Outdoor speakers can be a tad obnoxious. Let me rephrase: The way in which we use outdoor speakers is what makes them obnoxious. And here’s the real kicker: it’s because we don’t use enough of them. Many people are of the mindset that one speaker will do a good job of entertaining guests outside, as long as they turn the volume loud enough. If everyone is sitting in the same spot, that might be true, but if your gatherings typically have people scattered in all directions—in the swimming pool, by the BBQ and out by the gazebo—it’s best to invest in several outdoor speakers so that the entire yard is evenly blanketed with audio, without having to crank up the volume to an ear-splitting level.

Sonance recently announced the availability of a complete outdoor speaker package that includes eight satellite speakers and a subwoofer that can be planted underground. The Sonarray SR1 System ($2,499) presents itself as an 8-ohm load that can be driven by a standard A/V receiver or power amplifier. Together, the speakers can adequately cover up to 2,000 square feet of outdoor space. The system is installed in a daisy-chain fashion.

As a bonus, the speakers are designed to be heard but not seen, as they can be hidden among the foliage. And don’t worry about the Sonarray bothering your neighbors. They can be mounted to face inwards toward your yard, so sound won’t spill over into adjacent lots.

Why not match that outdoor sound system with an outdoor TV.

Lisa Montgomery - Contributing Writer

Lisa Montgomery has been writing about home technology for 15 years, with a focus on the impact of electronics on a modern lifestyle.