Soon, the summer will be in full swing and you’ll be forced to look at your boring, old lawn. Why spend time staring at all of those brown patches when a big screen is readily available for outdoor use?
Outdoor home theater systems have become really popular over the years. Besides being able to extend the use of indoor equipment, an outdoor theater is actually a great excuse to buy new stuff. It can even entertain the masses—or at least the masses on your block.
We’ve seen outdoor home theater systems in all shapes, sizes and budgets. Some people use lawn chairs and a portable projector, some spread out blankets and a bed sheet, and some make it so you can soak in the pool while being entertained by a Cineplex-sized theater screen.
Of course, you don’t have to have a big, expensive outdoor system. However, those certainly do make the great outdoors even greater. Looking for a little inspiration? Don’t depend on Mother Nature; check out these three awesome outdoor home theater systems.
Outdoor Amphitheater
This is the kind of outdoor theater that could host a Taylor Swift concert. Not content with the typical outdoor theater, this Southern California homeowner opted for 20 Niles outdoor speakers, automated landscape lighting, and a performance stage with 10 inputs that connect to a mixing board inside. It even has 18 feet of custom-built, motorized Vutec projection screen. AM House took this home’s multiroom audio system and five surveillance cameras and expanded it—a lot. Now, it has six zones, split into different levels as the property descends down the hillside. Other features include a 3,600-lumen Optoma 1080p projector, ELAN control, Jandy spa controls, and even a 15-foot-tall LED-lit sculpture that resembles a question mark. [Photo: Eric Gross.]
The Drive-In
This awesome outdoor viewing space is actually the side of a guest house. The main property is 5,800 square feet of beauty, which sits along a steep ridgeline in the Hollywood Hills. Of course, you don’t have to worry about falling off the couch that accompanies this viewing space. Getting off the couch is another story, though. There’s even a great outdoor party space right below the pictured screen. And before you scoff at the decadence, know that Belzberg Architects designed this space using locally-sourced materials and even incorporated various “green” features to soak up the benefits of this sunny location.
Gangsta’s Paradise
Say hello to my not-so-little friend. Despite looking like something out of the film Scarface, the inspiration for this $250,000 install came from the desire to watch football while wading in the deep end. The highlight of this space is a 240-inch Stewart Filmscreen, which Crowne Audio put on a motorized track, so it can be protected from the Florida breezes when not in use. Other features include eight Niles outdoor rock speakers and six Krell amps, which are tucked away inside.
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