How many times have you been to someones house for a bbq or a pool party and the soul form of music is a boom box that can barely be heard out by the pool, but is deafeningly loud as you go to sit down and eat your food. If you have experienced this or are said “boom boxer” then pay attention.
There are several ways to bring your entertainment sources to your back yard. Here are a few of our favorites…
1.This is a surface mount speaker from Jamo. This gives you the most flexibility if you have a “2 zone” back yard, think a covered patio and a pool/grass area etc. I like these because they will give you good sound dispersion in both areas as you can move them up and down or left and right depending on how they are mounted.
2. These are in ceiling speakers from Polk Audio. They make a great addition if you have the traditional covered patio like most homes do here in Arizona. They are great for adding sound to a localized area, but they do have some minor draw backs. As they are mounted in to the ceiling they are very directional. Meaning they will sound great if you are underneath the patio with the speakers, but as soon as you step out of there, the volume drops off significantly. You get the same effect as the boom box, barely audible in one area, deafening in the other.
3.These are a set of Proficient rock speakers. I find these are a great addition to a set of in ceiling patio speakers as it gives you sound in different areas with, if set up correctly, volume controls for each set of speakers. There are more sizes, shapes and finishes of rock speakers than you can imagine. There are even companies that you can send in a sample of your landscape rocks in to and they will color match the rock speakers to what you sent them! Now this comes at a premium, but it will make them disappear in to your yard. Even if you dont have a desert type landscape these can be made to disappear by placing them under a bush or in a densely planted area of your yard. Also, they are great out by a pool also as they are waterproof.
4.This is for the person who spends a lot of time outside. This is a fully weather proof LCD from SunBrite TV’s. They are completely sealed from the elements so you don’t have to worry about them getting wet, dirty, dusty etc. People always ask me if the extra cost of the weather proof TV’s is worth it. If you plan on spending a lot of time outside watching TV, then yes. If you live in an environment like Phoenix where its 115 degrees one day, then its raining mud the next, then yes. Do you wanna show of to your friends that you can hose off your TV, then YES!! Now the last one may not seem like its important, but how many of my fellow Phoenicians have they thin layer of brown dust on all their outside furniture, bbq etc? The other most important factor is that they are specifically made for outdoor use, a regular LCD that you would buy for your living room is not made for the outdoor, high temperatures, dust, moisture etc will destroy a regular LCD. Think of it like this…in March of last year I installed an LCD on the patio of a house in Anthem. In August I was out there taking it down and replacing it with a weather proofed one. But TV’s come with a 1 year warranty…if they are inside your home they do…but not if you take them back to where you purchased them with it covered in dust and dirt and crud they wont.
As always The English Guy is available to answer any questions you may have about upgrading your outdoor living space!! Please contact us via phone @ (623)330-9386 or email : mamcdowall@gmail.com or via the “contact us” link on the side of this page!!