Source: PRO AV Magazine
Publication date: May 1, 2007
By Pro AV Staff
Distinguish for your clients the differences among outdoor loudspeakers. Most need to be protected and placed under eaves. Some can be placed anywhere and be fully exposed to the elements, but check with the manufacturer first.The best time to design an outdoor audio system is during landscaping planning or execution. Having the ground open is ideal for speaker-wire runs. Cables can be covered with new sod, plants, or stonework and be buried deeper. There's nothing worse than having an errant spade go through the middle of a 50-foot wire run.Make loudspeakers part of the landscaping budget. In a budget of $20,000 and up, the difference in cost between cheap loudspeakers and better ones that will last more than 10 years is negligible.When proximity to neighbors is an issue, consider installing loudspeakers along the perimeter of the property at ground level, facing the building, instead of hanging them under eaves.Consider the dispersion and coverage characteristics of the loudspeakers. While many loudspeakers assume the listener can be positioned between a stereo pair, this is usually not practical in outdoor applications. Using a greater number of loudspeakers and running them at lower levels will provide more even sound coverage with less chance of bothering the neighbors.Avoid promotionally priced outdoor loudspeakers that claim to be weatherproof. Click here to read full article from Pro AV Magazine
