Outdoor speakers are the perfect addition to any outdoor space, whether you have a large backyard or just a small patio or deck. Since you can control the volume, you can put an outdoor speaker literally anywhere without disturbing your neighbors.
This can create the perfect outdoor oasis you have always wanted and is a great addition to any party environment. Once you purchase your outdoor speakers for your home, the next step is installing these speakers in your backyard. Below are some tips for installing outdoor speakers at your home.
Compatibility
Even before you take the speakers out of the packaging, and definitely before installing them, check again to make sure they are compatible with your other electronics. The outside of the box should provide you with a listing of all the different products and devices that the speakers are compatible with, so it should be easy to check.
Some stores will not allow you to return electronic equipment once you have opened the package. Therefore, to make it easier on yourself and ensure you do not get stuck with a product that you cannot use.
Read the Instructions
Your speakers should come with a set of instructions that will help you through the installation process. You must read through the instructions carefully before you begin your project. It is best if you read through all of the instructions and not just the first step.
This will help you understand the entire process, which will make installing your outdoor speakers easier. You also want to make sure that all the necessary parts were included in your package and you know what each part is. If you are missing any parts, contact the company you purchase the speakers from right away to ask for replacement parts or a new set of speakers.
Determine a Location for Your Speakers
Before installing outdoor speakers, you need to determine where you want the speakers to be installed. This may depend on the type of speakers you purchased.
Wall or Ceiling Speakers
If you purchased speakers that are to be mounted to the wall, you need to find a location on your deck, patio, home, or garage to install your speakers. Your packaging should have included a wall-mounted kit, but if not, you can purchase one at a local home improvement store or online.
You should look for a place that will provide the optimum sound, but not be too obtrusive. In addition, even though these speakers are weather-resistant, it is not a bad idea to install them under some type of added protection, such as under the roof or the eaves of your home.
Rock Speakers
Rock speakers are a little easier to install and you can likely place them anywhere you want to. If you purchased speakers that required electricity, you may want to find a location that is close to your homes or an electrical outlet. This will make installing outdoor speakers easier. You also want to consider what location will provide the greatest sound to your outdoor space.
In-Ground Speakers
You may also have purchased in-ground speakers. These speakers must be installed in a grassy or landscaped area. They cannot be used on a patio or deck. A portion of the speakers will need to be buried underground, so you need to consider the space needed to install them. If these speakers have cables or electrical wiring, that too will need to be installed underground. This may require a little more work initially, but the speakers will go virtually unnoticed by your guests.
Test the Speakers
Now that you chose your location, you want to make sure that you test the speakers before you start the actual process of installing outdoor speakers. You certainly do not want to go through the entire process of installing your speakers to find out later they do not work. You can just run the cabling or wires out a window of your homes to properly test them. If you purchased wireless outdoor speakers, they may only have a certain radius within which they will work. It is crucial that you check to make sure the speakers can read the appropriate signal and that they successfully produce sound before installing. This step may save you a lot of time and frustration later.
Ready for Installing Outdoor Speakers
You are now ready to being the process of installing outdoor speakers. While the specific steps involved in this process will vary from speaker to speaker, there are some steps that remain consistent no matter what product you purchase. It is important, though, that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific installation process.
Wireless Speakers
Wireless outdoor speakers are a lot easier to set up and install than speakers with cabling. These speakers typically come with a transmitter that must be connected to your stereo system, movie projector, or other appropriate devices. This transmitter will send a signal to your speakers that will allow it to play music.
Cabled Speakers
If you purchase cabled speakers, you will need to run a cable connector from the speakers to your receiver, when installing outdoor speakers. This involved running the cable through the walls and/or ceiling of your home. You want to be very careful and plan out where and how you want the cable to enter your home. If you already have cable wires going into your home, see if you can fit the new wiring through the same hole and follow the same pattern through the walls. This will prevent the need for you to drill a new hole in your house.
Electrical Power
Depending on the type of speakers you purchased, you may need to plug them into an electrical unit. Some speakers operate by battery power, which means you do not need to do anything else. On the other hand, if you have speaker that require electricity to work, you will need to run an electrical cord to the speaker. Be sure that you use a cord that is designed for outdoor use and keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
Installation Video
Conclusion
If you are uncomfortable with installing outdoor speakers yourself, you can call a professional electrician to do the installation for you. This is usually very affordable and can save you a lot of frustration, especially if working with cabled speakers. If you do choose to install the outdoor speakers on your own, be sure to read the instructions thoroughly and plan out how you will run the cable through the walls before you start.
Great article. Buying outdoor speakers is the first challenge…then installing and setup is a completely different monster.