How To Set Up Outdoor Sound System

Outdoor speakers arrangement planning guide

What you demand to know before you buy

Crutchfield A/V system designer Tony loves to talk nearly outdoor speaker systems.

"They let our customers show off their gear to the whole neighborhood," Tony said. "We brand barbecues stone."

For the past fourteen summers, Tony has helped Crutchfield customers with outdoor speaker systems in yards large and small. The cardinal to success for each i? Having a solid program.

Tony with speaker

Tony is function of our A/V blueprint team and has helped countless Crutchfield customers program their outdoor speaker systems.

SETUP ane: Pocket-size deck or patio

Stereo outdoor speakers requite you good audio in a small area correct outside the business firm. Effigy out where yous'll put them before yous purchase.

For the best stereo outcome, Tony recommends mounting left and right speakers most 10 feet apart. Don't endeavor to cover a bigger space by moving them farther autonomously.

"Depending on where you're standing, yous may only hear one 'side' of the song," Tony said.

plans for a stereo outdoor setup

The dining table is in the sugariness spot for stereo audio, virtually 12 feet from each speaker.

Have a covered porch?

Our Advisors often recommend in-ceiling speakers for covered outdoor spaces. Some are wet resistant. They're made with bathrooms and saunas in listen, so they can handle the humidity.

Under the eaves, a pop mounting location

Many outdoor speakers are weather-resistant rather than weatherproof, so they'll need some cover. Are your eaves close to the footing (or the deck)? Mount speakers underneath, to protect them from rain.

Just don't mount them much higher than ten feet to a higher place the listening area.

speakers shown mounted under the eaves of a house

Mounting speakers under the eaves besides helps hide them for a discreet look.

Music sources and wiring for elementary stereo setups

You'll demand a receiver or amp to ability your speakers and connect music sources. Already take a home theater receiver with "Zone 2" or " Zone B" speaker outputs? That may be all y'all need.

"But that may not be the best choice," warned Tony. "How far is the receiver from your outdoor speaker locations? What road will the speaker wires take? And how will you control the receiver from your outdoor location?"

It might be much easier to install and operate a separate music source that can exist placed much closer to your deck or patio. Consider adding a second receiver or a wireless music player that has a built-in amp, such every bit the Sonos Amp.

Many home theater receivers can connect to your home network. Most of these permit you wirelessly control primal functions via a smartphone app. You won't have to run inside to adjust volume or change playlists. Does your Wi-Fi® reach out into your yard? If non, a new Wi-Fi router or extender can boost your wireless coverage.

How much power exercise outdoor speakers need?

Inside your home, there are walls to reflect and comprise audio. Outside, of grade, information technology's broad open.

"To get the same perceived volume outside equally yous do indoors, you need to double the power," Tony said.

Desire to play your outdoor music quite loud? A powerful receiver or amp would exist a practiced choice. If yous're a Sonos fan, attempt a Sonos Amp or hook a Port (which has no amp) to your receiver.

SETUP 2: Music for a big one thousand

To bask music across a larger yard, you'll demand to cover different areas or "zones" with sound. "Call back of each zone in your yard as y'all would a room in your house," said Tony.

You need the right amount of speakers for each zone, so that it's never also loud or too soft in one area. Our A/V Design team can help with this — but transport us your contact info and nosotros'll be in impact.

Design for larger yard

Our in-house A/5 designers can develop a plan that covers unlike "zones" with music.

Stereo setups don't work well in big yards, either. You'll want speakers that play both left and right channels. At that place are 2 ways to arroyo this. You lot can get stereo-input speakers that have left and right connections. Or you can get amps that combine left and right channels, sending mono signals to standard speakers.

Outdoor rock speaker

Stone speakers blend into your landscaping. "They are a major hit with the fire pit crowd," Tony said.

Read our Outdoor speaker ownership guide for more.

What well-nigh wiring?

Yous tin buy in-wall speaker wire with two conductors or four. Use four-usher cable with stereo-input speakers. These cables contain wires for both left- and right-channel inputs. Apply xvi gauge cable for runs of 80 feet or less. Apply xiv-estimate cable for runs of up to 200 anxiety.

Our in-wall speaker cables tin can be buried, but information technology'south probably best practice to run buried cable through a hard plastic conduit, and then you don't cut information technology with a shovel. This also keeps the wire protected from rodents.

outdoor speaker wiring

A PVC conduit gives you extra protection from backyard mowers, gardening tools, and critters.

Multi-channel amp

Multi-aqueduct amps deliver a lot of power, and they requite yous split book control for each area. Yous might want your music loud by the pool and softer near the grill. Or vice-versa.

Illustration of a multi-channel amp

lxx-volt amp

A seventy-volt commercial-grade amp can drive many more speakers than a comparably priced residential-form amp. It's easy to add together speakers later on. And y'all'll demand much less wire.

Cost savings tin can exist substantial with 70-volt systems, just organisation planning is more complicated. You'll definitely want to contact an Advisor if y'all're curious well-nigh this approach.

Illustration of a 70-volt system

Volume control options

Sonos and other wireless audio systems let yous command volume from your telephone. But what if y'all're on a call or your wireless network drops out? Separate, weatherproof volume controls come in handy, peculiarly in pool areas near water, where you might not want your phone.

outdoor volume control

Separate volume controls let you plow your music upwardly or down while you're exterior — fifty-fifty while your telephone is in utilize.

SETUP 3: Music for special events

Throw a lot of big parties? Need a audio system for an amateur band or DJ? Portable PA systems include mixers to plug in instruments, turntables, and microphones. Many take congenital-in Bluetooth or aux inputs so you tin connect your phone for DJ duty.

Singtrix karoake party at Crutchfield

Nosotros added a mic for a karaoke jam at our Crutchfield company picnic.

Need help getting started? Contact us

Audio similar a lot to take in? "When you have someone to guide you, and break it down into specific projects, information technology'southward not then bad," Tony said.

Contact our Advisors for assistance. Information technology's like Tony told me, "Nosotros love figuring out this stuff. It's fun!"

Get a free organisation design

In a well-designed habitation, form and function are on the aforementioned team. Furnishings and appliances smoothly serve your family and guests. Y'all should expect no less from your audio/video gear. But get-go y'all need a programme, and that's where your Crutchfield A/Five design specialist comes in. Submit a system blueprint request today! You'll receive a detailed organization plan and a link to a pre-filled shopping cart.

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