Outdoor Sound Systems
The LA Times has an informative article regarding setting up your outdoor sound system. Not only has the sound quality increased in outdoor speakers and are now on par with their indoor counterparts, they are also completely weatherproof and you can probably find a speaker design that will work seamlessly with your landscaping.
Here are some links to more outdoor speakers.
Bose Free Space 51 Environmental Speakers
Boston Acoustics Voyager Outdoor Speakers
Acoustic Research Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker
Niles RS6 Rock Speaker
Niles PS6Si Planter Speaker
And after the jump are some tips for building your audioscape from Jeff Spurrier
You need not go to a sound garden consultant to bring enjoyable music to the outdoors, but there are some basic rules to follow:
More speakers: "The biggest mistake is not getting enough to cover the area. People underestimate and put one speaker in a 20-foot-by-40-foot area when they should use two or three," says Michael Strange of Boston Acoustics.
Heavier wire: The longer the run from the amplifier to the speaker, the better the wire should be: Monster Cable, 14 gauge or 12 gauge. Lamp cord (16 gauge) is not suitable for outdoor speaker hookups.
Position your speakers low: No higher than 15 to 24 inches above ground if possible. The higher they are off the ground, the more sound dispersion there will be to your neighbors.
Use the garden's hardscape: If you are using a subwoofer, rely on walls, rocks and fences to ricochet the signal back into the garden. Position the speaker at a 15-degree angle above level ground.
Balance the sound: To get a deeper sound image in an enclosed area such as a gazebo or grill-bar island with a roof, do not turn the volume higher on the closest speakers to you (either above or below). Instead, turn up the volume of the speakers that are out in the yard. The sound coming toward you from the wider dispersion can produce a near perfect close-in live effect, deeper and more "real."
Alternative shopping: Visit marine supply stores and chandleries for deals on outdoor speakers that can take a beating. Much of the current outdoor audio gear originated from boaters' needs.
Tags: speakers
June 21, 2007 | Comments ()
