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Perhaps you’re trying to pair a nice collection of speakers for your latest exterior TV, maybe you’re looking for a long-term external option for downloading music outdoors. You will need a good speakers for that, as well as you might be questioning if it’s enough to invest the additional money on outdoor speakers.
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Although indoor speakers may be used outdoors, they are more susceptible to harm from the elements than hardware intended for outdoor usage. If you use indoor speakers outside, carry them indoors while not in use.
Assume you have an additional pair of speakers (possibly as a result of an upgrade) and wanted to start using your speakers outside. What is there that might possibly go wrong with them? What is it appropriate to use them outside?
What are the Consequences of Using Indoor Speakers Outdoors?
Outdoor speakers such as the Polk Audio Outdoor Speakers (available on Amazon) and these Sonos Outdoor Architectural Speakers are weatherproof. They are designed with components that have been selected deliberately to shield them from wind, fog, and extreme hot/cold temperature changes. Indoor speakers clearly lack those features.
As is the case for other devices, audio devices left outdoors are susceptible to disruption from environmental and ambient effects, as well as soil, water, and the heat. The following are the most important reasons why indoor speakers struggle to function properly when used outdoors.
Mechanical Defect
Numerous interior speakers employ a paper cone driver, and the component that drives the speaker back and forth. Although chemically cleaned, paper cone drivers are prone to humidity and tearing. On the other hand, you discover that your internal speaker is constructed of polyurethane or polypropylene, it may have a greater chance of outdoor survival.
Similarly, internal speaker cases are occasionally constructed by pushing sawdust or another filler substance onto board. When water seeps through and between these pressed layers of the fragile material, it may wreak havoc on the safe exterior shell, thereby endangering the delicate interior.
You may apply a sealant to the external casing of your speakers through spraying or brushing it on, as well as caulking the casing’s attachment points, to avoid debris and moisture from accessing your unit. This will significantly prolong the life of indoor speakers used outdoors.
Bear in mind that certain interior speakers are not intended to be mounted; rather, they are intended to be positioned on an entertainment stand or adjacent to your stereo. If you want to build your own speaker mounting device, make sure to weatherproof and over-secure your components, as mounts are a common point of failure for exterior electronics.
Cables
If you use internal or external speakers, the cabling is a critical component of the conventional receiver-speaker setup. If your run is lengthy or you’re installing your speakers farther out in the yard, you’ll want to guarantee that your cable runs are as shielded and stable as possible.
As with the speaker itself, the cabling is vulnerable to weather and physical harm, even those devices that claim to be engineered for such use. As harm stops signals from traveling effectively via the speaker cord, an uninsulated, exposed cable will easily become useless.
And if the cable is placed on the outside of the building, once it leaves the secure interior of the house, temperature becomes a factor in determining the cable’s life expectancy. Investing in pre-insulated cable or a low-cost insulation jacket for your cable is a simple way to prolong the existence of an outer cable run. It is very good.
If you want to bury your cable to go deeper out in the yard, a piece of inexpensive PVC piping will help control temperature changes and protect your cable from physical harm caused by soil, water, and digging animals. At the very least, covering the cable in tape is an inexpensive and reliable method of insulating your cabling.
The termination attachment of your audio cord to your speaker is a particularly weak spot. This link, which is often left exposed on the interior speakers, is perfect for failure, and unless you want to constantly trim and reconnect the cable, it should be discussed.
There are some pre-made alternatives available from some businesses or third parties, but they are often missized or chintzy at best. Other solutions involve capping and shielding the cabling/connection point with glue, electrical tape, or other insulators.
Excellent Consistency
The majority of speakers are purpose-built. When a speaker is bought, it should be in peak condition; thus, inserting or modifying something will change the sound that comes out. The best advice I can give you here is to verify and track your audio continuously while you complete each line of protection for your speakers.
So that way, if anything can affect the tone of your headphones, you will quickly determine what caused it and the degree of which it can be repaired depending on the path you took.
You’re more likely to note automatically that the speakers are not as noisy as they were prior to being taken outdoors. This is entirely normal. Although indoor speakers are capable of being used outdoors, they were built for indoor output and are usually bass-forward. Outdoor microphones, on the other side, are treble forward in order to be understood more effectively in open areas.
When is it permissible to use indoor speakers outdoors?
If you sometimes use your indoor speakers indoors, you are unlikely to endanger your electronics. However, if you plan to leave your speakers outdoors, open to the weather, it is recommended that you employ any of the preventative measures mentioned before, like plastic cone drivers as well as non-pressed exterior cases.
Additionally, mesh grill panel covers, extra interior insulation (for warmer climates), additional slipcovers or some wraps (when not in use), as well as keeping the speakers out of direct sunlight are all choices to consider. Significant temperature changes and overt sun exposure may be fatal to electronics. If you’re looking for more tips, we have a separate post on shielding outdoor speakers.
A simple and efficient method of achieving many of the points mentioned above is to buy or build a well-fitting protective speaker box for your good equipment. Similarly to how an outdoor TV cabinet will be recommended for outdoor television usage (see our write-up), a good speaker box will be always recommended for any outdoor speaker use where the speakers are not rated for outdoor use.
These will provide additional insulation, secure your speakers from soil and water with all-around security and built-in panel covers, shield your cable links, and offer physical protection in the event of extreme weather attempting to destroy your speakers. Additionally, you should follow all of the other suggestions mentioned above to fully safeguard your investment.
It Is More Beneficial to Use Outdoor Speakers
If you’ve read our guide to using outdoor televisions, you’ll recognize that I usually choose a product that is purpose-built for the job, and this is no exception. With the amount of factors and possible issues associated with adapting an interior speaker for usage comfortably and efficiently outside, it could be more time and stress efficient to follow the simpler path.
Outdoor speakers were created with one purpose in mind: to be used outdoors. And they’ll be able to back up their statements with quality and, in certain cases, a guarantee. If you go the do-it-yourself route or opt for the more expensive exterior speaker option, then you can buy something you like.