Outdoor speaker placements

Hi nchaurdia

@melvimbe thanks for your helphul input...really appreciated ;)

Nchaurdia...as they say..."everything changes" whoever "They" are:? But seriously, the graphic below shows what I think is the best option now that I've had time to re-think things.

Using front firing speakers...You would create two zones using the Connect:AMP and place an attenuator in between each to control volume. That would maintain a stereo effect and still allow you to be able to distinhuish left/right. In my previous suggestion the deck speaker would have been out of the "sweet" spot to create stereo. Duh! :P

To have music on the deck I suggest a Play 1 or Sonos One w/Alexa placed on a table. Both are moisture resistant which means they a can handle humidity. They are not weather proof (i.e. full blown outdoor speakers). However, as you know their size makes them easily transported and only used when needed. As a standalone you would also get full dynamic range. :)

I really believe this new suggestion to be best. My apologies for not getting to this point sooner.

Cheers!

Hi nchaurdia

@melvimbe thanks for your helphul input...really appreciated ;)

Nchaurdia...as they say..."everything changes" whoever "They" are:? But seriously, the graphic below shows what I think is the best option now that I've had time to re-think things.

Using front firing speakers...You would create two zones using the Connect:AMP and place an attenuator in between each to control volume. That would maintain a stereo effect and still allow you to be able to distinhuish left/right. In my previous suggestion the deck speaker would have been out of the "sweet" spot to create stereo. Duh! :P

To have music on the deck I suggest a Play 1 or Sonos One w/Alexa placed on a table. Both are moisture resistant which means they a can handle humidity. They are not weather proof (i.e. full blown outdoor speakers). However, as you know their size makes them easily transported and only used when needed. As a standalone you would also get full dynamic range. :)

I really believe this new suggestion to be best. My apologies for not getting to this point sooner.

Cheers!

I actually had that exact same thing in mind about the Sonos Play 1 for the deck. I have a small eave I am thinking I could hang it off of that would cover it (I have to test it). Bring it in the winter but leave it out the rest of the time.

This sounds crazy, but what about a omni one like a GS3 in the middle of the patio where the rocks are, and then a left and right on both ends..would that work?

Is there any speaker selector that I can control from my phone? That would be awesome if I could because I wanted to just run all the wires down to my basement where all the electronics are, and I wouldn't have to have an ugly speaker selector in the kitchen or something like that.

This sounds crazy, but what about a omni one like a GS3 in the middle of the patio where the rocks are, and then a left and right on both ends..would that work?

I don't think that would work as the Connect: Amp must be wired 2 or 4 speakers not 3. I could be mistaken. Best bet to be sure is to send a private email to a Sonos staffer...like Keith N or Ryan S. Then again melvimbe may know as he has a wired Connect:Amp.

A far as an app controlled Zone Selector visit this site: https://www.russound.com/news/2-russound-delivers-xzone4-four-stream-four-zone-audio-system

Cheers!

I will remind you of a general principle that music sound levels dissipate rapidly with distance, even more so out of doors where room reinforcement is missing. Therefore be sure to place speakers as close to listening areas as possible; running speaker wires of adequate thickness at this stage is a lot easier than fixing inadequate sound levels from distant speakers later.

Also, consider using streaming services and bluetooth speakers in places to where you don't want to run speaker wires. Many of these speakers are quite good now, can be paired as a stereo pair when desired, and offer a charge life of over 10 hours on their batteries. Smartphones can save playlists from streaming services for offline listening and be used as a source, so WiFi reach too is not essential; indeed the same set can used interchangeably in the car, or on the road/in the hills/by the seaside. If this route appeals, consider investing in a cheap Android device, dedicate to serve as the music source.

On the question of using an Omni-directional speaker. I agree that it isn't really a good idea, for a couple reasons. First, you would want that center speaker to be essentially play the part of the left or right channel of a pair for both sides of the patio. Say it represented the right. You would then be going left-right/right-left across your yard. Ideally, you want to go left-right/left-right for better sound distribution. Not the end of the world, but it matters. You could resolve that by using a stereo speaker (a single speaker that has both left and right channels), but I don't know if they make those for outdoor. I used to have an in-ceiling speaker like that.

Another, more important factor is that you really want your left and right speakers to be identical make and model. They are all going to sound a little different. You wouldn't be able to do that with the Omni in the middle (FYI, I am also not crazy about the Sonos One in your setup for similar reason)

And of course, there is the wiring concern AJTrek mentions. You would have to use a speaker selector for this.

Over all, I don't think it really gets you much of anything. You might save a little money on one less speaker and a little less wire, but I don't think it saves you any labor and gives you less flexibility to move speakers around in the future.

On the speaker switch being wirelessly controlled, I doubt you'll want to make changes very frequently. For the 2 pairs I have in my yard, they always are on. I might use it to turn on/off the garage more frequently because it truly is a completely different zone, but that is not your situation.

On using a Sonos One or Play:1, you can't safely leave it outside all summer long. It is moisture resistant, not waterproof, so you don't want to leave it in the rain.. I imagine the sun is going to discolor the paintjob at the very least, if not cause it to overheat (depending on where you live). Think of it kind of like a computer, a laptop. You can bring it outside, but it can't live out there.

You could resolve that by using a stereo speaker (a single speaker that has both left and right channels), but I don't know if they make those for outdoor. I used to have an in-ceiling speaker like that.


So TIC does make one, TIC GS4 8" Outdoor Weather-Resistant Omnidirectional Dual Voice Coil (DVC) In-Ground Speaker.

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Also, consider using streaming services and bluetooth speakers in places to where you don't want to run speaker wires.

I did think about that, but I don't want to carry in and out speakers. My wife would be annoyed now she has to use multiple apps, blah blah blah. So I would rather just stick with Sonos and control it all from one app.

How would this work with L R speakers with the TIC GS5 and two other wall mounted speakers (yet to determine which ones)?

Speaking personally, I’m not a fan of stereo speakers in a back yard / garden. When in use, there’s always too much Brownian motion and never anyone in “the sweet spot”. I wouldn’t set up stereo, but just stick with a mono signal, so any guest would be getting the full music experience, rather than the potential mostly left or mostly right signal.

But that’s just my take.

Speaking personally, I’m not a fan of stereo speakers in a back yard / garden. When in use, there’s always too much Brownian motion and never anyone in “the sweet spot”. I wouldn’t set up stereo, but just stick with a mono signal, so any guest would be getting the full music experience, rather than the potential mostly left or mostly right signal.

But that’s just my take.

But how do you setup Mono with a Connect Amp? I agree, but I don't know how to do that.