Question

Outdoor Weatherproof Speakers

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56 replies

A
I dont have a problem with wifi range as i have several extenders around my property. Maybe it is far fetched but i sort of am looking to create surround sound in my rear yard, roughly 75 feet on each side from the house and about 100 feet of width. So maybe a 150 feet of wire and not a few hundred feet, but still just a pipe dream at this point as i do not have the appetite to run two 75 foot trenches. Hence why wifi speakers or so appealing. Bluetooth is too limited and you can only maybe get 2 speakers with that set up.
K
The logistics of outdoors, AC power, and WiFi range make for an engineering and support nightmare and is probably not worth the ROI.
Logistics out of doors includes speaker design such that it works well without room reinforcement that all existing Sonos speakers are designed to work with and therefore need to perform well.

With Connect/Connect Amp in the line up, the wide range of excellent outdoor passive speakers in the market that can be used with these is what must be leading to the poor expected ROI outcomes.

Finally, I suspect that the stated priorities of streaming services and voice control leave no bandwidth for this pursuit inside Sonos.
Airgetlam
For me, it's the power issue. I would expect there's some potential liability should someone get electrocuted with improper wiring, something that normal speakers don't have to worry about. While I would hope most people would have an electrician do an appropriate install, I could easily see someone hooking up 3 or 4 inside the home style extension cords, burying them in the garden to string it out to a speaker, and then get electrocuted when it rains (or some such. Yes, I'm bordering on the absurd, but I'm trying to think like a liability lawyer).

I hadn't given much consideration to the speaker design itself, but it makes perfect sense. Would it be cool if they were to blow all of our minds and release something? You bet. But I'm not holding my breath.
Bruce
K
I could easily see someone hooking up 3 or 4 inside the home style extension cords, burying them in the garden to string it out to a speaker, and then get electrocuted when it rains
Would people really do that?!!!

But even with a professionally installed mains power socket out of doors, there needs to be the kind of care in taking power from it that is prescribed for bathrooms if the play 1 unit is to be used there.

The only workable solution out of doors is passive speakers or those that have a built in rechargeable battery. I doubt Sonos will venture into the latter domain in the near future.
L
Badge
Where I live any outdoor Sonos speaker would be gone by morning!
Airgetlam
Kumar, thanks for the grin. And I agree, even professionally installed sockets can be misused/abused.

I just can't see at this point an acceptably sized battery to be used to get the volume and depth of sound for any significant length of time that you can get from a Play:1 anytime soon. Perhaps if there's a quantum leap in battery technology, which I'm hoping for.

Linders, I feel you pain. I've lived in such situations before, and would prefer not to do it again 🙂
Bruce
A
Over a year later and still no traction that i am aware of on true outdoor sonos speakers. Bose offeres a solution via a wifi speaker at roughly $900. Would really prefer sonos though. Any one aware of any updates?
livsonos
Badge
AM-1 explore some nice outside speakers bowers and Wilkins
K
Bose offeres a solution via a wifi speaker at roughly $900.
Do they? Link please.
nicka99
Userlevel 7
Badge +17
something new is in the pipeline from sonos but no idea what - could be outdoor or something completely different...
https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/new-product-showing-on-fcc-s15-6773941

we'll know more by 27 August when the restricted documents become available or more likely the product is launched !
B
Badge +1
Anyone figure out a way to put a Play 1, 3 or 5 in some sort of water proof enclosure?? I am not buying a Connect Amp and speakers because I'm not a millionaire.
U
something new is in the pipeline from sonos but no idea what - could be outdoor or something completely different...
https://en.community.sonos.com/wireless-speakers-228992/new-product-showing-on-fcc-s15-6773941

we'll know more by 27 August when the restricted documents become available or more likely the product is launched !

I don't think that's related to an outdoor speaker at all. More likely voice command control. BUT, I would LOVE outdoor speakers. I'd immediately purchase 2 or 3 if they released them. I've been waiting almost a decade for them.
K
You have not had music outdoors while waiting the decade?!
N
ugh! Just left my play 3 outside after party and it got caught in rain... Good news. It still works. Bad news would love some outdoor sonos!!!
A
I just ordered a cover from https://www.beyondthewake.com/outdoor-speaker-covers.php Will see if good, but figure if it can protect in a marine environment, under my porch should also be good 🙂.:?
melvimbe
I wouldn't trust those speaker covers, at least not to the point where I'd leave my PLAYs outside. The speakers they cover in a marine environment are surely waterproof. The cover is just added security. And their warranty clearly states that if their product fails, then they cover the cost of the cover, not the speaker.

