Outdoor speaker suggestions

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Outdoor speaker suggestions

t0ny

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#241052 8-Oct-2018 17:32

I have an outdoor area which has a canopy so not totally exposed to the elements. What would people recommend? Fews things I know:

1. Don't want a separate amp as don't want to leave it outside
2. Don't want to drill holes in the wall to feed wires outside
3. I have power outside so can get this hardwired if need be
4. Bluetooth or streaming capabilities is a must.
5. Needs to be of decent sound quality
6. Needs to support wifi if internet enabled

Have looked at the Sonos but not sure what model would be ideal or if there are better systems out there.

davidcole

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#2103478 8-Oct-2018 18:10

So you want a seperate system rather that incorporated into an existing?

By that I mean, I have an existing amp, and using a line out feed with a cheap $20 amp and some cheap outdoor speakers from jaycar.

Works good enough for me, and the only drilling was the speaker mounting. The internet and Bluetooth etc was all driven off my 2005 amp via chrome cast and airplay raspberry pi.

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NightStalker

317 posts

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#2103531 8-Oct-2018 19:49

The ultimate ears speakers are another option. basically they are a usb rechargeable portable speaker you connect to via Bluetooth.
They are pretty robust and they advertise them as "water*, dust & drop proof".

My partner has had a boom model for a few years and hasn't had any issues with it. Its been used for teaching yoga in large rooms and it seems to be loud enough. The megaboom would be louder with more bass though.

t0ny

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#2103668 9-Oct-2018 09:02

I wasnt thinking of a portable solution. The speakers would be bracketed to the eaves. Looks like a Sonos Play 5 may be the closes to my requirements and only thing i need to do is run a power cable to it.

JimmyH

2886 posts

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#2103677 9-Oct-2018 09:24

If it's only for occasional use, then portable shouldn't be discounted so quickly.

A couple of years ago I standardised my in-house music distribution on the Qualcomm/Panasonic Allplay units. Two SC-ALL1 units connect to my existing stereos (bedroom, family room), an All8 unit in the dining room, and All3s in the study and garage.

From my perspective they work pretty well. They connect to My WiFi which has better range than bluetooth. All the music sits on my NAS and I can control them all of my phone - grouping speakers, selecting albums, playing Spotify etc. Sound quality is excellent.

As part of this I picked up an All5 from JB HiFi on sale for circa $200 recently. It works on the same system and plugs straight into a power socket which you say you have in place (it also has an internal battery that is good for about 8 hours in my experience). It also has good sound, and is waterproof.

As well as connecting over WiFi to my NAS, I can also play music direct off my phone using bluetooth if I so desire (other than testing, I never have).

Link to the manual is here: SC-ALL05

As far as I can see it does what you want, requires no wiring or other installation, and can easily be moved if you wanted the outdoor sound somewhere else.

jarledb

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#2103920 9-Oct-2018 14:06

t0ny:

I wasnt thinking of a portable solution. The speakers would be bracketed to the eaves. Looks like a Sonos Play 5 may be the closes to my requirements and only thing i need to do is run a power cable to it.

I am sure its a nice speaker, but I have not found anything about its IP Enclosure Rating. There is no information about it on the Sonos website.

So I would not put it anywhere it could be exposed to moisture etc (that is, outdoors).

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12CTCT12

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#2113569 25-Oct-2018 07:29

I asked Sonos about outdoor installation and they told me that none of their speakers are designed for that. The Play Ones have some moisture resistance so you can use them in a bathroom, but they suggested not installing them permanently outside.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

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#2113589 25-Oct-2018 08:37

If you can settle for just bluetooth (no wifi) then have a look at Wet Sounds soundbars.

https://www.wetsounds.com/shop/powersports/stealth-series

They are made for boats so cope well with being outside. People that have them on their boats enjoy the sound quality.

Mike

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Dunnersfella

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#2114108 25-Oct-2018 21:32

If you don't want to run cables, just hang a hook or similar from the ceiling and buy yourself a UE Boom, then bluetooth to it.

It's a bit average, but if you don't own the home / have access or inclination to install things permanently, it'll be 'fine'.

hairy1

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#2114117 25-Oct-2018 21:49

I had visions of outdoor speakers when we built years ago. I even saved a Bluetooth head unit for mounting under the soffit.

In the end the portable units got so good that we just use one of those.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Goosey

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#2114173 26-Oct-2018 07:01

t0ny:

I wasnt thinking of a portable solution. The speakers would be bracketed to the eaves. Looks like a Sonos Play 5 may be the closes to my requirements and only thing i need to do is run a power cable to it.

The ol 'do I need a seperate system' for outside or join it to the inside question...

It all depends how you feel about it. DO you have large outdoor area and would you need music inside and outside at the same time often? Do you want to keep going inside to change the music?

Some people use seperate systems for outside, but get untangled if they are having a party and want full coverage.

Some people combine the two so theres two different volume controls for inside and outside but the downside is the bluetooth starts to drop out if said transmitting device is outside (because the reciever is inside).

If bracketing to the eaves, then may as well run the cable through this as well??

I havent seen many home / consumer outdoor speakers that have direct power to them.....

t0ny

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#2114180 26-Oct-2018 07:25

I ended up with a pair of Bluetooth bookshelf speakers. Time will tell how reliable it will be outdoors but it is sheltered so should be fine in theory

Goosey

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#2114277 26-Oct-2018 10:13

t0ny: I ended up with a pair of Bluetooth bookshelf speakers. Time will tell how reliable it will be outdoors but it is sheltered so should be fine in theory

What’s their IP rating?
If they are purely indoor then after a few humid and chilly nites you will find they will rust out not to mention moisture / condensation on the circuit boards will cause a short.