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Outdoor speakers - it's that time again

post #1 of 23
4/22/10 at 6:47am
Thread Starter 
Spring is here, and I'm looking to get some outdoor speakers for my patio.

I'd love to get an idea of what I can expect for 500, 300, and 150. So far, based on my initial research it appears that the BA Voyager 7's are favorites at 500, and at 150, there are lots of options that come from companies I've either never heard of, or that focus on low cost sales (which isn't a bad thing).

So my list to this point looks like:

Boston Acoustics Voyager 7 - $528
http://www.bostonacoustics.com/Voyag...-pair-P89.aspx


Low End - TIC ASP120 - $111 from parts express
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=310-084


However, for the $300 range, there are countless options, and I'm not sure what to go with. The local shops don't have much for outdoor (mostly Klipsch), so listening tests will be difficult.

I am very interested in the Aperion Audio outoor speakers as I've heard really good things about their quaility and performance for the price. Anyone had a listen?

Also, I've seen the AP850 from the outdoor speaker depot (which until yesterday I hadn't even heard of) for $299 which seems to have some good reviews.

So how would you populate the list based on the prices I've outlined? Have you heard the Aperions?
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post #2 of 23
4/22/10 at 7:04am
I installed a pair of definitive technology aw6500's this year. I am very happy with them. Very good sounding speakers. There are some for sale on the big auction website with an e in it's name. They are available in that 300.00 range (buy it now with shipping included) which is well below the list price. I have also heard polk atriums which I liked as well.
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post #3 of 23
4/22/10 at 9:32am
You can also look at the JBL control series 23 thru 28. They are very good sounding speakers built for commercial use.
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post #4 of 23
4/22/10 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrager View Post

You can also look at the JBL control series 23 thru 28. They are very good sounding speakers built for commercial use.

The control 29av is geared more towards better sound quality. Better enclosure, waveguide (coverage pattern and is rotatable), LF driver, HF driver, and crossover. If looking at the 28's for anything but commercial use, the 29av's will be a better choice.

It was my first choice after quite a bit of research, but then my outdoor build fell through.
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post #5 of 23
4/22/10 at 11:55am
I have a pair of Boston Voyager 6's, and also a pair of Boston Voyager 5's (like outdoor
music under the gazeboes )

For the money Boston's can't be beat, Voyagers 7's would be a great way to go if you
like sound quality and longevity (of the speaker).

I've done alot of comparing, and the only thing that is better than Boston is Niles, but then
you are talking more money.

My two cents, Vardo
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post #6 of 23
4/23/10 at 8:31am
anyone have an opinion on niles? i was getting ready to post the same question and i was looking at the niles series of outdoor. i want a good bass response and great sound. do you all have any more suggestions
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post #7 of 23
4/23/10 at 6:36pm
Even though I have Boston's, Niles are about the best outdoor speaker you can buy IMO.
(Boston's a close second).

They won't give you earth shattering bass (no outdoor speaker does), they are still very
good sounding down to about maybe 60hz (just a guess). You will need a separate subwoofer if you want deeper bass. Boston sells an outdoor powered sub for around
$800, but that's a lot of money for some extra deep bass.

Maybe grab this open box niles at:
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=26964

a very good deal.


vardo
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post #8 of 23
4/23/10 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 
anyone have any comments about the aperion outdoor speakers?
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post #9 of 23
4/25/10 at 6:05am
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BEZVSG/...net_mp-1814-20

The top-of-the-lines Niles is cheaper than $528 for the above-mentioned BA.
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post #10 of 23
4/25/10 at 11:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Looneybomber View Post

If looking at the 28's for anything but commercial use, the 29av's will be a better choice.

I have 2 28s paired up with a SB210. If you're buying an outdoor subwoofer, you can easily stay with the 28s and get pretty decent sound.
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post #11 of 23
4/25/10 at 1:42pm
The NEARs are the best outdoor speakers I've heard.

http://www.bogen.com/products/NEARspeakers/

IMO the Niles sound atrocious. Tannoys and B&W are good, too.
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post #12 of 23
4/26/10 at 9:12am
Thread Starter 
anyone have thoughts on middle or low end speakers. I'm having trouble spending >500 on speakers that will sit outside.
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post #13 of 23
4/26/10 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ntode View Post

anyone have thoughts on middle or low end speakers. I'm having trouble spending >500 on speakers that will sit outside.

http://store.cambridgesoundworks.com...sReviewsWidget
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post #14 of 23
4/26/10 at 10:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ntode View Post

anyone have thoughts on middle or low end speakers. I'm having trouble spending >500 on speakers that will sit outside.

Amen to that. I think I would cruise eBay and Craigslist for cheap outdoor speakers without locking yourself into one brand/make/model. Keep an eye out for Polk Atrium 60, Energy Tempest II, Klipsch AW series, etc.

I was patient and ended up scoring a pair of Tempests for $50 on my local Craigslist.
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post #15 of 23
4/26/10 at 10:48am
JBL N26AW IIs - I use them as rear surrounds on an indoor system and take them out when we want to listen to music on the deck.

probably <$180.
http://www.jr.com/jbl/pe/JBL_N26AWII/

I have another pair of outdoor speakers from another manufacturer that were highly regarded a few years ago. The JBLs are clearly better.

