards the patio/deck. Wire the amp for mono, stereo is wasted outdoors. Niles speakers have a lifetime warranty.

That's what I've got outside too. They have dual voice coils and can be wired either way. http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=RS8Si Granite&recordID=Weatherproof Rock Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=&prdcdID=FG01030

 

[timoteo]

+1 for the NS-AW350s. I put a pair of black ones on my patio, tucked them under the eves & am very impressed with their clean output & respectable bass response. I do plan to ad a sub but mainly because i want to build one.
If you want to spend a little more then id recommend the Earthquake brand rock speakers. They have a set of 5.25" rocks with a seperate 10" rock sub. Dont remember the model # but i have heard them & they are very powerful & suprisingly detailed!

But for the $, the Yammies are a great outdoor solution for sure. Im very happy!!