T E C H
T a k e I t O u ts id e
Turn up the volume with weatherproof
speakers that expand entertaining
beyond the back door.
PLACEMENT Ideally,
speakers should ring
the yard, facing in to
better direct sound.
If there’s room for
only two speakers
mounted on the rear
of the house, angle
them slightly in and
down to minimize
music needlessly
playing beyond your
property line.
COVERAGE Bass
notes can be a
problem outdoors
where sound thins
out fast. Mounting
or placing speakers
near a wall helps
reflect that sound,
amplifying the lower
registers. Bose Free
Space
51
, $
450
, has
3 6 0
-degree
coverage and is
designed to deliver
depth, bose.com
SOUND ADVICE
Take it from home
tech consultant
Grant Clauser:
“Consider your
neighbors,” he says.
“You don’t want to
be known as the
neighbor who
cranks Journey at
volume
11
all
summer long.” ®
PRICE There’s no
reason to spend a
lot of money for
well-designed
outdoor speakers.
Boston Acoustics
SoundWare
speakers,
left,
have
good sound quality
and are affordable
at
$ 10 0
each. They
come in seven
colors and finishes
to mix or match.
bostonacoustics.com
CARE
Weatherproof
speakers are
durable by design,
but simple
maintenance will
extend their life.
Brush away grass
clippings,twigs,and
dirt. Keep in mind
“weatherproof”
means resistant to
the elements, so
keep speakers away
from the pool. For
an option that can
withstand splashes,
Nextar’s Bluetooth
floating speaker,
$
130
, is a good bet.
nextar.com
BY LAURA HELLER; PHOTO: (STACKED SPEAKERS) MARTY BALDWIN
