Outdoor speakers give you the ability to create your own nature

I was standing outside of the Batman ride at Sixflags in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1996. Themed sounds and music were seemingly coming out of nowhere. Then I found them - the outdoor speakers that were shaped like rocks! Amazing. It even made the 2 hour wait worthwhile.

Outdoor speakers have been on the scene for a while. Yet, with manufacturers such as Pro Audio in the marketplace, the quality of sound and performance has improved dramatically.

Once upon a time, an outside speaker was a glorified house speaker hung under the eaves, which gave it protection from the weather. Now, the weather has no bearing on where the speaker is placed, or for how long it is left out in the elements.

What are outside speakers used for?

Creating ways to benefit from outdoor speakers has been the focus of Bose speakers, as well as Infinity speakers. Several options come to mind:

• Monitoring the newborn through a networked in-home and outside speaker system
• Music pushed through a regular PC or stereo
• PA systems

Imagine a parent's benefit from utilizing a PA system that was not only functional inside but also featured a portable outside speaker (or stationary one for that matter). How life could be made easier!

Multiple uses can be configured with a single system.

The options and styles

JBL and Primus have introduced a line of outdoor speakers that give more choices to the appearance of an outdoor speaker. Other brands like Bose speakers and Infinity speakers have followed suit.

You can disguise your outdoor speakers as rocks or planters. You can install them inside of your eaves or flush mount them into your awning. With wireless technology you can put outdoor speakers just about anywhere, especially mini audio speakers.

Now there is no need to worry about the weather ruining a speaker. Of course, if you live in an area with extremely cold winters, you need to check the specifications of the speaker. Most speakers are designed for being outside year around and most are also waterproof.

Your only concern may be if a toddler decides that the speaker needs to be hit with a hammer. Then, there is a problem. There have also been reports that speakers that look like rocks have been thrown at pesky rodents.

Again, the things to look for when choosing an outside sound system are as follows:

• Make sure the speakers are waterproof
• Can co-exist with your present set-up
• Have two-way controls if using as a PA system
• Can withstand your environment (that includes Little Johnny)

Outside of that, the field narrows to personal tastes. From colors, to mounting preferences, to sound quality, the outdoors now become your creation. (Many families have enjoyed creating themed holidays using audio that fits within the season.)

Speaking of sound quality…

The muffled sounds of past technology are no longer. The quality of sound is incredible today.

Even at low volumes, the treble is able to permeate the air and the bass carries a mellow line of strength. This is due in large part to audio manufacturers realizing the demand for such systems and adjusting for the lack of acoustics in the outdoors.

There is no need to worry about annoying neighbors with your sound either. In times past, the only way to actually hear the music coming from the speakers was to blast it. It made for awkward neighborly moments. However, technological adjustments have been made and now low volumes are able to carry at a better rate.

Where to find outdoor speaker discounts

Discounts for an outdoor system can be found in various ways. Since you are reading this here, it makes sense that the Internet is one, if not THE best way of finding deals for an outdoor speaker system. Weeding through all the sales pitches, however, can be a bit frustrating.

In lieu of that, we have created a “buyers guide” of sorts. It is a simple, but thorough list of discount merchants who carry all of the major brands and components for an outdoor system. Maybe we can help you start piping sound through rocks!

Happy shopping!