Topic: outdoor speakers

[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.