4 Things You Need to Know about Outdoor Sound Systems

You might think that great outdoor sound quality is easy, just like indoors, right? In reality, outdoor sound can be a whole different animal. Why? Well, to start, it's outdoors.

Outdoor audio has no walls and ceilings to reflect sound waves, so it takes a good plan to get the type of sound quality you want. In addition, you might need more speakers to cover an outdoor area adequately.

What else do you need to know when considering an outdoor sound system for your Atlanta, GA home? Keep reading below.

SEE ALSO: How Outdoor Speakers Help Bring Fun and Entertainment to Your Yard

 

What Type of Music - And How Loud?

When buying audio equipment for indoors or out, sound volume matters. If you like your music loud, you will need more power and perhaps larger speakers. If you like bass, you might need to add a subwoofer or several. If you want just background music, your system can be optimized for that. If you need to hear over other ambient noise, you might need to compensate for that with amplification and speaker placement. And if you like classical over rock, some speakers (and electronics) might do better than others. There is no one-size-fits-all solution here, and there's a tremendous variety to choose from in outdoor sound systems.

Where Will You Keep the Equipment?

You need a sound source (or sources), amplifiers, control equipment, and of course, speakers that will be outdoors. However, equipment besides the speakers might be indoors, as part of an existing sound system. Or it might be outdoors, housed in a part of your outdoor kitchen. Why does it matter? Wire needs to run to speakers and distances matter. Greater distances typically require more amplifier power to achieve a given maximum sound level at the speaker, or high-voltage configurations can be used for some speaker types. And of course, the topology of your outside area will affect the installation too.

What Types and How Many Speakers?

The answer to this will vary significantly based on what you want to listen to, how loud you want your system to get, and the layout of your spaces. In patios, ceiling and wall surface-mount speakers can be used. Spike-mounted satellites paired with buried subwoofers can spread even powerful sound throughout a space in gardens and landscaped areas. Around wet areas and pools, rock speakers can blend with the water features and provide strong sound. The number of speakers will depend on how many areas you want to cover with the music.

How Do You Run the System?

Your outdoor sound system might be an extension of your indoor one, depending on your equipment sources and how big an area you will cover outdoors. If connected off of an existing modern networked receiver, a smartphone app might serve as an effective control outdoors. Other options include outdoor weather-resistant remotes that operate over radio frequency back to your equipment. The most sophisticated type of control would be based on a smart home system that manages other functions like lighting and other outdoor features like automated shades, spas, and pool pumps. That control could come through a dedicated touchscreen, a customized outdoor remote, or even wall-mounted programmed keypads in your patio. You might also employ several of these options.

For all the things you need to consider to get the best outdoor sound system for your needs, Sunbelt Technology is here to help. Call us today at (404) 236-0007 or reach out on our online contact page. We look forward to working with you!