Flowers are blooming, birds are singing and people all over are pulling out grills and dusting off patio furniture. Spring is in the air, and warmer weather brings cook-outs, pool parties and outdoor fun.
Connecting your home theater system to outdoor speakers will allow you to bring the inside outdoors and listen to your music without the confining acoustic limitations of your four walls. Learn how wiring a home stereo to outdoor speakers can enhance outdoor living – no matter how your backyard is designed.
What makes outdoor speakers special?
Remember dragging a boom box outside to listen to music, then back in when you were finished? These days, outdoor speakers can stay outdoors. Quality outdoor speakers are built to protect internal components against rain, snow, dust, dirt and bugs. They will work under all types of weather conditions (as well as extreme temperatures) and are designed to perform optimally against the “soundtrack” of the great outdoors.
Outdoor speakers are water-resistant and able to withstand intermittent water exposure. Outdoor speakers are also made to enhance sound such as high power handling and low frequency response.
Outdoor Speaker Coverage and Placement
Outdoor speaker wattage ranges from 60 to 300 watts. The higher the wattage, the better sound coverage you’ll have at a lower volume. The type of outdoor speakers depends on the size and design of your outdoor space. In areas less than 300 square feet, a pair of 60-watt patio speakers will do the trick. For yards 300 to 500 square feet, opt for 80 to 100 watt speakers. The larger your yard, the higher watt outdoor speaker you’ll need.
Other considerations are walls, trees and architectural features in and around your outdoor space that could limit speaker performance. You’ll also need to think about where to place your speakers – many outdoor speakers include mounting brackets, but should be mounted to solid wood or masonry surface for stability.
Wired for sound – or wireless?
Because most outdoor speakers require a power source to work, your outdoor speakers should be connected directly to your home stereo or to an amplification system. Multiple speakers are easily connected using CL3 rated speaker wire, a hearty type of wire designed to withstand extreme outdoor conditions. A second option is wireless outdoor speakers, which transmit sound via a 2.4GHz frequency. Wireless outdoor speakers are powered by solar panels, and have a range of approximately 150 yards. These require less set-up and as an added benefit, are less permanent than laying cable for traditional outdoor speakers. This means you can move them more easily if you reconfigure your outdoor area.
As with any home theater installation, outdoor audio setup can be tricky. Contact us for an evaluation and get your outdoor ready for spring entertaining.