Set up

[Gandolf666]

I currently have a Onkyo HT-R320 5.1 system which i use about 8 times a year strictly for indoor parties in a bar room that I have. The sound quality and bass is more than enough for my needs. I want to use this same receiver for outdoor speaker system. I have been looking at outdoor speakers and I am lost with the info provided as far as specs go. Could someone explain what to look for in frequency response( basically what the numbers mean) and also if the ohms matter. By doing a little research I think my receiver is consider a 8 ohm does that mean I should get 8 ohm speakers. Also and recommendation on out speakers would be appeciated.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

Frequency response (FR) in this context generally refers to the range of sound frequencies your equipment is capable of reproducing.

Human hearing is generally regarded to have a threshold of 20 Hz (low frequencies - usually needs a subwoofer to be properly reproduced) to 20 kHz (ear piercingly high - if I am not mistaken anything above 2 to 3 kHz is reproduced by a tweeter).

From what I understand, you'd have to be pretty lucky to have full range hearing, and unfortunately the older you get the more likely the frequencies you are able to perceive diminishes.

Most, if not all amps / receivers nowadays can truthfully reproduce full range FR. The main area to pay attention to when purchasing equipment if you wish to be served full range audio is your speaker selection.

Not all subs go down to 20 Hz. Most speakers typically will approximately cover about 60 Hz to 20 kHz.

When you shop for speakers, hopefully you will see a rated frequency response looking generally like this:

65 Hz to 20 kHz +- 3dB

This means this particular speaker has been tuned to reproduce audible frequencies from 65 Hz to 20 kHz with no more than a 3 dB variance in output from one end of that spectrum to the other... That particular speaker may have the ability to reproduce slightly lower frequencies, but it will roll off quite sharply after the stated FR low end... say -6 dB or possibly worse.

You want to make sure that your speakers' FR does not leave any gaps in between the audible spectrum... for example where your sub rolls off and your mains pick up... say if your sub is crossed over at 80 Hz but your mains can only reproduce 90 or 100 Hz and above that's not optimal.

All this being said, most music only has an audible range of approximately 40 Hz to 20 kHz... and you more than likely won't have a subwoofer outside so my recommendations are to get a set of speakers that can authoritatively reproduce low end as close to 40 Hz as possible. (That probably will cost you more $$$, of course.)

 

[Exit]

I agree with ThA tRiXta. Even if you get outdoor speakers rated to 40K it is likely you won't hear much bass outdoors. In a room bass frequencies bounce off walls, ceiling and floors and the bass waves reinforces each other. When you go outside, you are radiating into free space without room reinforcement. You can expect significantly less bass outdoors versus in a room with the same speaker.

I would want as a minimum bass to 80Hz to cover the lower vocal range.

I have not seen a subwoofer rated for outdoor use, but even then bass output would be less outdoors than indoors.

 

[captiankirk28]

I agree with ThA tRiXta. Even if you get outdoor speakers rated to 40K it is likely you won't hear much bass outdoors. In a room bass frequencies bounce off walls, ceiling and floors and the bass waves reinforces each other. When you go outside, you are radiating into free space without room reinforcement. You can expect significantly less bass outdoors versus in a room with the same speaker.

I would want as a minimum bass to 80Hz to cover the lower vocal range.

I have not seen a subwoofer rated for outdoor use, but even then bass output would be less outdoors than indoors.

Hi, i have bee looking at getting some outdoor speakers also and i found that Polk does have a outdoor sub and i think i was going to go with that set up but than i was looking at the Axioms so i am still undecided.