What to Look for In Outdoor Speakers and Outdoor Music Systems

If your favorite outdoor sound is the roar of a lawnmower, then stop reading. We prefer music, and we believe every backyard needs an outdoor music system. If for you, an outdoor music system means more than a portable radio, then keep reading.

Great outdoor spaces are made even greater with outdoor speakers. Summertime is when we invite friends over for cookouts; it’s the time we enjoy our patios with chilled wine and a breeze or watch our kids splash in the pool. Music played over outdoor speakers makes all those things even more enjoyable.

If you take your indoor music seriously, then you should take your outdoor music just as seriously. Luckly, there are several ways to get high-quality audio onto your patio and into your backyard. You can read all about outdoor audio in an article in the new issue of Electronic House. Some of the best manufacturers of indoor speakers, also make excellent outdoor speakers, so enjoying the sun or the breeze won’t mean sacrificing the sound of your favorite music.

When selecting outdoor speakers, you don’t necessarily want to follow the same guidelines that led to your selection of home theater speakers. Issues like dispersion, coverage, reflections, sweet spots and bass management are all different when you take away the four walls and ceiling. Author David Devanna of the Electronics Design Group explains how to select the best speakers for your yard in this article. In it you’ll find helpful tips on how to pick the number and size of speakers you’ll need to cover your outdoor space. In fact, Devanna explains what a lot of people are doing wrong with their outdoor speaker placement.

If you’re worried about your speakers looking out of place in your backyard, don’t worry. Many reputable outdoor speaker makers offer models disguised as rocks, benches or landscape lighting. For patios and gazebos, there are outdoor installed speakers that can go in a patio ceiling or other locations.

Another important consideration with outdoor audio systems is what to do about the speaker wires. Here’s where a professional installer’s knowhow comes in handy. This article explains what kind of outdoor speaker wires to use and what precautions you need to make when installing them in the ground.

For more helpful info about outdoor speakers and connecting your outdoor sound system, read the full article here.