How to Choose the Best Outdoor Speakers for Your Backyard

Since they are exposed to all types of weather, outdoor speakers are designed to withstand the elements. Because they have built-in defenses against rain, snow, and a wide range of temperatures, they are more durable than speakers meant for indoor-only use. Thanks to built-in weatherproofing, you won’t have to haul your audio equipment in during a rainstorm. However, you might want to take steps to extend the life of your backyard speakers, such as placing protective covers over them if you live in regions with harsh weather.

Outdoor speakers are also designed to effectively balance sound in open spaces and produce the entire depth of sound. Indoor speakers utilize the acoustics of a room where sound can bounce around, but outside, sounds are easily lost, especially lower sounds. Therefore, outdoor speakers will generally have a stronger base in order to compensate.

In the same vein, outdoor speakers provide wider coverage because a single speaker often covers a wide space on its own. Because of this, not as many outdoor speakers come in left and right pairs the way indoor ones are commonly sold together.

Additionally, you can also find outdoor speakers that use creative designs to help them blend in with the scenery. For example, if you don’t want the speakers to affect the visual ambiance, there are outdoor speakers that resemble landscaping rocks. 

Most speakers connect to a stereo receiver or amp. You can buy kits that come with the speakers and the receiver, or you can connect your speakers to a receiver you are already using. In the past, the only option would have been to wire everything together by connecting your speaker to a volume control box on an outdoor wall, then wiring that through the wall to the receiver indoors.

The invention of Bluetooth technology has made it possible to avoid complicated wiring if you choose. If both your receiver and speaker have Wi-Fi capabilities, your set up process should be relatively simple. However, to go truly wireless, you will need to get speakers with rechargeable battery packs, which can be labor intensive to keep charged if you have multiple speakers.

For minimal maintenance of multiple speakers outside, a wired outdoor speaker system might be preferable to you. While it is more work up front, it’s more convenient once it’s installed. Also, be sure to only use wiring intended for the outdoors when hooking up your outdoor speakers so that they are just as weather resistant.

The answer to this question depends on the size of your backyard and how far you want the sound to reach. If you want party music to play in all corners of a large outdoor living area, then you will absolutely need multiple speakers placed strategically around your patio and yard. If you are primarily using speakers to make sure your guests can hear the sportscaster commentary while watching the big game on your outdoor TV, you might want to invest in high-end outdoor speakers that emit the most precise audio.

No matter what the volume, it is better for the life of the speakers to achieve an even sound across the entire space you are using rather than having one or two speakers attempt to do the job by turning the volume way up. On that note, remember to be considerate of neighbors by keeping the volume at a reasonable level and winding down the party before it becomes too late at night.

When it comes to speaker placement, the general guidelines are:

• Choose speaker sets that are designed to work together. Mixing and matching different types and brands of speakers can cause an unevenness in the sound.
• Place speakers about eight to ten feet apart, unless the product specifications have a different suggestion (some outdoor speakers do operate on left and right channel systems and so will need to be coordinated in pairs).
• Aim to mount each speaker between eight and ten feet off the ground, facing slightly downward, which is optimal for sound and drainage purposes.
• Run an audio test before you secure the mounting to ensure the position provides the desired coverage.
• Use the recommended speaker mounts and follow all the directions.
• Place speakers where they will get some protection from the sun and rain, either below an awning or tucked under the house’s eaves. Even though they are weather resistant, this will increase their lifespan.