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Converting indoor to outdoor speakers.

Isotonic

Isotonic

A life soaked in Music and Sound
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I have had this fantasy for a while. I have never heard a set of outdoor speakers that I could love. They are generally a poor value, except that they are able to withstand the elements.

What I am considering is a great pair of indoor speakers, not too big, to put a hardy finish on, then use as dedicated outdoor speakers. I would have installed wire and jacks outdoors that are connected to a nice indoor system in the house.

Anyone else try this before? I suppose I would refinish with some sort of UV protective water resistant finish. Gill screens would be replaced with steel grills for max protection.

I saw a nice pair of Snell J's at a local thrift.

Any thoughts?
 
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What kind of sound levels are you looking for?

My experience has been that it can take quite a bit to fill the open area of a backyard, etc compared to a living room. Don't go into it expecting them to sound as loud outside as they do inside because they won't, not by a long shot.

This is the reason many outdoor speakers have poor frequency response, especially on the low-end, as the requirements to fill an open area with deep bass are often impractical.
 
Well, I don't really need them to be very loud. I have brought some of my nice speakers to the deck. Outdoor sound without room coloration is generally much better. A boombox is often loud enough. I just want something a little more convenient and a lot more hifi. I could like to play music off my server without having to load a CD player too.

I would be using it for patio parties (me and my friends are over the hill, we don't need to be blasted, we would rather hear the music). And I am considering some sort of portable stand to take it out when I am working in the gardens.
 
You'll want a woofer with a butyl rubber surround, and not a paper cone, either poly or kevlar, or another water/uv heat resistent material.

I agree, most outdoor speakers suck. I have a pair of the old bose 151's (single 4.5" driver) and at low volumes they sound ok. I'd love a pair of floorstanders that were hardy enough to endure the elements.


I'd bet truck bed liner would make a good protective surface for the cabinet, but would be plug-ugly.


jaz
 
jazzmans said:
You'll want a woofer with a butyl rubber surround, and not a paper cone, either poly or kevlar, or another water/uv heat resistent material.

I agree, most outdoor speakers suck. I have a pair of the old bose 151's (single 4.5" driver) and at low volumes they sound ok. I'd love a pair of floorstanders that were hardy enough to endure the elements.


I'd bet truck bed liner would make a good protective surface for the cabinet, but would be plug-ugly.


jaz
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Those are good points. I do not plan to store these outside. I want them to be small enough to carry in and out with relative ease. I definitely want then to look good.
 
I posed a similar question awhile back. An idea I came up with was to just use a standard indoor speaker, and only keep it outside during the summer months.

At work we were discarding some old SCBA cabinets. They close tightly, have a rubber sealing gasket and are just the right size to house a bookshelf size speaker inside. I haven't painted and mounted them, but it's not swimming season yet.

So when not in use, just close the door and they are protected from the weather. Except the heat that is.
 
Isotonic said:
Have you heard them. I have heard a few stone speakers, but none of them sounded very good.
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Heard a pair years ago, indoors at a dealer. As I recall they sounded quite good, much nicer than expected. There are various models in the line, including matching subwoofers if one is so inclined and they show good specs based on what I see on the website... I'm no expert on these, however.
 
If they can avoid any direct water exposure..the best thought I have is to consider them disposable ie: your are going to have to replace the driver very year to 2 so stay cheap and simple. A polyconed/rubber surround 8 inch full range with a tweeter crossed with a single cap may be the way to go.
 
Axiom Algonquins

I build most of my speakers and have built PVC outdoor speakers with water proof cones but they never sounded as good as these Axioms which I pair with an outdoor sub.

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I wouldn't mess with the conversion myself. As mentioned, poly cones, with rubber surrounds for starters. Speakers are usually mounted behing the front panel, with everything gasketed. Of course a plastic cabinet. Cambridge Soundworks makes some pretty nice one's.
 
I believe the Axiom Algonquins are the same as the M3s. They weren't spectacular inside but outside is a different story. I pair them with this passive Marcato outdoor sub powered by an inside Marantz 1150. I push shuffle mode on the Sony CE595 changer while working in the yard or having an adult beverage on the porch.

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I found a beat-up pair of old Paradigm Titans with good drivers, cheap. I installed them with home-made metal brackets just under the eaves of my house, pointing down at a 45 degree angle. I did put some screen over the port to keep hornets and such out - that was underneath the grilles so not seen. Tight up the wall to the eaves they were pretty well protected from both rain and direct sunlight. I brought them inside only during the winter; sounded great and lasted 5 yrs, or so.
 
That beat-up pair of Paradigms will sound ten times better placed anywhere but under the eaves. You do not want outdoor speakers mounted on the house as they will sound like crap. Outdoor speakers need to be placed on stands in free air aimed at you as you sit with your back against the house. The lack of wall reflections is the one advantage outdoor speakers have.
 
I have a pair of Insignia (don't know what model) installed under an office addition I added onto my house the same height as my deck and they point down towards the pool which is about 25 feet away. Hooked up to a Pioneer sx750 and my neighbor has asked me to turn it down. Upstairs on the deck I have a pair of Minimus 7 with some small pvc covers that I made to match my siding and keep off the rain. Both speakers have been out there for over 6 years and sound great and get loud.
 
The nice thing about aiming the speakers at your house rather than towards the great outdoors is that the neighbors are less likely to hear them.
 
Poultrygeist said:
That beat-up pair of Paradigms will sound ten times better placed anywhere but under the eaves. You do not want outdoor speakers mounted on the house as they will sound like crap. Outdoor speakers need to be placed on stands in free air aimed at you as you sit with your back against the house. The lack of wall reflections is the one advantage outdoor speakers have.
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I liiked the bass enhancement from the boundaries, and I liked that they were protected from the rain, and at the perfect height and placement for the 42x28' deck. They assuredly did not sound like crap.
 
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