Outdoor speakers, any install advice?

[atgcpaul]

We want outdoor speakers when we put in the new patio. One speaker will
go on the outside of the house and the other will go on my detached shop.
The patio sits in between. I plan to run the shop speaker wire under the new
patio.

What things do I need to consider when doing the installation? Do I use some
other kind of speaker wire for direct bury? Should I put it in a conduit just in case? Do I put 2 RCA jacks on the outside of the house or just run the wires
straight into the basement and then up to the living room where the stereo is?
The longest wire run will be 100ft.

Wireless speakers seem to use just the headphone jack of the stereo. I can
hear music outside but then there'd be nothing going on inside the house.

Paul

[JimD]

Paul,

I have speakers on my screened in porch but they are protected from direct rain - a little different from your plans if I understand them. Maybe my approach would work, however.

I wired both my family room (where I have 6 speakers) and my porch the same way. I ran 16 gauge zip cord through the walls and into a plastic electrical box. I left about 3 foot in the box for hookup to the speaker. I put white plastic solid covers on the box with a 1/4 inch hole in the center for the wire to come out. I bought a big spool of the zip cord (normally used for appliance electrical supply at 120V) from Parts Express. I do not subscribe to the low oxygen or other "special wire" theories. I just use simple wire. I believe going too small will cause muddy base, however, but I think 16 gauge is reasonable.

If I went under a slab, I would use conduit. Too hard to do anything with it otherwise. Added cost is tiny.

Jim

[poolhound]

I have outdoor speakers although they are protected against the weather as they are under a covered patio.

If you are going to run the wire through concrete the I would put it in some of that flexible conduit. For the extra few bucks its worth the protection and if you ever had to pull new wires its much easier than pulling up the slab

Given that you are putting in a fixed install I am not sure the "Jacks" are really necessary. I tried various wireless speakers and they didnt work very well (for my application). They are underpowered, and to be any good at all need to plug into a power source which complicates things. To get something with even OK sound and power the cost $$$$. You can pick up a reasonable set of outdoor speakers for less than $100.

If your amp has a secondary speaker channel wire them into that if not you can buy a speaker switching box. SOmething like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Sima-SSW-Speak...8814147&sr=1-5

There are lots of different types that will work with 2 or many more sets of speakers. They will route the source to any set or combinations.

[crokett]

Assuming the new patio will be concrete, put the wires in plastic conduit before you pour the concrete, or at least put in the conduit with a string in it to pull the wires. Don't direct bury the wiring in the concrete.

[stocktr8er]

First thought is to put both speakers on the house spaced to the corners of the patio unless the patio is an odd shape and need the shed mount. Much easier to punch through the side of the house and wire the speakers directly.

Also think aboout an exterior volume control. Around $30 but well worth the extra.

I would run at least one conduit through the concrete. Always great to have. I have poured a slab and later regreted not having one. I lay two now, one for speakers and such and one for electric. Just make sure the conduit is big enough.

Zip wire works just fine but be careful running it next to electric wires. Can cause a buzz or humm. If you must cross the two, run them at 90 degree angles.

Last thought, if not in a hurry, you can get wire cheap online. 100ft for under $10.

Hope this helped,

Curtis

[gsmittle]

What everybody else said, with the thought that you might want to consider 12 ga wire or bigger, if the cost is in line.

I have noticed more of a difference in sound quality with larger-gauge wire than I have with extra-special-unobtanium-copper-alloy wire in smaller gauges. It's all in the ear of the beholder, however.

Definitely add a volume control, and you might want to eventually add a separate amp for the outside speakers.

g.

[gerti]

Long thin wires means more signal loss than on thicker gauge. Means you have to up the volume on the amplifier, making it work harder (and possibly in a not so optimal range). I'd suggest the thickest wire you can afford within the budget. IMHO a cheap no-name brand works just as well as some supposed high end super-secret enhanced whatever wire, as long as the gauge is similar.