Topic: outdoor speakers

[Gordon]

yesterday while grilling out and hanging on the deck I thought about this since the squeezebox was inside cranking tunes and I couldn't hear it

I found this old thread

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=75554.15

but thought I'd see if there were any updated responses. looking for $100 or less hopefully.  I don't need anything great just to be able to hear music on the deck and back yard.  they would be mounted on the house close to where the roof go's out.  so under the roof but still exposed to the elements horizontally.  I can run speaker wire but it'll be tacked to the house and then into the crawl space.

[kcmule]

I've got a pair of these.  They work well for me.  Same deal as you,
mostly covered under a roof.

http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/aphidepaspp.html


Edit:  Maybe it's these I have, don't recall exactly.
http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/aphidepaspp1.html

IIRC, I only have about $125 in the pair.

I did have to send one of them back due to the post breaking off
when trying to insert a banana plug.  Super tight fit, enough to
snap the post off!  So I ditched the plugs and went with just wire.

Bang for the buck, not too shabby.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

I've got a pair of these. 

Probably more of a general outdoor speaker question but did you put something over the back to protect the connectors from the weather or is it not a problem?

[bgalizio]

You could also get a Squeezebox Radio or Boom and set it to play in sync with your main Squeezebox. Not sure if this would satisfy your needs or not.

[Gordon]

You could also get a Squeezebox Radio or Boom and set it to play in sync with your main Squeezebox. Not sure if this would satisfy your needs or not.

cost is a issue and it's not always gonna be the squeezebox as playback.  the speakers will hook to my main receiver.

[kcmule]

I've got a pair of these. 

Probably more of a general outdoor speaker question but did you put something over the back to protect the connectors from the weather or is it not a problem?

Doesn't seem to be a problem for me.  I check them from time to time.
Not saying it isn't a good idea, but so far not an issue.

[Gordon]

do you leave them up year round?  our winters are nothing like yours I'm sure but we do get in the single digits from time to time.

[kcmule]

do you leave them up year round?  our winters are nothing like yours I'm sure but we do get in the single digits from time to time.

Yes I leave them up year round.

[Todd R]

I can't really help on which speakers to get.  I got mine (listed as indoor/outdoor) about 9 years ago, can't really remember the brand.

As to placement, for about a year I've had mine in our new house under the eaves of the roof, placed pretty close to the overhang.  Before that, I had them at our last house for nearly 8 years with one right under the overhang of the eaves and the other on the side of the house.  Technically under the eaves, but with the placement and pitch of the roof, it was probably 15' or more from the roof eave, so pretty exposed.

I didn't do anything to protect the speakers or the connections, and left them up year round.  At 7600' elevation, we had snow from October into May, so they got plenty of nasty exposure to the elements and they did just fine (and are still doing fine).

Bottom line, if you've got them under the eaves of the roof, I doubt you'll have a problem.

[Chris K]

I have a stealth pair of outdoor speakers hidden in the garden under hostas that look like rocks.   

http://alloutdoorspeaker.com/rock_speakers.html

[coloartist]

I bought a pair of Klipsch last month and I think they sound great. They aren't cheap but they sound really good.

Klipsch  - 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speakers - White  . They say $308.98 but I got 20% off. Definitely not under $100, though.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Klipsch+-+2-Way+Indoor/Outdoor+Speakers+-+White/6331873.p?id=1082742914946&skuId=6331873

[Gordon]

thanks everyone.  think I'm going with the first one KC Mule posted.  great reviews and the pair for $89.  pretty good specs as well for what I need.

[grider]

you might consider my approach, I bought a wireless Acoustic Research speaker system, it has a wireless transmitter that runs left and right RCA out of your receiver, and runs off both ac and batteries, its a nice little two way speaker and it receives a signal up to 150 feet from the transmitter, $75 on ebay, manufacturer is Acoustic Research

[bhadella]

To the top!   Building a deck and want outdoor speakers recs.   I will be feeding my receiver via the rca outs from my Squeezebox on the 2nd floor and will punch the cabling out the side of an attic space to my exterior where the speakers will be hung.  Trying to keep my price under $150 or so. 

