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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: nickgregory on November 18, 2006, 12:10:58 PM

Title: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 18, 2006, 12:10:58 PM
My wife and I are closing on a new house at the end of december, and on the screened in porch, they have outdoor speakers wired.  Currently they have a set of KLH speakers out there.  Honestly I have no idea how they sound, but I am guessing I will likely want to upgrade when I get in.  I have been poking around and see that polk and jbl have some offerings, but am curious if anyone has some first hand experience.  I am not looking for a huge investment (sub $400), but something that I can be happy with listening to as with the screen porch and hot tub outside, I am guessing we will be out there quite a bit.  These will be mounted on the side of the house, so not on the ground, and in the screened in porch, so no direct snow/rain.

Appreciate any input!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: scervin on November 18, 2006, 01:32:33 PM
Personally I would get the cheapest things out there. 

To be honest I just have some Audiosource POS and they work great for listening to the race or game while doing yard work.  They work well when we have people over too.  Got them for $50 off ebay or amazon.com.

I would spend as little as possible, but get at least 6.5" mid/bass driver.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 18, 2006, 01:34:45 PM
Personally I would get the cheapest things out there. 

To be honest I just have some Audiosource POS and they work great for listening to the race or game while doing yard work.  They work well when we have people over too.  Got them for $50 off ebay or amazon.com.

I would spend as little as possible, but get at least 6.5" mid/bass driver.

good to know.  From what I have read the 6.5" driver is important to get any bass, but outside of that the opinions are similar to yours.  Guess I will give the KLHs a listen that are there and go from there.

Thanks Scott.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: grayp on November 22, 2006, 10:39:57 AM
we had the bose outdoor small speakers in va.   they sounded pretty good for outdoor listening.    not fantasitc but did the trick well.

it was funny when we sold the house the buyers put in the contract that the speakers had to go with the house.   gina was ready to say no to the deal over the speakers.   i told her they were like $100 for the pair and we could go buy a new pair whenever we wanted.    certainly not worth declining the contract :P
a friend picked up a pair of the same speakers at goodwill a few weeks ago for $10

hopefully she's not reading this but I think she stays out of the playback forum :)

Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 22, 2006, 11:06:10 AM
we had the bose outdoor small speakers in va.   they sounded pretty good for outdoor listening.    not fantasitc but did the trick well.

it was funny when we sold the house the buyers put in the contract that the speakers had to go with the house.   gina was ready to say no to the deal over the speakers.   i told her they were like $100 for the pair and we could go buy a new pair whenever we wanted.    certainly not worth declining the contract :P
a friend picked up a pair of the same speakers at goodwill a few weeks ago for $10

hopefully she's not reading this but I think she stays out of the playback forum :)



funny....we are actually selling our current house now, and we have a mobile island in the kitchen now, cost like $300...buyers put it in the contract that it had to stay and my wife flipped out...especially funny given we both knew it had no room in the new house based on style and new kitchen...it was the principle for her :-)

Thanks for the input...I do think I am going to give the KLHs that are there a listen before I make any rash judgements, but I went by a friends house the other night and he has a pair of these:

(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/broadbandutopia_1923_38871101)

and they sounded surprisingly good...not great, but for the application...solid, and they can be had for around $100...

will post back when I get in the house in a month or so as to where I end up in case anyone is interested...
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: Todd R on November 22, 2006, 11:12:43 AM
I have outdoor speakers out on my deck and they sound pretty good.  I think they might actually be KLH, though I really don't remember.  I'll check when I'm home and let you know.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 22, 2006, 11:21:35 AM
I have outdoor speakers out on my deck and they sound pretty good.  I think they might actually be KLH, though I really don't remember.  I'll check when I'm home and let you know.

thanks Todd...would be interested to know!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: bgalizio on November 22, 2006, 11:23:38 AM
I'll check with my parents tomorrow too. They have something on their deck which are very passable.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: pfife on November 22, 2006, 11:28:47 AM
we had the bose outdoor small speakers in va.   they sounded pretty good for outdoor listening.    not fantasitc but did the trick well.

it was funny when we sold the house the buyers put in the contract that the speakers had to go with the house.   gina was ready to say no to the deal over the speakers.   i told her they were like $100 for the pair and we could go buy a new pair whenever we wanted.    certainly not worth declining the contract :P
a friend picked up a pair of the same speakers at goodwill a few weeks ago for $10

hopefully she's not reading this but I think she stays out of the playback forum :)



funny....we are actually selling our current house now, and we have a mobile island in the kitchen now, cost like $300...buyers put it in the contract that it had to stay and my wife flipped out...especially funny given we both knew it had no room in the new house based on style and new kitchen...it was the principle for her :-)

