Outdoor Speakers

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

In article <e88990lmdq52bbrpc7utpcti3pbfibg1ou@4ax.com>,
MarkW <markwco(removenospam)@comcast.net> says...
> I've decided
> to use the 2nd set to run speakers outside. my main concern is what
> type of speakers to get.
> Is there a certain type to look for? Originally I was looking for
> something that may be used in amusement parks, something that would
> stick into the ground and be sheltered but once I started doing some
> research I found most look very much like regular speakers except more
> weatherproof and simply hang underneath a eave
> Well first, how weatherproof are these?

None of them are "weather proof". They should all be
considered weather-resistant.

> They seem to be made to
> install permanently so I take it you don't have to move them in and
> out seasonlly and they can stay out permanently.

Correct.

> Also, are there any specific brands I should look at?

Not really. Whatever combination of
esthetics/function/price suits your desires.

> I want sound that quality
> wise is within the same range as the current indoor speakers I have.

Not realistic. You Will give up some fidelity, both as a
function of the speakers themselves, and as a function of
the environment.

> Any ideas of what I should be looking into? Like I said I want
> something I can leave outside permanently.
>
In addition to the "box" style you've mentioned, there are
speakers designed for landscape installation. Some look
like rocks, others are green and mushroom shaped. These
have less fidelity than the box style, but may be more
appropriate for your application.

--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

In <e88990lmdq52bbrpc7utpcti3pbfibg1ou@4ax.com>, on 05/02/04
at 07:15 AM, MarkW <markwco(removenospam)@comcast.net> said:

>I know a little about home audio but I'm completely new to outdoor
>speakers. The situation I have is I have a nice stereo setup with a
>Yamaha receiver which has two sets of speaker outputs and I've decided
>to use the 2nd set to run speakers outside.

[ ... ]

>Well first, how weatherproof are these? They seem to be made to
>install permanently so I take it you don't have to move them in and
>out seasonlly and they can stay out permanently. Where I live in
>Colorado it doesn't rain but so often but we can get extreme heat at
>times as well as extreme cold at times and snow.

Ask any boat owner -- NOTHING is weatherproof. If you keep them out in
the weather, anything beyond two or three years service is extra years.
You'll do much better if you can protect them from direct weather and
bring them inside in the winter. Sun is probably more destructive than
cold and rain.

>In the back of the
>house there is a hot tub and I plan to mount these just outside the
>back door underneath a eave. That shoudl protect them from a lot of
>direct weather but if the winds blow right they could be subjected to
>high winds as well as rain and snow to some degree.
>Also, are there any specific brands I should look at?

Most brands make a "weatherproof" model. I've had decent luck with
everything I tried except BOSE. Their literature was wonderful, but the
useful life for the BOSE weatherproof speakers was dramatically shorter
than the others. I've had very good luck with B&W weather resistant
speakers. Another approach is to use POLYPLANER speakers. They are
easily found in most marine stores. They are compact, very inexpensive,
and will give you a few good years. The plus side is that they are so
inexpensive that you can use more of them and you don't feel bad about
replacing them in two or three years. The minus side is they don't
sound as good at the others.

I don't use them, but I've come across various brands of outdoor
speakers that pretend to be a rock. I can't know how old they were, but
all were working and I left them in place. (If it ain't broke, don't
fix it) Overall, they were in the POLYPLANER league of sound quality.

>As well, what is a good price range to look at? Inside on one stereo
>system I have Polk speakers, the other Klipsh. The polks were around
>$150 each, the Klipsh's around $299 each.

Unless you go the POLYPLANER route, you'll be paying at least as much
for your outdoor speakers.

>Most of the listening where
>the hot tub and picnic table is will be around 10-20 feet away at the
>most. I want to easily be able to hear it and have good quality sound
>but yet don't need it super loud. As well, I want sound that quality
>wise is within the same range as the current indoor speakers I have.
>Any ideas of what I should be looking into? Like I said I want
>something I can leave outside permanently.

Keep in mind that your outside "room" is significantly larger than
those inside. The sound will tend to be swallowed by the infinite
"room". As a quick trial, take a pair of your regular speakers outside
and see what happens. If you want to assert yourself on that outside
space, it will be a big job. Also keep in mind that hot tubs generally
make noise. Since this noise is much closer to the listener than your
planned speaker locations, the noise will tend to drown out the
speakers.

I like to place multiple speakers outside that tend to surround the
listening area. Place the speakers as close to the noise source as you
can. I also am mindful of the neighbors and try not to point too much
sound in their direction.

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Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Have you seen these?

http://www.terraspeakers.com

http://www.homedetective.com
"MarkW" <markwco(removenospam)@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:e88990lmdq52bbrpc7utpcti3pbfibg1ou@4ax.com...
> I know a little about home audio but I'm completely new to outdoor
> speakers. The situation I have is I have a nice stereo setup with a
> Yamaha receiver which has two sets of speaker outputs and I've decided
> to use the 2nd set to run speakers outside. Of course I have issues
> like wondering how to run the speaker wire outside through a brick
> house but my main concern is what type of speakers to get. I know
> nothing about outdoor speakers.
> Is there a certain type to look for? Originally I was looking for
> something that may be used in amusement parks, something that would
> stick into the ground and be sheltered but once I started doing some
> research I found most look very much like regular speakers except more
> weatherproof and simply hang underneath a eave
> Well first, how weatherproof are these? They seem to be made to
> install permanently so I take it you don't have to move them in and
> out seasonlly and they can stay out permanently. Where I live in
> Colorado it doesn't rain but so often but we can get extreme heat at
> times as well as extreme cold at times and snow. In the back of the
> house there is a hot tub and I plan to mount these just outside the
> back door underneath a eave. That shoudl protect them from a lot of
> direct weather but if the winds blow right they could be subjected to
> high winds as well as rain and snow to some degree.
> Also, are there any specific brands I should look at?
> As well, what is a good price range to look at? Inside on one stereo
> system I have Polk speakers, the other Klipsh. The polks were around
> $150 each, the Klipsh's around $299 each. Most of the listening where
> the hot tub and picnic table is will be around 10-20 feet away at the
> most. I want to easily be able to hear it and have good quality sound
> but yet don't need it super loud. As well, I want sound that quality
> wise is within the same range as the current indoor speakers I have.
> Any ideas of what I should be looking into? Like I said I want
> something I can leave outside permanently.