I've seen good reviews of these on Audiogon....

$200 for 8"
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-OMAGE-INDOOR-OUTDOOR-SPEAKERS-2-WAY-W-8-WOOFER-/220766300904?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item3366b26ae8

$130 for 6"
http://cgi.ebay.com/2-OMAGE-INDOOR-OUTDOOR-SPEAKERS-2-WAY-W-6-WOOFER-/220762680052?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item33667b2af4

[kcmule]

thanks everyone.  think I'm going with the first one KC Mule posted.  great reviews and the pair for $89.  pretty good specs as well for what I need.

Did you end up getting these?  Just curious.

[doodee]

Little above your price range but I've had some Infinity Outriggers mounted under my eave year round for the last 14 years. They still sound great. Highly recommended.

[Gutbucket]

Install a couple hanging eye points in the rafter overhangs outside the attic, then call these guys and make them a pot of coffee-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z-ex4VfmSY&feature=related

[Gordon]

thanks everyone.  think I'm going with the first one KC Mule posted.  great reviews and the pair for $89.  pretty good specs as well for what I need.

Did you end up getting these?  Just curious.

yep!  like them a lot!  the only issue (not really an issue) is that the output is a bit lower on the outdoor set than indoor (they are much less wattage than my indoor speakers).  not a huge deal but if you're coming in and out say when grilling I like the volume to be about the same inside and out.  my solution is to lower the level on the indoor set about 5dbs when I'm using both.  that gets both sets about the same volume.

for $90 shipped for the pair you can't beat them.

[BJ]

anyone have any idea if there is an ideal range(ie. max) speaker cable length?  I am thinking about picking up a pair of these (maybe two).  b/c of my house, i would need a LONG run of wire 

[Gutbucket]

anyone have any idea if there is an ideal range(ie. max) speaker cable length?  I am thinking about picking up a pair of these (maybe two).  b/c of my house, i would need a LONG run of wire 

For typical speaker wiring it's simply a matter of resistance- resistance increases as the run gets longer from amp to speaker so heavier guage cable is required to compensate.  If the run is really long the size and cost of the cable gets prohibitive.

If your run is really long, you may consider looking into a distributed audio type system.  Distributed audio systems (sound sytems in retail stores, airports, malls, schools, bigger resturants, theme parks, etc) typically have very long runs and lots of speakers.  Those systems use transformers at the amp and at each speaker to increase the voltage and decrease the current allowing less costly, lighter guage wire to be used.  Those systems often run at something like 70V.  Some outdoor speakers are specifically designed for that use and have built in transformers often with various taps so mulitple speakers can be wired together.  That kind of equipment is marketed more towards installers than then general public, but isn't necessarily more expensive.  Do a search about it to find out more.

[doodee]

Saw these Polk Audios at the local Sam's Club today. looks like a seasonal item. $149 a pair.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod2830414&searchTerm=polk%20audio

[bhadella]

To the top!   

I ended up getting a pair of Klipsch AW-400 for $150.   http://www.klipsch.com/aw-400-outdoor-speaker

Time for some speaker cable recs.......I've heard good things about using 14 or 16 gauge low voltage outdoor lighting wire from Home Depot.  Any recommendations?

[Gutbucket]

When a buddy cobbled together a DIY projector to project surf films on his garage, I wired up his yard with some 50' bargin bin outdoor power extention cables- tan instead of orange. Cut the molded plugs off and shorted the ground wire to one of the other two condutors at each end to so as not to waste copper and lower the resistance a bit more.  It was cheaper than the equivalent guage bulk wire, nicely jacketed and worked a charm.

[kcmule]

I've heard good things about using 14 or 16 gauge low voltage outdoor lighting wire from Home Depot.  Any recommendations?

That is what I used.  Seems to work fine for me.