Setting up a speaker system with wires at this point in time is more of a nuisance than anything.  There are too many things to worry about.  Since your system is located outside, you will have to make sure that the wires are placed in strategic locations, possibly involving manual labor to dig holes to hide the wires.  You will also have to be sure that your speaker system’s wires are waterproof or offer some sort of insulation.  This often results in the need to buy special, more expensive wires.  It is time for you to cut the strings (literally) and start thinking about a wireless outdoor speaker system.

When you buy a wireless outdoor speaker system, there are a few things to be cautious of.  First off, be sure to find a wireless speaker system that meets the dimension specifications of your outdoor area.  Different wireless outdoor speaker systems have different capabilities when it comes to transferring sound.  If you are buying a system for a bigger piece of property, make sure the speakers can have the sound travel over a larger frequency range.  If you have a smaller piece of property, then you should be aware of this as well, because you will not need to spend extra money on a system with a larger frequency range.

Second you want to be sure that whatever console you are connecting your wireless outdoor speaker system to is compatible with the wireless technology.  Any stereo system, Sirius Radio or DVD console with built in Bluetooth technology will get the job done.  Just make sure before purchasing your system that your stereo, or whatever other consoles you will connecting the speakers to, is wireless compatible.  If it isn’t, you may need to purchase a wireless adapter for your console.

When it comes to wireless outdoor speaker systems, you want to be sure that you are buying a product that will provide high sound quality at price you are comfortable with.  Don’t spend extra money just because the sound travels over a further frequency.  Make sure the sound quality is there as well!  If you are ready to find a great wireless outdoor speaker system, some of the best places to look include Best Buy, The Sharper Image and Brookstone.

One of the better, more affordable products on the market right now is the EC-W130 Sharper Image Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker.  While this option is not waterproof, it is portable and can easily be brought outside at any moment.  Not only that, but it also has an iPod dock so you don’t have to worry about connecting it to an external console, like a stereo or radio transmitter.  With a 1 year warranty attached this wireless outdoor speaker system is a steal at $60.

If you are serious about your surround sound installation, there are two major steps to follow.  First, make sure that you have a digital source that will support your surround sound speakers.  Most modern stereo systems and DVD players will get the job done.  If your digital source does not support surround sound installation, a surround sound adapter can be purchased at any electronics store.  If you are installing outdoor speakers, you will want to be sure that your digital source is located close to the outside area.  Second, if you want to capture a true surround sound experience, then you should get at least a 5.1 system.  5.1 systems are the benchmark in defining a true surround sound system and in general have two front speakers, two rear speakers, a center console and a subwoofer.  Of course, a 7.1 speaker set provides even more of a surround sound experience, but depending on the price difference, may or may not be worth it.

After your sound system has arrived, you will need to create a setup that will optimize the area the speakers are being placed in.  Regardless of where your system is going to be located, there are general rules to make your surround sound experience brilliant and your surround sound installation process as easy as possible.

Assuming you are working with a 5.1 speaker set, the front speakers and center speaker should be placed closest to the console.  Since you want your audience to be completely captured in the surround sound experience and hear both front speakers, the wider the front speakers are apart, the better.  Normally, 10-12 feet apart will do, but if you don’t have that much width to work with, not to worry.  6-8 feet will suffice as well.  The rear speakers should be placed towards the back of the “sound area” and should be as parallel as possible to the front speaker set.  As far as subwoofer placement is concerned, put it wherever you want.   The bass in a subwoofer travels at a lower frequency and can easily be heard from any point in the room.  If you are installing your sound system outdoors, I would recommend putting the subwoofer somewhere closer to the seating area, since the sound of the bass can be lost outdoors.

Garden speakers come in all shapes and sizes.  Since they tend to blend in with their surroundings, garden speakers are great for someone looking for a way to disguise their outside speakers.   There are a ton of great options on the market, but here are some of my favorites.

When it comes to an outside speaker that is durable, you can’t beat a rock garden speaker.  Rock garden speakers tend to be low to the ground and heavy enough that bad weather won’t do any damage.  If you live in a windy area, rock speakers are a great way to provide sound in your garden.   One of the better options on the market right now is the Pyle PLRK9 6.5 inch Waterproof Rock Garden Speaker.  It’s only one speaker, but with 100 Watts of power, it will get loud enough for the average sized garden.  It is made out of fiberglass, which will hold up well in both sunlight and rainfall.  This model is currently available for about 70 dollars.  If you are looking for a pair of rock garden speakers, a great option is the OSD Audio RX550 Rock Outdoor Speaker set.  Each speaker in this set is only 50W, but at $50 total, you can’t beat the value.

