While sound and video systems are performing indoors the acoustics, light levels, and even humidity can be controlled to maximize performance and protect the hardware. Once the AV systems venture out from that protected environment and take on the great outdoors, it is a whole new ball game. Background noise, UV light, sun glare, and rain present a formidable battleground on which AV systems must perform. Designers and manufacturers have responded in some imaginative and creative ways.
Creating a safe, weatherproof enclosure for critical termination points, the aluminum American Products AP Patriot outdoor multifunction enclosure is composed of three separate compartments. The main area is the mounting point for up to 32 rack units of signal equipment and features a horizontal and vertical wire management system. For fiber splice and storage gear, there is a side compartment with a wood backboard and at the bottom is a battery compartment.
Some of the more interesting design variations concern taking sound outside and the AtlasIED GSS-G all weather outdoor landscape speaker illustrates this. The structure is stable polyethylene for operation across a wide range of temperatures. The base is first installed and then the speaker unit is mounted on it. This houses a coaxial 8in. polypropylene/ Kevlar cone with a rubber surround. This woofer uses a 1.5in. voice coil and 21-ounce magnet and is paired with a 1/2in. mylar dome tweeter.
The Biamp Commercial CCA-80 constant coverage aisle loudspeaker is designed for providing smooth audio coverage in long, narrow spaces. To accomplish this, it is fitted with an asymmetric vertical waveguide for its 115Hz to 14kHz frequency response. A simple top bracket allows mounting flexibility while the 70V/100V transformer provides easy wiring and system expandability for this 3-way, full range sound coverage system. Included is a terminal strip for low impedance or constant voltage operation. At the top of the line of the company’s selfamplified horns, the Bogen SAH30 uses digital switching amplification to make it self-sufficient at long distances from the base sound system. Along with the SAH15 and SAH5, this horn has a cast aluminum swivel mount and it can be installed in any position. All the SAH models exhibit low DC current draw and work well in high ambient temperature settings
Back yards, gardens, and other outside areas can have a blanket of omnidirectional sound from the IP55 rated Bose FreeSpace 360P Series II speakers. Each housing encloses a 4.5in. advance composite environmental full-range driver with its output reflected by a domed port grille. Bass frequencies resonate in the chamber while mid and high frequency sound is projected omni-directionally. The housing is tamper resistant and power settings can be adjusted on a multi-tap transformer.
For a slightly more directional outside coverage area, the Crestron REFERENCE OD4-BRZ-T-EACH 2-way weatherproof outdoor speaker can be mounted on a wall, a fence, or staked directly into the ground. This model teams a 4in. polypropylene woofer with a 0.75 in. PEI mylar tweeter for 90Hz to 20kHz (±3dB) frequency response. The slightly directional dispersion allows for stereo imaging with a set of the speakers. Each unit includes 32.5in. permanently attached direct-burial speaker wire.
High level outdoor sound is produced by the Danley Sound Labs OS80 2-way outdoor loudspeaker with a coaxial arrangement that includes a 12in. driver and an 80-degree conical horn. These are joined through a Synergy crossover network for proper phase alignment. The HF driver is connected through a Sentinel protection circuit. Included is an angle strap along with a heavy-duty aluminum mounting bracket. This system handles up to 800W program power.
The Electro-Voice ZX1i is an 8in. 2-way passive full-range indoor/outdoor loudspeaker with a frequency response of 60Hz to 20kHz (-3dB) and a coverage angle of 90 degrees horizontal and 50 degrees vertical. This model has an 8-ohm internal impedance but it is also available in a “T” version that includes 70/100 voltage selection and power taps for each. Depending on the orientation of the cabinet, the horn may be rotated for best coverage.
For a bright outdoor projection surface, the Elite Screens DIY Pro Series screens have a black masking border with reinforced metal grommets along all edges. Available screen materials are CineWhite UHD-B with a 1.3 gain for front projection and WraithVeil Dual with a 0.8 gain and a 150-degree viewing angle on each side. Rope and bungee cords are included to provide adequate tension for a flat projection surface and there is also a canvas carrying pouch.
