As speaker design has evolved and advanced, the capabilities of these devices have become very impressive. They can find each other on a network, protect themselves from sudden temperature and signal level overloads, and almost install themselves. However, some of these high-tech wonders can quickly turn into bricks if they are taken outside into the weather. The elements of wind, rain, and temperature extremes present speaker designers with a whole different and unforgiving ballgame. Weatherization can be as simple as adding a recessed spot on the enclosure or as involved as creating new circuit designs to work in sub-zero cold or broiling hot sports venues. The products surveyed here have met these challenges in bringing voice and music to the outside world.
Theme parks, hotels, and courtyard areas are perfect places for the AtlasIED GSS-G garden speaker equipped with an 8in. polypropylene/Kevlar cone with rubber surround, a 1.5in. voice coil, 21oz. magnet and a 1/2in. mylar dome tweeter. The tall or short base version can be installed first and then the speaker housing can be attached later. This model has a 360-degree omnidirectional sound output pattern with 43Hz-20kHz frequency response. The vertical dispersion angle is 50 degrees. Versatile connections include 8W, 16W, and 32W transformer taps and a low impedance 8-ohm bypass.
The Biamp MP26-G is a sound projector with a 26W transformer that enables it to cut through the clatter in heavy background noise environments. It can be painted as desired, and the enclosure does not require removal to attach the U-bracket to a mounting surface. The IP56-rated unit is a dual cone type, and its transformer has power taps for 26W, 20W, and 10W sound system output. The body is ABS plastic with an aluminum grille. The small footprint belies its 90Hz-19kHz frequency response and maximum SPL of 107dB.
There are virtually unlimited applications for the tiny Bogen A2T A-Series all-environment loudspeakers. Nicknamed the Armadillo, this model has a fully sealed cabinet and is available in black or white. Its Metal Diaphragm Technology gives its mid/bass speaker cone long-lasting capability while the dual-layer voice coil with separate inner and outer windings maintains clarity at high sound levels. To meet weather extremes, there are compound rubber surrounds and gold-plated rust-proof connectors. The large round grips allow easy adjustment, and the U-bracket can accommodate 180 degrees of lateral rotation.
Planning an outdoor area for sound can be fun, especially when the only thing up against the wall are the Bose 251 Environmental Speakers on tough, big-knob mounting brackets. Sold in pairs, these 8-ohm speakers, whether wire-connected or on WiFi, use their 5.25 in. woofer and two 2.25in. Bose Twiddler mid-high drivers to work with the Bose SoundTouch SA-5 amplifier for which they were designed. The Twiddlers are mounted in a special Bose-designed Articulated Array intended to maximize HF dispersion outdoors. Six rubber feet are included with each speaker set.
The Crestron Ultimate OD6T-BRZ-T-EACH is an IP65-rated 6in. two-way outdoor speaker that can be mounted almost anywhere to use its 5.25in. glass fiber woofer and co-located 3in. planar magnetic ribbon tweeter for 120Hz-20 kHz (±3dB) frequency response. A 24in. direct burial cable is permanently attached and routed through the mounting base. Capable of operation at 8 ohms or through a built-in 70/100V transformer, the unit handles 150W program power and 300W peak. Its 100-degree horizontal and 75-degree vertical dispersion cover a lot of outside area. The enclosure is color molded composite and water-proof wire nut terminals assure a stable connection.
Able to hide in a variety of places, the Danley Sound Labs GO2 8CX compact full-range speaker sounds much bigger than it is. Less than 13in. long, the device has a wide frequency response of 51Hz-21kHz (+/- 3dB). It is designed to operate with an amplifier capable of 320W continuous power and 1280W peak. The highdensity urethane enclosure makes it tough while the Sentinel limiter circuitry protects against damage from signal overloads. The 8in. woofer and 8-ohm impedance allow this model to work with a wide variety of sound system designs.
For the bigger outdoor events including heavy commercial use applications, the EAW KF210 is a proven and popular performer. This passive or bi-amped 2-way medium-size format line array speaker uses a patented isophasic waveguide to blend its performance smoothly with the other units in the array. Powerful punch is easy with the 141dB maximum SPL and frequency response of 55Hz-18kHz. This one can project to the back of the room with a dispersion beam of 90 degrees horizontal and 12 degrees vertical spread. Two 10in. LF woofers team up with a 3in. voice coil compression driver and there is a recessed input panel on the back.
