Outdoor speaker recommendations - Tough climate!

[cbraver]

My dad needs some new outdoor speakers. The ones he has now (not sure on the brand or model) have corroded. He lives right on bay, and the salt air blows causing havoc on just about everything, even those labelled "for outdoor use."

The amp he is using for the outdoor sound is a Speakercraft BB1235.

Do you guys have any recommendations for outdoor speakers with the following in mind:
1. A good brand, one that stands behind their product
2. Made for tough climates / salt air
3. Can sit on it's own. My dad doesn't want me to mount speakers on the side of the house or anything, he likes the ones that sit on the ground because they blend better with the surrounding.
4. Looks are a plus, but he is okay with a box-type speaker. It doesn't have to be one of those "it blends into your landscape" enclosures, although if there is a good one that would be nice.

Any help would be appreciated if some of you have messed with outdoor speakers. I'm going to buy four of them.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[mazersteven]

Polk Audio
Atrium Series
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/multiapplication/

Niles Audio
http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1

 

[Highbar]

I've never heard them but I love my Digm's. If I had a yard I'd give them a look.

<a href=http://www.paradigm.com/en/paradigm/speaker-type-outdoor-marine.paradigm>Paradigm</a>

T

 

[bandphan]

Polk Audio
Atrium Series
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/multiapplication/

Niles Audio
http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1

ive have the 1999 version of http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.php?prodID=OS6.5&recordID=Indoor/Outdoor Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1&prdcdID=FG00994
outside 1/4 mile for the big pond in south florida since 1999, no problems. Nice low-end sound

 

[cbraver]

From what I gather reading through everything, the Niles speakers seem to be the most corrosion resistant (big difference from weather resistant). Do the Niles rock-shaped speakers have as good of corrosion resistance as the box-shaped? I saw these on there:

http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=Weatherproof Rock Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1

The rock speakers would blend in better with his landscaping, but I'd go with which ever has the least corrosion problems. He is right on the water, and the salt spray is horrible.

The Niles also don't seem hard to drive, since they'll only be getting 25W from that speakercraft this is important.

 

[mazersteven]

Don't know. Never used the Rock speakers. This one looks cool. One thing I found living in Florida right on the water is, nothing is corrosion proof.

 

[John Bailey]

Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but Axiom has the Algonquin that's made for outdoors. They're listed as waterproof. I don't know if that's an indication of corrosion proof or not.

John

 

[bandphan]

I think you will be happy with the niles, sound wise the resemble the grand voyager from boston accoustics if you need a comparison.( 9 years in the salt air, still going) (btw they are a miami company)

 

[mazersteven]

Also check there out.

8 Inch White Double-Ended Marine Tubbie
http://www.sasbazooka.com/productMarineSatellites.asp?id=351

 

[Guangui]

Here comes from someone who has had different power and sail boats, lives in PR, and has a house close to the water...

In my house I have outdoor Advent's (no longer made), been through two tropical storms, many rains, and 8 yrs. working. Back then Costco used to sell them at $98.00/pr. They are still going strong, no noticeable SQ difference from when they were new, and if you clean them every month or so they will not corrode...Now, the same cannot be said for the wall brackets that came with them.

In our beach house we have Paradigm outdoor speakers, and they been there for about two years, and no problems. It is very important to rinse them with potable water whenever you can so the salt comes loose.

In the boats I have had many different brands of marine speakers (jennsen, sony, etc), and all have had to be changed after 3-4 yrs of service. But, when you are close to salt water, even Hastelloy C will corrode.

 

[Rickster71]

From what I gather reading through everything, the Niles speakers seem to be the most corrosion resistant (big difference from weather resistant). Do the Niles rock-shaped speakers have as good of corrosion resistance as the box-shaped? I saw these on there:

http://www.nilesaudio.com/product_detail.php?recordID=Weatherproof Rock Loudspeakers&categoryID=Speakers&catcdID=1

The rock speakers would blend in better with his landscaping, but I'd go with which ever has the least corrosion problems. He is right on the water, and the salt spray is horrible.

The Niles also don't seem hard to drive, since they'll only be getting 25W from that speakercraft this is important.

I've had the Niles RS8SI Rock speakers for three years.
They're very durable, and sound great. They look very realisic too.
The only problem;
if you hook the up as a stereo pair, they are 4 Ohms.
They have to be hooked up as single speaker stereo to be 8 Ohms.
SPECIFICATIONS
Impedance: 4 Ohms In Two-speaker Stereo Mode; 8 Ohms In Single-speaker Stereo Input “Si” Mode
Recommended Amplifier Power: 10W To 200W
Frequency Response: 50Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB
Sensitivity: 88dB For 2.83V Pink Noise
Dimensions: 12-1/2" High X 19-1/2" Wide X 16-1/2" Deep

 

[cbraver]

Don't know. Never used the Rock speakers. This one looks cool. One thing I found living in Florida right on the water is, nothing is corrosion proof.

Yeah, I was looking at that. You think the Speakercraft amp will be able to handle that? I got my model number from my dad (BB1235), but I can't find a decent spec sheet on it. I just see 25W per channel. I'd want to run four of those mono (two lefts, two rights, on either side of the yard)

I think you will be happy with the niles, sound wise the resemble the grand voyager from boston accoustics if you need a comparison.( 9 years in the salt air, still going) (btw they are a miami company)

Yeah, I saw they are a miami company, which means they probably understand what real salt spray is. haha

I've had the Niles RS8SI Rock speakers for three years.
They're very durable, and sound great. They look very realisic too.
The only problem;
if you hook the up as a stereo pair, they are 4 Ohms.
They have to be hooked up as single speaker stereo to be 8 Ohms.
SPECIFICATIONS
Impedance: 4 Ohms In Two-speaker Stereo Mode; 8 Ohms In Single-speaker Stereo Input “Si” Mode
Recommended Amplifier Power: 10W To 200W
Frequency Response: 50Hz - 21kHz +/-3dB
Sensitivity: 88dB For 2.83V Pink Noise
Dimensions: 12-1/2" High X 19-1/2" Wide X 16-1/2" Deep

Yeah, I'd hook them up as a single speaker. I'm going to have two on the left side of the yard and two on the right.

 

[Rickster71]

Are you wiring them in series or parallel? It's important.
Here is a link that will help you.
http://www.bcae1.com/spkrmlti.htm

 

[cbraver]

Are you wiring them in series or parallel? It's important.
Here is a link that will help you.
http://www.bcae1.com/spkrmlti.htm

Oh, no, I have four speaker wires for the four speakers. All I mean is two run on the left side and two run on the right side. What I meant by "hooking them up as a single speaker" is that those have the option of running both L and R channels on one speaker, and I'm going to just use one speaker per channel.