Outdoor conditions are not a problem for the IP67 rated JBL Stage XD-5 2-way speakers. Working together are a 5.25in. polypropylene cone woofer and an aluminum dome tweeter with its High-Definition Imaging waveguide. These produce a frequency response of 75Hz to 25kHz when used with 20-100W RMS recommended power. Each unit weighs only 2.3lbs. and the included mounting bracket makes angle adjustment easy. Each grille is zero bezel and magnetically attached.
The IPX7-rated Klipsch Courtyard 4.1 landscape speaker system consists of an above or below ground subwoofer unit with a 10in. polypropylene cone driver and up to eight satellite speakers. These have 4in. LF drivers and the system features a 1in. Tractrix horn-loaded aluminum tweeter. The units are enclosed in UV treated all-weather ABS Rotomolded linear low-density polyethylene (LLDP). The low impedance system can handle 120W continuous power.
In situations where the sound system may be part indoors and part outside, the Lowell OS-50TB 2-way indoor/outdoor speaker can uniformly deliver in both areas. Each 50W handling unit has a 5.25in. polypropylene coated woofer with rubber surround and a .5in. PEI tweeter. These deliver a frequency response of 102Hz to 16.5kHz (±6dB) through its black fine mesh aluminum grille. The unit’s transformer enables low impedance or distributed operation at 25V, 70V or 100V tap positions.
Another very versatile weatherized speaker system is the Martin Audio CDD10TX-WR 2-way passive speaker with its ability to be daisy-chained through a 70V/100V transformer using a 5-way connector. The user rotatable coaxial drive unit enables horizontal or vertical mounting while its 10in. LF woofer and 1in. exit HF coaxial differential dispersion driver team to deliver 65Hz20kHz ±3dB frequency response. The transformer provides several power settings at 70V and 100V.
For outdoor spaces between 300 and 500 square feet, the OSD Audio AP520T speakers are housed in an ABS polymer enclosure and fitted with a rust-resistant aluminum grille. The gold-plated five-way binding posts keep a solid connection and stainless steel hardware makes a sturdy mount. A 5.25in. polypropylene woofer and 1/2in. PEI tweeter output a frequency response of 50Hz to 22kHz (±10dB). The system is 8-Ohm but a 70V transformer is an option.
Whether displays are being mounted inside or outdoors, the Peerless-AV ESA763PU articulating wall mount can provide durable support for 32- to 86-inch monitors with its protective anti-corrosive e-coating. Easy motion and additional strength are provided by the dual arm construction and the wall attachment is small enough for best aesthetics. Adjustments of +15 to -5 degrees are enabled by the IncreLok tilt. The product includes wood, concrete, and cinder block mounting hardware.
Competing with sunlight is a tough test for outdoor displays and the Planar Luminate Pro Series LED video wall displays take it on with brightness up to 4,500 nits and a dust proof IP65 ingress protection rating. For any quick fixes needed, there is a removeable electronics compartment and full front and rear access to electronics. These features make this line of displays great for permanent home use or temporary outdoor show setups.
For taking high performance sound outside there is the Pure Resonance Audio S5 4.5in. 2-way all-weather outdoor commercial speaker equipped with a built-in 70/100V transformer. Also 8-ohm connectable, the unit can handle up to 40W RMS power generating an SPL of 92dB at one meter. The polypropylene woofer has a rubber surround and the 0.75in. tweeter handles HF load. The system is enclosed in an ABS housing with a metal grille to give it a water-resistant IP65 rating.
As a member of the AcousticDesign Series Direct Weather line of landscape speakers, the QSC Audio AD-DWL.180 gets the sound up off the ground. This is particularly advantageous for dispersion of the higher audio frequency range. The housing contains a 5.25in. weather-resistant cone woofer and a 1in. aluminum dome tweeter to output an effective frequency range of 55Hz to 25kHz. This model has a range of power taps and its coverage is 180 degrees with a maximum continuous SPL of 104dB.
