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This is our yard and the red line indicates a new pergola that we are going to install. All the gravel and some grass in the front will mostly be converted to concrete pavers under the pergola. I am planning to buy the sonance mag6.1 with Sonos amp (Best Buy exclusive) and was wondering how to place the 6 satellite speakers and the son woofer to get optimum results. We do want to focus on the pergola as the main entertainment area but would like to distribute atleast a couple Of the satellite speakers on either side of the yard. Woudl also need some recommendation on how to connect the left and right channels too.. Also this is the first time we are doing something like this so Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for helping out. 

Sonos doesn't sell that speaker so you might want to ask Sonance about placing it.


Hey thanks for the reply. I contacted sonance but they said they don’t help with design and placement.. the representative just read the manual, sort of.. 


These are the things I'm seeing in relationship to what you want to accomplish:

  • Limited space for the area you want to play audio in 
  • Close proximity to neighboring yards
  • AC unit that could potentially overpower a sound system with noise

Rather than spend $1200 for the Sonance system that once installed is for all intended purposes stationary with little flexibility to position speakers for optimum sound after install I might consider:

Two Sonos Move 2’s that a can be setup as a stereo pair at $698 on sale or $898 regular price (click here)

  • Portable
  • Re-chargeble battery
  • 24/hour battery life
  • Can be played while on charger
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • WiFi connectivity 
  • Airplay2 connectivity
  • Sonos Voice control
  • Alexa Voice control
  • Water Resistant
  • Possibly more neighbor friendly
  • Replaceable battery
  • 30 day Sonos return policy 

You could purchase and try them. If not satisfied return them for full refund.


Thanks for your advice. We were thinking of the landscape speakers because we wanted to stagger them in such a way that we can get some music in the yard outside of the patio/pergola too. Our amateur plan was to install 4 satellites on the 4 corners of the pergola facing inwards and then two somewhere in the middle on either side of the yard, again facing towards the pergola. All the left side speakers will be on left channel and all the right side on the right channel. The subwoofer we were thinking to place on the right somewhere in between the pergola. 
 

do you think these 3 1/2” satellite speakers will have major sound interruptions even if I turn them towards pergola away for the AC unit? 
 

thanks for helping out. 


I can’t comment on whether or not the sound will disturb your neighbors. Maybe the fences are high enough to prevent any disturbance. However, that’s a “wait and see” scenario. 

Other things to consider:

  • How do you plan to send power to the Amp?
  • Where will the Amp be placed...inside or outside? *
  • Does your Wi-Fi signal reach the area if the Amp is placed outside; or do you plan to wire it to your router via Ethernet?

The AC unit has nothing to do with placement of your speakers per se. I mentioned it as the noise generated by the AC unit may interfere with your listening.

 * If outside you’ll need a weatherproof enclosure similar to the one shown in this link


Thanks ajtrek1. We were planning to place the amp inside and run the wires from there. Even if only one speaker is near the ac unit and all others spread out, do you still think that it will be very hard to listen to the music. Here is the layout again.

Thanks for all your help too.. 


Thanks ajtrek1. We were planning to place the amp inside and run the wires from there. Even if only one speaker is near the ac unit and all others spread out, do you still think that it will be very hard to listen to the music. Here is the layout again.

Thanks for all your help too.. 

As far as the noise generated by the AC that’s a question I can’t answer. Only you can make that determination. You’ll have to experiment with placement to decide for your ears. Good luck to get your speakers positioned to your liking. 😀


AC unit noise varies greatly, between brands and if a two/multiple speed unit. Take a portable speaker/device out and set it near the unit, run it at all speeds and see how it sounds.

Our old unit on low wouldn't have been too bad, on high you could barely talk over it. Our current unit at lower speeds has a huge low (50-75Hz) frequency output, medium speeds are pretty quiet and high speeds have a lot of fan noise.

I'd not want a speaker within about 6 feet of either unit if I expected to hear it at the louder speeds.


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