Outdoor/Patio Speakers

[tdubnrae]

Anybody have a recommendation on a set of outdoor/patio speakers? I'm looking for something around $100. I know I'm cheap but I'm guessing something is out there in that price range. It looks like AV123 has a set for about that price. Anyone have a set?

Thanks

 

[samandnoah]

The OD100 are out of stock until summer. I'm in the same boat, and have been doing searches of the archives for previous recommendations. Those rockets get good reviews, but not sure I can wait that long.

Would love to see some folks come back and talk about the choices they made. Others I've been considering:
- Boston Acoustics Voyager series
- Klipsch AW series
- Yamaha AW series
- Polk Atrium series

Really looking for something (in a screened in porch, so exposed to the elements, but directly in them, and projecting out into the yard) that will deliver some bass. Mostly considering speakers with > 5.5" woofer.

Best of luck!
Rich

 

[hv9200]

Hello

I have three sets of outdoors right now in use...

Over garage/Driveway speakers
Cambridge soundworks 42 Outdoors

Back deck area
Boston acoustics Voyagers (jr)

Backyard/gabezo area
Bose 151


Of the three, the Bostaon acoustics are IMO the better speaker, Albiet they are a bit larger and more expensive. Second would be the Bose 151, these little speakers have been outside (under the deck facing out to the backyard) for 8 years and still work very well. overall these have the best range distance wise and seem to fill the rather large backyard easily. Coming in third is the cambridge soundworks, not that these are a bad choice, but they are somewhat limited in thier base and range....at upper volumes they can be a bit harsh.

I'd say if you are looking at filling a large area with sound, go with the Voyager pro's or Bose 251

if price is a concern...ebay is a good source to find a pair of 151's

hope this helps

 

[tomd51]

Infinity Outrigger/Outrigger Jr.

Some of the best outdoor speakers I've heard that are fairly inexpensive are the Infinity Outriggers. The Outrigger Jr.'s provide a nice open sound field that is fairly neutral. Given their size and the level they can be cleanly played at, these are hard to beat.

A friend of mine just last summer replaced a pair of Bose 251s with the large version of the Outriggers (non Jr.) and they clearly had a better sound field and presence to them.

I've yet to hear any of the BA Voyagers, but several folks that have had the 5s, 6s and 7s have had very good things to say about them... -TD

 

[Gov]

I am considering the HTD outdoor speakers as they are similiar to the Rocket OD100 and come in under $100. Some pretty good words said about them for their price

 

[df4801]

You might want to look for some Niles speakers.
I got a pair of OS-3's for $99 off onecall.com a month or so ago.
They sound great.
Heard Rockets are good too, but they were backordered until spring when I was looking.

 

[scotty11]

i have the Polk Atriums and am quite happy with them.
they play as loud as i want without distortion

i dont remember the price but it wasnt much.I bought them from crutchfield

 

[samandnoah]

Great feedback

Thanks to all for the feedback so far.

Anyone using the BIC Addato DV52si (particularly if modified by Ed Frias)?

I feel like there are so many choices, but so few of them are available for auditioning. Sometimes I can find one in the same brand family, but usually not the exact model I'm looking for.

I realize that these are going to be outdoors, and this will hardly be focused music listening. But I'm picky enough that when I'm sitting on my screened-in porch reading and listening, I want to enjoy it. So there needs to be good tonal balance, and some usable bass to what I would hope to be <70Hz.

And when we do have guests or a party, I don't want it to sound tinny, compressed, and crappy at louder volumes. The amplification won't be a problem.

I'd like to keep this to <$200. So there you have it!

Thanks,
Rich

 

[beer4u]

If you put a word in at the classified section of av123 you may get some hits. I will be receiving my od100's in the next couple days.

 

[anotherid2lose]

I second the Niles.

I have had mine for 7 years now. One of them even fell in a wind storm and cracked the case, but it still sounds okay.