Would you like to turn your next barbecue into a real dance party? Assembling an outdoor speaker system might seem like a daunting task, but when you get started you will realize that it is easier than it first seems. Assembling the speakers yourself will take an afternoon of work, but you can save a lot of money by not calling an electrician. You'll have a blast of music to disturb your neighbors in no time.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Assemble the Equipment
Step 1. Mount the internal receiver
Many outdoor speaker systems are connected to a pre-existing radio receiver located in the house. As this is a rather sensitive electronic device, it is preferable to always place it indoors. A multi-zone receiver will allow you to listen to music simultaneously both outdoors and indoors.
Step 2. Install a volume control knob on the outside
It must be ensured that it is mounted in a location sheltered from the elements. You will need to run the speaker cable from the receiver to the knob, and then from it to the corresponding speakers. Most of the knobs can be easily installed on external walls.
If you prefer, you can install different knobs to control the volume of the speakers in pairs. This way you can control the volume of the music for distinct zones
Step 3. If mounting multiple pairs of speakers, a multi-channel amplifier must be installed
Each additional pair increases the risk of overloading the amplifier built into the receiver. The amplifier can be mounted close to the receiver and, subsequently, the speaker cables will have to be routed starting from the amplifier itself.
Step 4. Get a suitable speaker cable
If you need to cover a distance of less than 24 meters, a cable with a diameter of 1.2 mm may be fine, but longer cables should be 1, 6 or 2 mm. If you do not use an adequate cable diameter, the sound quality of the audio may be impaired. The longer the cable, the greater the deterioration.
- The four-way cables allow you to connect two pairs of speakers with a single wire, saving you the hassle of having to run a lot of cables.
- For outdoor speakers, the CL2 and CL3 certified cables comply with European and American standards to be mounted also inside the walls (under the track). This means that they do not cause interference with other electronic devices and are not exposed to the risk of fire. These are cables that are also weatherproof, which is a key feature for outdoor mounting.
- It is advisable to provide for a cable length greater than necessary by 10-15% to cope with connections, unexpected events and the fact that the cable must not be too tight, since any crushing (for example in the corners) could negatively affect the quality of the audio.
Step 5. Route the cable from the receiver to the outside
With the drill, a hole must be made in the wall at the bottom to pass the cable from the inside to the outside. The hole, once the cable has been passed, must be sealed with silicone to maintain the insulation of the internal environment. The cable must be led up to the volume control knob, and from there a second cable must be led to the speakers.
- The cable should not be passed between the jambs, neither between windows nor between doors, otherwise it could curl, compromising the audio quality.
- Some modern amplification systems are completely wireless and work via a Bluetooth link. If such a system is used, there is no need to worry about wiring. Just check that the receiver supports this type of wireless technology and that the speakers are mounted close enough to the receiver. Bluetooth, in the absence of objects that obstruct the signal, has a range of about 45 meters. However, the walls between the receiver and the speakers significantly decrease this radius.
Method 2 of 3: Arranging and Mounting the Speakers
Step 1. Place the speakers away from the elements
Although most outdoor speakers are designed to withstand the elements, their useful life can be greatly extended by keeping them sheltered. You should try to place them under the eaves or under the veranda roof.
Step 2. Space the speakers apart
Between them there should be at least 2, 5 - 3 meters. If they are placed too close to each other, the sound may be garbled and the speakers will resonate. If, on the other hand, they were placed too far from each other, it would be difficult to hear anything and certainly any stereophonic effect would be lost.
Step 3. Switch channels
A pair of speakers includes two channels: left and right. Together, they create the stereo sound. When mounting more than one pair of speakers, it is important to switch between the left and right channels to get a proper stereo mix. This is especially important when installing a large number of speakers.
- If more than one speaker is mounted on the same wall, the right and left channel must be alternated.
- If the boxes are mounted at the four corners of a narrow area of the courtyard, the two left channels must be placed in two opposite corners, and the right ones in the other two.
Step 4. Before mounting the speakers it is a good idea to check the effect by listening to them
It is necessary to check that the sound quality and its direction are satisfactory. This can save you a lot of time and some headaches.
A larger number of speakers is preferable to a higher volume. If you are having trouble getting the sound you want, you should consider adding a couple more speakers instead of pushing the volume to the max
Step 5. The speakers should be mounted high, but not too high
Placing the speakers high allows the sound to be projected further away, allowing for better coverage with fewer speakers. But if they were mounted at 10 feet or more, much of the bass would be lost. So it is best to keep the crates at a height of between 2, 5 and 3 meters from the ground.
Step 6. The speakers should be tilted down to facilitate the sound flow
This way you get a better listening experience and can also reduce noise for neighbors. Many wall mount brackets allow for angled mounting and are equipped with pins for millimeter positioning.
Step 7. Assembly must be done following the instructions
Depending on the type of bracket, the mounting may differ, but generally a hole must be made in the wall with a drill. Then a masonry drill bit will be needed.
- The boxes should only be mounted on masonry or sturdy wooden walls. To prevent the crates from starting to fail, do not mount them on cedar wood walls or aluminum rails. Should they fail, the speakers would begin to vibrate or even fall to the ground.
- Use the brackets provided with the speakers. The brackets for the outdoor speakers are treated to withstand the elements. If they are replaced with other models not designed for this purpose, they will begin to rust and weaken.
Step 8. To connect the speakers use banana plugs
These ensure a much more reliable connection, which is essential for outdoor speakers. The banana plugs connect directly to the speaker wire terminals located on the rear panel of the speaker and receiver.
- To install the banana plugs it is necessary to strip the end of the cable. Each cable has two wires: one black and one red. They must be separated by pulling them slightly to obtain the necessary space to be able to work on them. Each of these should be peeled for a couple of centimeters.
- At this point, the banana connector must be unscrewed to insert the stripped wire, then the connector must be screwed back and tightened.
Method 3 of 3: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Check the datasheet of the receiver and the speakers
There are many different factors that could potentially produce a distorted or humming speaker sound. One of the most common is the poor compatibility between the different components of the system. Therefore it is necessary to verify that the receiver and the amplifier support the impedance (measured in ohms) required by the speakers, and that these support the power (measured in watts) delivered by the amplifier. To make sure all components are compatible, check the documentation for each of them.
Step 2. Check the connections
If the positive and negative speaker wires were inadvertently swapped, no sound would probably be heard. The connections should be checked again and it would be advisable to verify that the black wires have been inserted into the black clips and that the red ones are inserted into the red ones.
- If the speaker was very far away and a cable with a suitable diameter was not used, the sound would be very distorted. So it would be the case to try to bring the speaker closer to the receiver by shortening the relative cable, or to pass a new cable with a suitable diameter.
- Crossed cables could short-circuit the speakers and seriously damage them. Care must be taken not to let the black and red wire touch when they are uncovered.
Step 3. Check for physical damage
Check the speakers for material damage. A dead speaker sounds terrible, so you need to check that the woofers aren't cracked or torn. If physical damage is found, the speaker must be replaced.