Thanks for the input...I do think I am going to give the KLHs that are there a listen before I make any rash judgements, but I went by a friends house the other night and he has a pair of these:

(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/broadbandutopia_1923_38871101)

and they sounded surprisingly good...not great, but for the application...solid, and they can be had for around $100...

will post back when I get in the house in a month or so as to where I end up in case anyone is interested...

is that the northridge series?   I blew a woofer on one of those... fwiw...
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: pfife on November 22, 2006, 11:29:18 AM
nick, you gotta get the ones that look like rocks dude!  Those are awesome.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 22, 2006, 11:46:12 AM
nick, you gotta get the ones that look like rocks dude!  Those are awesome.


dont need them...they are going mounted on the wall of the house under the screened in porch.

And yes, those are the northridge series..good to know you blew the woofer....of course that could be all the death metal :P
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: newscane on November 22, 2006, 08:57:12 PM
funny....we are actually selling our current house now, and we have a mobile island in the kitchen now, cost like $300...buyers put it in the contract that it had to stay and my wife flipped out...especially funny given we both knew it had no room in the new house based on style and new kitchen...it was the principle for her :-)
When I was looking at condos, one listing said the ceiling fan was included with the place.  We specified it in the offer, and then they said it wasn't included.   >:(  Of course, that wound up falling apart for pricing reasons, but still... there was the principle of the matter...
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 22, 2006, 10:14:15 PM
Nick, check with marine supply stores, like West Marine (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SiteSearchView?catalogId=10001&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&keyword=speakers&Ntt=speakers&N=0&y=0&x=0&storeId=10001&Ntk=All_2&ddkey=SiteSearch), BoatUS. They have pretty nice outdoor marine speakers.

great idea, never even thought of that!  Thanks Moke!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: Todd R on November 23, 2006, 10:38:08 PM
Sorry Nick, looks like mine are Advent, not KLH.  I also have a pair of AR, which are pretty crappy.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 23, 2006, 10:50:02 PM
Thanks Todd.  I am going to give the ones there a whirl before I do anything drastic like replacing them...appreciate the input all!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: schoepsnbox on November 24, 2006, 12:34:44 AM
The northridge series are nice for surround sound setups, my first setup actually.  The jbl control 1x are really sweet for your application and they are rated for outdoor use.  I purchased a pair for work from paul at pro dig for less than $100.  They fill a 3,000 sq foot room nicely. 

JBL-Junk but LOUD ;)

Congats on the new place, hot tubs are sweet ;D
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on November 24, 2006, 07:41:26 AM
JBL-Junk but LOUD ;)

Congats on the new place, hot tubs are sweet ;D

not looking for clarity, just looking for area fillers ;D, thanks for the input!

and thanks for the congrats...wife and I love the house...the hot tub is just icing on the cake!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: bgalizio on November 24, 2006, 08:00:26 AM
Sorry Nick, looks like mine are Advent, not KLH.  I also have a pair of AR, which are pretty crappy.

My parents have Advents as well. Not the best quality in the world, but more than good enough for the deck.
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on January 18, 2007, 05:22:02 PM
alright, finally got everything hooked up.  the outside speakers are KLH and sound surprisingly passable.  Dont need perfection with birds and other outside noises around...definitley serves the purpose...thanks for all the replies!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: som on January 18, 2007, 05:48:59 PM
My son has a KLH amp and speakers in his room. Sometime I walk in and hear the music and just shake my head at how nice it sounds, for about 1/20 of what I have in the living room!
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: Todd R on January 18, 2007, 06:18:47 PM
alright, finally got everything hooked up.  the outside speakers are KLH and sound surprisingly passable.  Dont need perfection with birds and other outside noises around...definitley serves the purpose...thanks for all the replies!

lol.  That's really hilarious to me -- you just got the outdoor speakers hooked up on your deck.  Our deck has 3' of snow on it.  :lol:
Title: Re: outdoor speakers recs
Post by: nickgregory on January 18, 2007, 10:00:44 PM
alright, finally got everything hooked up.  the outside speakers are KLH and sound surprisingly passable.  Dont need perfection with birds and other outside noises around...definitley serves the purpose...thanks for all the replies!

lol.  That's really hilarious to me -- you just got the outdoor speakers hooked up on your deck.  Our deck has 3' of snow on it.  :lol:

it was 75 degrees here two days ago ;D