Get The Best Sound From Your Wireless Outdoor Speakers

With today’s wireless outdoor speakers you can enjoy audio on your patio or throughout your backyard without running cables and wires. There’s a wide array of 2.4GHz wireless outdoor speakers on the market today and many come disguised as everything from rocks and planters to lanterns and other various outdoor decorations. While 2.4GHz is a very reliable technology remember we live in a wireless world and there are sometimes problems with interference.

So what do I look for in good wireless outdoor speakers

The first thing you’ll want to look at is the speaker driver. Inexpensive models typically use paper cones. Paper doesn’t produce bass very well to begin with and to make it worse, paper degrades over time. Co-axial type wireless outdoor speakers generally produce better base and treble and typically don’t produce as much distortion.

Also check the materials of the outer case. In the case of inexpensive rocks speakers, the stone itself it usually made using mold injected machines. You can usually spot these as they have a smooth surface that’s painted to simulate rock which generally can’t survive the elements well. Better made cases will usually have a rough uneven surface that appears more like real rock and will last much longer outdoors.

So how water proof are wireless outdoor speakers?

Wireless outdoor speakers are generally designed to hold up to water, sun, rain and snow and most all of the elements of the outdoors. That said, they are technically more water resistant than they are water proof. Try to avoid the “direct line of fire” of your sprinkler system.

How much power do I really need?

Most wireless outdoor speakers fall into the range of 60 to 300 watts. Bigger wattage not only gives you louder sound but generally better sound quality as well. A good rule of thumb is that a pair of 60 watt speakers placed high (like under the eaves of your house) will cover about 300 square feet. 80 to 100 watts will cover 300 to 500 square feet and 150 to 200 watts will give you good sound quality over about 750 square feet. Just remember that your neighbors may not have your same enthusiasm for your taste in music as you do so keep the sound to a reasonable volume.

Should I use 1 or 2 wireless outdoor speakers?

While 1 large speaker is adequate, 2 smaller speakers half the size will usually cover the same area and give you better stereo sound. Most wireless outdoor speakers today are sold in pairs and cannot be connected to both channels at once. There are speakers available though that can be connected to both channels simultaneously. The choice is yours. If your simply trying to add sound throughout your garden and not necessarily reproduce good stereo affects then a single speaker that can handle dual channels may be the right choice.

Special considerations for extreme weather conditions

If you live in an area that is subjected to prolonged sub-zero temperatures then you may want to either cover your wireless outdoor speakers or bring them inside to prevent the speaker from freezing.

Remember that good quality wireless outdoor speakers are developed with the harsh outdoor conditions in mind. The better quality speakers use materials that can be soaking wet but won’t actually absorb the water itself. In the end though wireless outdoor speakers are an investment and you should treat them that way. Storing them out of extreme conditions when you aren’t going to be outside anyway will only lengthen the time you can enjoy your wireless outdoor speakers and the sound they provide.