If you are looking for a more festive or novel speaker, then you may want to get a flower-pot style garden speaker.  One good option is the 5.25 inch 2 way Waterproof Planter Garden Speaker from PLFP1.  This product is also made of fiberglass, which as you already know will withstand inclement weather conditions.   This is a smaller speaker system than the rock garden speaker listed above, so it may be a great option if you are looking to hide your garden speakers.

When garden speakers, it’s a good idea to get a product that has a warranty attached.  Since the product is located outside, its not only at the mercy of your kids, but also of mother nature.  In the event of a heavy storm or extremely sunny day, you don’t want to risk permanent damage to your product.  A warranty is a great way to guarantee that you’ll have a quality product in your garden for years to come.  If the warranty is not included, depending on where you buy your garden speakers, it is may be possible to purchase a separate warranty.  As a rule of thumb, try to make sure that you don’t pay over 20% of the product cost for your warranty.

If you are serious about your outside speaker system, and want it to last, it is definitely worth buying outdoor speaker wire.  While standard speaker wires may work fine in the short term, they will eventually break down and decompose, especially if placed underground.  If the plastic coating opens up and the wire breaks, this can easily result in a blown speaker or blown amplifier.  It is not worth risking the permanent damage to your speakers.

So what should you look for when purchasing outdoor speaker wire?  If you are planning on putting your speakers underground, you will most certainly want to get burial grade wire.   Speaker wires in general tend to be composed of copper, aluminum or a combination of the two.  The best material is 100% copper, as copper is a better conductor than aluminum.   Burial grade wire is most commonly covered with a polyethylene coating, which is crucial in protecting the wire against UV rays (if above ground) and decomposition (if below ground).   The polyethylene coating is also water resistant, so you won’t have to worry about rainfall doing damage to your outside speakers.

Outdoor speaker wire such as burial grade wire is most commonly available as 2 conductor or 4 conductor versions.  2 conductor outdoor speaker wire is more prevalent, as this is a standard wire with a positive wire (+) and a negative wire (-).  One wire will usually be red and one will be black to avoid confusion when setting up the system.  4 conductor outdoor speaker wire has two sets of positive and negative wires and is useful when setting up your speaker system to multiple channels.

Another great advantage to outdoor speaker wire is that it is offered in multiple lengths.  If you have a bigger outdoor area to work with, you will want to get speaker wire that extends up to 500 ft, or even 1000 ft.  If you are setting your outside speakers up in a smaller area, then 100 feet of outdoor speaker wire should suffice.  Measure the area before you purchase the speaker wire though, because there is a big difference in price.  100 feet of high quality outdoor speaker wire will go for about $35.  Parts Express sells 100 ft burial wire with a durable polyethylene coating and is composed of 99.9% copper wire.  The 500 ft wire from parts express has the same coating and wire composition, but is much pricier at about $155.  So you will definitely want to be sure of the dimensions of the space you are placing the speaker system in so you can avoid overpaying.

When buying an outside speaker set, you want to be cautious of a few things.  At this point in time, wireless technology is quite advanced.  Because of this, you will want to make sure that the speaker system is wireless.  While this may seem obvious, there are still outside speakers on the market that have wires connected.  Another thing to lookout for is the durability of the system.  Since your speakers will be placed outside, you should be aware of how the system will hold up in inclement weather.

If you are in an area with a lot of rain, be certain that the outside speakers are waterproof and will hold up adequately under high wind pressure.   If you are located in an area with less rainfall and more sunshine, make sure the product does not contain plastics that will not melt under intense sunlight and heat.   Alloutdoorspeaker.com offers a great list of weather-specific outside speakers and outdoor speaker products.

It is also a good idea to get an outside speaker set with a warranty included.  As with any type of electronic system, there are sometimes complications, so you may want to know that your purchase is protected.   Since you’re the speaker system is located outdoors, it is even at more of a risk, so I would definitely suggest getting a warrantee.

Outside speaker sets come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges.  Fortunately, outside speaker sets don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  There are currently a ton of outdoor speaker sets on the market that sell for affordable prices.  Quality speaker sets can cost as little as $50.  If you have a patio and are looking to add your own soundtrack as you barbeque, a patio speaker set may be what you are looking for.  Some of the better, more affordable options include the TIC-ASP25 50W 3-Way Weatherproof Patio Speaker Set for $50.  Another good option is the PA-AW525 Patio Speakers by Pro Audio.  At 125W, this speaker system will be loud enough for any normal sized backyard.  These outside speakers are a little pricier at roughly $150.

If you have a backyard filled with plants and greenery, then you may want to consider getting a camouflage speaker system, like a rock speaker set.  The 8 inch Audiophile Reference Rock Speaker Set is an example of one product that looks just like a rock and is sure to blend in with any outdoor setting.  Currently, most rock speaker systems have at least 2 year warranties attached.