If you want to spend somewhat more
http://www.jr.com/jbl/pe/JBL_S36AWII/
I originally saw a review where these were compared as S36 indoor-only speakers. They held there own. S36s were well-regarded.
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post #16 of 23
4/26/10 at 11:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wwinkler View Post

JBL N26AW IIs - I use them as rear surrounds on an indoor system and take them out when we want to listen to music on the deck.

probably <$180.
http://www.jr.com/jbl/pe/JBL_N26AWII/

I have another pair of outdoor speakers from another manufacturer that were highly regarded a few years ago. The JBLs are clearly better.

If you want to spend somewhat more
http://www.jr.com/jbl/pe/JBL_S36AWII/
I originally saw a review where these were compared as S36 indoor-only speakers. They held there own. S36s were well-regarded.

I guess it depends on the output a person wants. I have both the N26awii's (now for sale) and S36awii's. The S36's work fine on my parents porch, but at the pool, they don't have near the output required, which is where the Control 29av's come in. But I also bought 4, 12" subs for the pool build too.

The S36's, for what they are, have nice sound. Over the winter, my parents used them on the computer.
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post #17 of 23
4/30/10 at 5:32am
How protected do outdoor speakers need to be? I need some that can get rained on regularly. I can mount them under the eave, but the overhang is so much (around 3.5') that it acts like a giant horn. The sound is much louder 50' away... in the neighbors yard. Besides cheapo / disposable speakers for $25 a pair, are there any that can handle not being protected from rain at all? I have a NIB pair of N26AWII's that I bought several years ago but have somehow lost. I'm not so sure they haven't been stolen, as it's pretty hard to lose a pair of speakers still in the box! Would they qualify for unsheltered use? They'd at least be angled downards.
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post #18 of 23
4/30/10 at 7:52am
One of my pairs has been under the roof overhang for at least seven years and still works fine.
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post #19 of 23
4/30/10 at 8:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wwinkler View Post

One of my pairs has been under the roof overhang for at least seven years and still works fine.

What I didn't add to my initial post was that while I can mount the N26AWII's under the eaves, I'd rather not due to the fact that the sound is much louder away form the deck than on the deck. If / when I find 'em, I may go ahead and mount them under the eaves for times when I don't mind having the sound out in the yard. The problem is finding mounts for them; they seem to be all but impossbile to find for a reasonable price.

I just found a good deal on Boston Soundwares and ordered a pair. It looks like they'll be easily removable when not needed for long periods (winter). The 'natural' and 'bamboo' ones were half the price of the white, black, and silver ones. The 'bamboo' color will actually blend in a bit better with my deck. Now, I just need to run new cables to where they'll be mounted and install an impedance matching volume control. FWIW, I've had good luck using 16 gauge low voltage landscape wire for outdoor speakers. I'm not sure if there's a cheaper, readily available alternative, though.
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post #20 of 23
4/30/10 at 3:14pm
Hi -

does anybody have any thoughts on these?

http://www.ticcorp.com/omni_speaker_gs3.htm

I didn't want to spend a ton of $$ either, just decent sound, and with a number of posts that i have on my deck, I'd rather not mount traditional style speakers. I found these and they got good reviews both on the TIC website and also on Amazon. any thoughts?

And, would I need to buy 2 of these or would 1 provide "stereo sound"?
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post #21 of 23
4/30/10 at 3:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjscheid View Post

Hi -

does anybody have any thoughts on these?

http://www.ticcorp.com/omni_speaker_gs3.htm

I didn't want to spend a ton of $$ either, just decent sound, and with a number of posts that i have on my deck, I'd rather not mount traditional style speakers. I found these and they got good reviews both on the TIC website and also on Amazon. any thoughts?

And, would I need to buy 2 of these or would 1 provide "stereo sound"?

I've not used those particular speakers but have heard similar. They sound OK. The ones I heard were buried about halfway (normal from the number I've seen installed this way). You'll need two for stereo - two channels and two speakers. check out the Bostons I mentioned above. Mine will be mounted under the deck hand rail. They come with adjustable mounts, too. (Hint... Amazon has the 'bamboo' colored ones for 1/2 price; I think they'll blend better with deck wood than white or black.)
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post #22 of 23
4/30/10 at 4:46pm
No one asked but I thought I'd add my experiences here. I've been using two pair of these: http://www.amazon.com/Audiosource-LS.../dp/B0013IX51E and a 8" powered woofer that were packaged as a 5.1 surround system from Audiosource on my covered patio.

These have been in service for five years and three hurricanes. I just came from the patio where I was listening to some music, enjoying the evening, while thinking that this set up was definitely worth < $100 I spent for the speaker package.
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post #23 of 23
5/5/10 at 8:03am
I've got a new patio:


I'm planning to paint that wall white (no siding) and mount some speakers. Question about the wiring. right now, I don't have an amp/receiver; just a B&W Zeppelin. Can someone explain how I should wire the speakers? I'm guessing that I want the wires to go into the wall and to some type of junction on the other side, where I can plug in the output from the Zeppelin?
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