What would an outside trail or garden area be without the good old rock speaker? The 2-way rock-style RBH Sound R8 combines a very realistic appearance with a dual channel input for single-point stereo. This item is available in a sandstone or granite shell that surrounds an 8in. polygraphite cone driver and a 1-in. polyurethane tweeter. The sound output has a 50Hz-20kHz (± 3dB) frequency response and the 8-ohm system is recommended for use with a 15-150W amp output.
The IP55-rated RCF BD 42 sound projector works well in high noise indoor/outdoor areas using its bi-directional sound output. The coverage pattern created fills hard floor hallways with direct sound output from its two 5in. speakers while the multi-tapped 100V transformer greatly simplifies installation. The housing is an ABS plastic cylinder with a centrally connected U-shaped mounting bracket and the whole unit weighs about 3lbs. The continuous power handling rating is 12W.
Outdoor speakers and screens are well known but an amplifier rated for outdoor use is somewhat rare and the Soundsphere OS-440 4-channel amp uses a wireless network connection. Normally placed in a weatherproof box, this amplifier is directly AC powered and the speakers are connected on Euroblock terminals. When no sound source is detected for ten minutes it goes into standby mode. In 4-channel mode each channel handles 40W while in 2-channel mode each channel handles 80W
MSE Audio markets the SoundTube Rockcoustics XT-PowerRock-G 8in. high power outdoor rock speaker in a gray finish. Designed for long throw applications outdoors, this unit handles 200W and employs an 8in. high-efficiency woofer and 1.3in. compression driver. There is also an internal transformer to allow the speaker to function in a 70V system. The IP65 rated enclosure is a perfect visual match for areas of exposed granite.
For exterior environments where only a very tough horn will do, the Speco Technologies SPC15T weatherproof aluminum PA speaker is fitted with a rubber horn edge protector and an internal transformer for 25/70W system compatibility with a variety of power taps. The frequency response on this model is 450Hz to 15kHz and maximum power is 30W. In the SPC line there is also the SPC10 with 10W power handling and the more powerful SPC 30 with 30W.
Bringing HD video outside and making it big is a challenge and the Stealth Acoustics SPT Megalith fixed-position outdoor LED video display handles it in a range of weather conditions. Capable of being placed on a wall or hung from a ceiling, the screen can also be used with a support structure package for freestanding operation. Versions are available in P4 and P3 resolutions depending on the desired viewing distance and there is an optional soundbar for expansive outdoor audio. The trim can be ordered in a variety of colors.
The Sunbrite Solis Series screens are designed to operate in a full sun environment with sizes ranging from 49 to 75 inches diagonal. These ultra-bright 1,500-nit anti-glare LED models are IP55 rated and provide 4K Ultra HD 4K60 resolution and advanced RGB-W screen technology. Included is a built-in smart TV along with integral Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, and content streaming capability from mobile devices.
The TOA CS-304 wide range horn speaker is designed as a tough, all-weather system that can provide the sound quality of dynamic speakers. To aid installation, it features a versatile rotary switch that can be used to make it compatible with different sound system output impedances. The 90-degree coverage pattern spreads high level paging, background music, and tone signaling through its constant directivity horn over a wide operational temperature range. All components are protected by the impact-proof lightweight ABS resin enclosure.
A very economical solution to bringing big sound outside, the Yamaha NS-AW294 outdoor speakers are sold as a pair with each using a 6.5in. weatherproof cone woofer and a 1in. fluid-cooled, balanced dome tweeter. Nominal power handling is 50W and frequency response is 80Hz to 20kHz. Each of the 8-ohm units weighs in at 4.4lbs. complete with push terminal connections and an adjustable mounting U-bracket. On this they can be installed vertically or horizontally and moved through a range of 81 degrees horizontally or vertically
