In the past, if an integrator heard that their customer wanted outdoor audio, it usually meant adding one pair of patio speakers. Today, however, outdoor living has become a sophisticated category, with distinct consumer needs, and outdoor music is no exception. Outdoor speakers have become better looking and better sounding, aiding the transformation.
Currently, there’s a wide variety of high-quality outdoor speakers for systems integrators and their customers to choose from, each offering the opportunity to suit the unique and varied characteristics of any outdoor space. By using appropriate products, proper design, and executing effectively, outdoor speakers can allow music to gracefully define walkways and perimeters, evoking ambience in key outdoor gathering spots.
Outdoor speakers have become a natural part of the landscape, no longer an overbearing piece of technology perched awkwardly under the eaves of a house. Innovative in their designs and exceptional in performance, outdoor speakers are having a moment, and systems integrators and their customers stand to reap the rewards.
Here are some of the top trends shaping outdoor audio:
Adapting to Evolving Spaces
In the past, the primary applications for outdoor audio were the deck and swimming pool. While these common areas still benefit from audio, many other places should be considered. Whether it is in gardens, courtyards, fire pit areas, boat docks, or basketball and tennis courts, consumers want their entire yards covered with music, and manufacturers have the solutions for these myriad applications.
It’s important to remember that the landscape and topology that you’re dealing with during an integration will likely be much different a few years down the road. Trees and plantings grow, decks are added and expanded, areas are cleared and resurfaced for new gardens — the outdoors is a living, breathing entity that morphs and evolves continuously.
The outdoor audio system will need to adjust accordingly, which has inspired manufacturers to design speakers that can be easily relocated, swapped, and scaled. When speakers feature integrated light fixtures, design versatility becomes even more important. Systems that can be altered without significant rewiring are essential and becoming widely available.
Outdoor Audio as an Accessory
The remarkable range of outdoor speaker styles creates more mounting options. In addition to attaching speakers to exterior surfaces, staking them into the ground, and recessing them into the ceiling of a covered patio, you can now find speakers that can be hung like pendants from the limbs of trees, rafters, and other structures. Often integrating lighting, they are a charming and functional addition to the yard.
When designing an outdoor audio system, blending in is better than sticking out, and that means looking beyond basic black, white, and brown speakers. Speakers that can be customized in colors to match the exterior of the house, the garden mulch, or the pilings on the boat dock can elevate the look of an outdoor audio system considerably. Color-matching services from speaker manufacturers are becoming more popular, so keep this on your radar for your next outdoor audio project.
Multi-Speaker Systems to Enhance Experiences
Traditionally, outdoor audio setups relied on just two speakers to fill a space with sound. Today, advanced systems employ multiple speakers to precisely “place” sound where it’s needed rather than simply projecting it. This approach means each speaker operates at a lower volume while achieving the same overall sound level for the listener. The result is not only superior sound quality but also a reduction in “noise pollution,” minimizing disturbances to neighbors.
The principle is simple: the more speakers you use in a space, the less work each individual speaker has to do. Customers can maximize the number of speakers within their budget and space constraints.
Bollard speakers, designed to disperse sound in a 360-degree radius, elevate outdoor audio experiences. When combined with other speakers, they create a harmonious blend of focused and ambient sound, achieving audio quality that is otherwise difficult to attain.
Advancements in outdoor audio have significantly changed the way customers experience sound in their yards. By transitioning from basic patio speakers to elegant and advanced outdoor audio systems, developments in outdoor audio technology have made it possible for consumers to experience rich, high-quality sound environments in any outdoor setting.