When equipped with the TC-ZX1i cover, the Electro-Voice ZX1i is weather-durable and capable of 123dB max SPL from the EV8L 8in. woofer and DH2005 1.2in. HF compression driver. The system operates on 8 ohms but the “T” version has 70V and 100V wattage transformer taps. The housing is ABS resin and the grille is polyester powder-coated 18GA galvanized steel. Available in black or white, the ZX1i is IP55-rated and is equipped with a 4-pin Phoenix connector. The horn is rotatable to allow for horizontal or vertical mounting of the cabinet.
The JBL Ralleybar XL just looks fun and its design suggests that it can be taken anywhere the fun is. This IP66 Bluetooth soundbar has a 300W RMS Class D amplifier that pushes out sound in three different gain settings. Its Party Mode provides simultaneous connection of two Bluetooth devices while playing music from one device at a time. This all blasts out through eight 2.75in. woofers, twin 1in. tweeters, and four Racetrack Passive Radiators. This can be used as a single unit or connected to more of the Ralleybar family of products. Each Ralleybar XL has aux inputs and outputs along with USB FAT16 and FAT 32 connections. Pressing the light controls on the bottom panel will Sync the music to dynamic lighting patterns.
Suited for residential sound environments is the Klipsch RSM-800 full-range 8in. indoor/ outdoor surface-mount speaker. This one uses the patented Tractrix Hyperfold Port for extended bass response through its five-step folded design. Handling a 100W program and up to 400W peak power, the RSM-800 features 52Hz20kHz (+/- 4dB) frequency response at 8 ohms with the 8in. woofer and 1in. titanium compression driver. The paintable IPX6 enclosure is all-weather ABS plastic, and it includes set screws on each grille to ensure a secure fit between the speaker and grille. The dual 5-way binding posts make a solid wiring connection.
Another bracket-mounted tough sound platform is the Lowell OS-150TB two-way speaker for indoor and protected outdoor environments. Pattern control options on this unit work with a horn-loaded compression driver and 150W power rating to allow live microphones to be used. The back panel has a screwdriver type 8ohm/transformer selector switch and the wiring connectors are protected with a weather-resistant cover and rubber grommet. The black finish housing is molded plastic and the matching grille is aluminum. The bracket allows the housing to be aimed through 90 degrees.
The Martin Audio CDD8 WR can operate in outdoor surroundings where it is sheltered from direct exposure to the elements. The passive IP54- rated two-way system contains an integrated 8in. LF and 1in. exit HF coaxial differential dispersion driver that can be rotated for horizontal or vertical orientation. Operating on 8-ohm nominal impedance, this device has a water and particleresistant grille that is zinc-plated mild steel with powder coated finish and weatherized backing. The composite enclosure may be purchased in white or black finish.
The OSD Audio P83-MK2 patio speaker can go residential or commercial with its IP66-rated paintable ABS enclosure and aluminum mesh grille. The 8in. woofer is a graphite cone with a rubber surround and the tweeter is a silk soft dome design. It has a power handling capability of 80W program and 50W RMS with a frequency response of 56Hz to 20kHz. The speaker can be installed as part of an 8-ohm or 70/100V system with multiple power taps. The included full-motion brackets let the unit have full tilt and swivel range.
Speakers with the muscle enough to work in stadium venues are typically large beasts but the compact two-way, full-range Pure Resonance Audio S10 is up to the task with its coaxially mounted 10in. LF paper cone and 1in. HF thermoplastic drivers. The S10 can handle a maximum 300W power and produce a frequency response of 70Hz-18kHz with a 90-degree by 90-degree coverage pattern. This enables a direct speech distance of up to 650ft. The IP66-rated fiber-reinforced plastic and metal enclosure keeps the elements out and the unit can connect to 8-ohm and 70/100V systems.
Theme parks, backyards, or any wooded area can let the QSC Audio AD-DWL.360 blend right into the setting with its native green color or customized paint scheme. The 5.25in. weather-resistant cone woofer and dual 1in. aluminum dome tweeters cover 360 degrees with 55Hz-25kHz sound at up to 104dB SPL. The glass-filled polypropylene structure can be installed on concrete with the mounting collar, or it can use in-earth base supports; the enclosure is IP55-rated for dust and splash resistance. It connects to either 16-ohm or 70/100V sound systems.
