4 Reasons to Avoid Placing Wireless Speakers Outdoors
For many people, it can be difficult to find efficient outdoor audio solutions that let them enjoy their favorite artists or playlists on the porch, patio or pool. The most popular approach is opting for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speakers that are easy to move around and let you stream music directly from your phone. While these makeshift solutions can work in the short term, using outdoor speakers linked to a whole home audio system will yield better results in the long run for four main reasons. Keep reading to learn what they are.
SEE MORE: Best Speaker Layouts for Outdoor Audio
Damage to Your Equipment
Most wireless speakers are not meant for outdoor use and can be prone to damage caused by water, humidity, or dust. If you're careful not to take the speakers out in bad weather and bring them back in as soon as you're done, you might be able to keep the speakers safe from serious harm. But if you think outdoor audio is something you'll often be using, the small damage can pile up over time, so even if you're extremely careful, your wireless speakers are likely going to suffer from too much outdoor use.
Lower-Quality Sound
The fact that the speakers are not specifically designed for outdoor use will also affect the sound quality. For one, they’re likely not powerful enough to fill up the space. Outdoor speakers are also designed to offer directional sound. They send out audio directly where they're aimed to help contain the sound to your property, instead of driving the neighbors crazy. In general, you’re also going to get better audio quality if you have a hard-wired system. Not only is the system more reliable, but you’ll be able to carry a larger amount of data and connect to higher-quality sources.
Uneven Sound Distribution
In our previous blog, we discussed the best speaker layout for a successful outdoor audio system. This involves having speakers in popular areas—around your porch and pool—and also on the periphery of your property—all facing towards your home. This kind of set up can only be accomplished with a professional installation.
If instead, you decide to opt for a few wireless speakers, you’ll have spotty audio coverage in your outdoor spaces. Most homeowners only place a few speakers in the areas closest to the home. This will result in audio that is too low for those standing further away or sound that is too loud and could lead to complaints from neighbors.
Limited Source Options
Don’t get us wrong; wireless speakers can serve great functions. They give you immediate access to streaming services that you can listen to as long as you have an internet connection. But what if you want to go beyond streaming?
In that case, you want to invest in outdoor speakers as part of a whole home audio system that let you access your media library, CD collection, and even your turntable. Coastal Source offers outdoor enclosures where you can keep an AV receiver that connects back to your indoor sources. This way you can even link speakers to your satellite TV or Blu-ray collection to get high-quality audio for your outdoor TVs.
While wireless speakers are a good short-term solution, if you want to make outdoor audio a permanent part of your home, it’s time to invest in a solution that will offer great, reliable results. The experts at Relative Home Systems can help you find the speakers and control options that make the most sense for you.
