Outdoor speakers?

[gokou777]

Hello all,

It's me again. I have never purchased any outdoor speakers. Now I need a pair. I was online searching for different brand and price. They are from $50 dollar a pair to $500 or more a pair? It really varies. What sorts of quality am I looking at? What makes them the price they are?

I will be using the speakers near the patio area. Area size about 20' long and 18' long.

Any advices on what to choose? Under $500 .

thanks in advance

gokou

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I use $50 Duals and they have been going strong for 4 years and sound fine for outside.

You can see the left one if you look real closely.

I control this zone 2 through Niles IR gear.

You can see the IR eye in the ceiling

This is my theater seating.

If I was going to spend a lot, I would try these.
http://www.definitivetech.com/products/Outdoor/default.aspx

 

[BMXTRIX]

You have a ton of options, as you have seen, with outdoor speakers.

What you want to consider.

1. Aesthetics - do you want a speaker mounted on the side of your home?
2. Noise polution - a speaker on the side of the house points the audio at your neighbors, would it be better to put a speaker on the perimeter pointed towards the house.
3. Speaker type - do you want a speaker like the wall mount, or an in-ground speaker to put next to bushes, or a rock speaker?
4. Outside speakers & noise - There is a significant lack of bass with outdoor speakers, and bass response is terrible outdoors. Larger (8") speakers or a dedicated subwoofer speaker is really a must for decent audio within any space at all - the larger the space, the more speakers you will need for good quality. Decent quality can be had using less.

Personally I like the concept of using several omindirectional speakers which are buried in the ground to give even converage over a wider area using 8" two-way drivers. You get good audio, don't have to turn it up as much so you don't disturb the neighbors as easily, and they look good.

Rock speakers are also really nice for similar reasons, but they are always out there, visible.

On-house speakers are the 'cheap' ones typically. There are more expensive models like the Def-Techs linked above, but they tend to be more directional and point a lot of audio into the surround home's backyards. Lot's of personal opinons on this though. I have a customer with over 40 outdoor speakers - he wishes he had actually gotten more.

 

[gokou777]

You have a ton of options, as you have seen, with outdoor speakers.

What you want to consider.

1. Aesthetics - do you want a speaker mounted on the side of your home?
2. Noise polution - a speaker on the side of the house points the audio at your neighbors, would it be better to put a speaker on the perimeter pointed towards the house.
3. Speaker type - do you want a speaker like the wall mount, or an in-ground speaker to put next to bushes, or a rock speaker?
4. Outside speakers & noise - There is a significant lack of bass with outdoor speakers, and bass response is terrible outdoors. Larger (8") speakers or a dedicated subwoofer speaker is really a must for decent audio within any space at all - the larger the space, the more speakers you will need for good quality. Decent quality can be had using less.

Personally I like the concept of using several omindirectional speakers which are buried in the ground to give even converage over a wider area using 8" two-way drivers. You get good audio, don't have to turn it up as much so you don't disturb the neighbors as easily, and they look good.

Rock speakers are also really nice for similar reasons, but they are always out there, visible.

On-house speakers are the 'cheap' ones typically. There are more expensive models like the Def-Techs linked above, but they tend to be more directional and point a lot of audio into the surround home's backyards. Lot's of personal opinons on this though. I have a customer with over 40 outdoor speakers - he wishes he had actually gotten more.

Wow......

Regarding number 3.

Speaker type, I like wall mount. Let's start with that. I have no idea there are in-ground speakers... >.<

Before the summer is over, I want to purchase 2 speakers and put on there. So me and my guest can still enjoy the sound... lol...

thanks so much.

 

[gokou777]

I use $50 Duals and they have been going strong for 4 years and sound fine for outside.

You can see the left one if you look real closely.

I control this zone 2 through Niles IR gear.

You can see the IR eye in the ceiling

This is my theater seating.

If I was going to spend a lot, I would try these.
http://www.definitivetech.com/products/Outdoor/default.aspx

WOW

I AM SO ENVY NOW. Nice setup out there. I will go to amazon and check out the speakers. I probably will pick Yamaha speakers.

I probably will get the one that's between $50 and $100.

thanks

 

[BMXTRIX]

I wouldn't go with the cheapest Yamahas, but a mid-level speaker is a good choice.

As for in-ground speakers - they are more like 'partially' in-ground speakers. They look ugly on the whole, but you bury about 80% of the speaker, then just the top is sticking out and should be in shrubbery...