An example of simplicity and durability is the RBH Sound MC-6AW. The UV-treated poly resin housing, stainless steel hardware, and aluminum micro-perforated grille provide a protected environment for the internal components. These consist of a 6.5in. Alu dome woofer and 1in. tweeter combined to deliver a frequency response of 54Hz to 20kHz (+/- 3dB). The connection terminal is the binding post type for rust and corrosion protection. The 8-ohm unit is designed to work with amplifiers from 10W to 130W output and the tweeter is protected by a self-resetting poly-switch.
The Sony ULT TOWER 10 party speaker is a whole sound system in a single unit. There is a 7-band equalizer, 2.4Ghz Bluetooth Fast Pair and multipoint connection, extra speaker connection, 360-degree party light, and even a wireless microphone. Pick it up and go with the handle or roll it on the caster. It can also be connected to a TV to enhance the TV sound output. The power button and controls are located right on the top for easy access.
With a wide range of possible applications and environments, the Soundsphere Q-6 mounts overhead and out of the way in either a hanging or surface mount and it has 360-degree coverage of the area with a maximum continuous sound output level of 35W. The 6.5in. polypropylene LF driver is coaxially mounted with the 0.5in. mylar dome tweeter and the housing is white but paintable and available in custom colors. The frequency response on the 4-ohm device is 220Hz to 20kHz (+/- 3dB). The Q-6 comes fully assembled and ready to mount.
Perfectly at home outside, the Soundtube IPDXT850-GN in-ground omnidirectional speaker is resistant to UV, scratching, chlorine, and weather. Included is theft deterring mounting hardware. It is equally suited to full-range music and paging needs. The coaxial speaker design matches an 8in. polypropylene cone LF driver with butyl rubber surround and a 1in. convex aluminum tweeter. This LF/HF pairing produces a frequency response of 51Hz to 10kHz (+/- 3dB) and a coverage pattern of 360 degrees horizontal and 40 degrees vertical.
The Speco Technologies DMS3TS weather-resistant three-way speaker fits and disappears into small nooks and puts out sound at 15W RMS power. Working with low impedance and 70/100V systems, the DMS3TS creates a 180-degree dispersion pattern. The 4in. polypropylene woofer delivers LF while the 2in. mylar MF and 1in. mylar tweeter round out the 110Hz-20kHz frequency response. The aluminum body has a treated metal grille attached. Screw terminals hold wiring connections in place to maintain the 180-degree coverage uninterrupted.
Where many of the previous models tout their ability to hide, the Stealth Acoustics StingRay 83 is perfectly fine out in the spotlight. This full-range, three-way outdoor system is available with a range of strikingly beautiful front panels. Behind this is an 8in. cone woofer, 1in. neo-magnet mid-range drive driver, and 0.9in. tweeter. These elements work as a team to output clear sound from 40Hz to 20kHz at up to 160W RMS. Stealth Acoustics’ own Fidelity Glass radiating surface is a tough glass fiber that resists water and corrosive elements over a wide range of outside temperatures
When it’s time to blend back into the garden or nature area, the sealed and IPX4-rated TOA GS-302 brings up to 30W of full bodied 100Hz-8kHz music or paging to the job in a number of subtle, natural environment friendly colors. A push-in terminal allows a weather-proof wiring connection and the ABS plastic speaker panel plays long and well with the outdoor elements. The built-in 100V line matching transformer has five different power taps up to 30W. The whole housing gradually widens at the bottom to provide a stable placement.
The Yamaha NS-AW150 outdoor twoway speakers make an all-weather system in any vertical or horizontal placement. The wide 55Hz-40kHz frequency response makes it work for rich music and paging or even nature sound effects. This is the work of its 1/2in. PEI dome tweeter and its 5in. polypropylene mica-filled woofer. The NS-AW150 can use up to 120W of input source power. The acoustic suspension design operates in a 6-ohm system with either white or black exterior finish. The 5-way binding post connection is sturdy for outdoor use and there is a mounting bracket included.