Besides that, I'd think the effort it takes to take the speakers in and out every time you want to use them isn't much more than having to cover and uncover these speakers.

All that said, I do have some outdoor speakers that are exposed to the elements where this might be useful. However, I can't justify a $45 cover for a $100 speaker. I'd rather just replace if it fails. And a cheap drawstring backpack covers them and keeps some of the water out for cheap.
Danny
A
I was hoping to keep the covers on the PLAY5's even while playing them, maybe I mis-judged them and will need to take them off. Either way they will be mostly under a patio and will have to just protect from fog and humidity and dust. Moving the speakers is something I'm hoping to avoid, maybe for the San Diego rainy season of 2 months.
M
I agree completely that these guys are missing a "EPIC" opportunity as many satisfied Sonos owners crave an outdoor weatherproof connection! Someone is asleep at the switch!!!!!!
M
Complacency at it's finest!!
Airgetlam
What's your estimation on how many of these speakers could be sold in year 1, year 2, year 3, and year 5? And the estimated cost of spinning up a new manufacturing line? And the additional support needed? And liability insurance on manufacture of an electrical device designed to be used in a wet environment? And add another 20% for other costs I've not thought of...marketing, etc

I'm not slamming you, I'm truly interested. The best way to make your case for such a speaker is to run these numbers, and show if there's a financial interest for the company to do this. I don't know what the numbers are, but am assuming that Sonos does, and it's why they haven't done it (yet...who knows what they're planning, they certainly don't tell us). I hope I'm wrong, and that they are working on it. Or even if they'd just announce it.
Bruce
A
another option is for Sonos to partner with or create independently a water "resistant" cover or case that can be played through (not have to be removed to play them). Doesn't even have to be water proof, just mostly resistant. If Sonos is not interested you would think a company like Sanus may be.. Maybe the market is just not there yet.
M
Surely there can be a simple way to make a weatherproof Sonos power box that plugs into an exterior GCFI receipt much like a low voltage lighting transformer. This ain't "rocket surgery":D
J
Userlevel 5
Badge +11
I am sitting on my patio listening to Sonos at this very moment. YES...I realize that this won't work for everyone. BUT...if you can spend an hour running speaker wire from inside your house to your yard, there is a spectacular solution already. And you may already have the hole in your wall (just check where your TV cables come in).

Anyhow, if you can run wires:

1) Connect Amp safe and sound in your home. No electrical/water worries, and as a bonus close to your wifi source.
2) Speaker wire...I used low-voltage wire that is made for outdoor use (you can get at a home store in the outdoor lighting area.
3) A pair of TRUE REAL OUTDOOR DESIGNED speakers. Mine have been outdoors in upstate New York winters for 3-4 years now and work 100% perfectly.

Again, I know that running wire is not going to be possible for some people. But if it is in your case, this is a perfect solution to keep electrical equipment where it belongs...INDOORS.
melvimbe
Surely there can be a simple way to make a weatherproof Sonos power box that plugs into an exterior GCFI receipt much like a low voltage lighting transformer. This ain't "rocket surgery":D

You know that the transformer is the easy part, right? The speaker probably isn't that hard either, since it's been done a lot already. The hard part is essentially the on board computer. It's a bit more complicated that your landscape lights. Probably a bit more than a Bluetooth speaker has as well.

I think it's actually more comparable to a ruggedized laptop.
Danny
S
I, too, want an outdoor speaker option from Sonos without a great deal of creative engineering to get there. I've owned a Sonos system for 5+ years and must say I'm getting impatient with the lack of a solution offered by Sonos. At some point I'll be interested in expanding or upgrading my system other than buying additional Play 1s, 3s, 5s. At that point, I'll probably go with Bose. I don't want to, but they offer more comprehensive solutions now that weren't available when I originally bought Sonos. It's not a threat, it's just an observation that I will eventually cease to buy Sonos if they don't keep up with my / our needs. And there's less of a clear advantage of Sonos over Bose these days. And clearly some disadvantages.
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