FAQs

AllOutdoorSpeaker.com

Rock Speakers

Patio Speakers

Marine Audio

Motorcycle Speakers

True 360 Sound

Wireless Speakers

Subwoofers

Loudspeakers

In Ceiling Speakers

In Wall Speakers

Accessories and Wire

Send to a Friend!

1. Can I really put these speakers outside? Yes! Our line of outdoor speakers have stood the tests of time and weather. Each of the manufacturers for our outdoor speakers have carefully and specifically designed their outdoor speakers to withstand the affects of water and harsh weather. There are many stories of actual accidental submersion of outdoor speaker products, and the speakers continue to perform as designed. Our line of outdoor speakers are not underwater speakers and in that regard, technically, must be referred to as "water-resistant" and not "water-proof".

2. What about the sprinklers? Our line of outdoor speakers are also proofed against the intermittent water wash of modern garden sprinkler systems. While we do not recommend you place your outdoor speakers in the direct spray of garden sprinklers, intermittent or accidental exposure poses no problems either by design or historically.

3. What about being splashed from the pool? Be very careful when considering prolonged exposure to pool or spa waters. These waters contain harsh chlorinated solvents particularly harmful to modern plastics and advanced materials. Our manufacturers have considered this in their outdoor speakers designs, and while prolonged or continual exposure could be harmful, intermittent or occasional exposure poses no problems. Many of our outdoor speakers are also used regularly in marine applications.

4. Can I put Ceiling Speakers Outside? In most cases, our in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can weather the elements perfectly well. Speakers will work fine in overhangs, wrap-around/covered porches, garages, and more. Anything you put into the care of Mother Nature, however, will be unavoidably affected in one way or another. There will be some discoloration over time, but it's nothing a fresh layer of paint can't cure. Damage will mostly affect the color and the housing, but the inner workings should not fail, since the great majority of speakers are made of synthetic materials. Locations with marine air will certainly accelerate the discoloration.

For areas that are exposed to the outdoors, or if you're not sure if the location will stay dry, you will want to install Weatherproof In Ceiling Speakers

5. What is your outdoor speaker Warranty? Our Products Carry a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. If You Are Not Completely Satisfied, We Will Refund Your Money!
Most of our manufacturers also offer a "no-hassle" one year comprehensive warranty covering parts and labor.

6. Are there any special precautions I should take to protect my outside speakers in Snow or Winter? While no special precautions are absolutely necessary, some may be beneficial or even prudent considering the range of seasonal conditions from coast to coast. A good method to preserve outdoor speakers is to cover the units with a plastic bag while outside in winter or under severe weather conditions. Another good tip: try not to listen to the speakers in sub freezing temperatures as they may become brittle and crack.

7. Do you recommend WIRELESS outdoor speakers? Absolutely! Wireless speaker systems allow you to listen to music just about anywhere without the hassle of running unsightly speaker wire. Our wireless products powered by 900MHz Phase Loop Lock circuitry automatically locks in and keeps the audio signal clear and strong within a range of up to 150 feet with no line of sight limitations. The signal works just like high powered wireless 900MHz phones delivering a crystal clear signal through walls or any other obstacles, offering endless installation options. The wireless transmitters also support all types audio inputs including RCA inputs for home theatre receivers, MP3 players, computers and iPods. Wireless speakers are the perfect solution for adding music around the pool/spa, on the patio, near the BBQ, in your office, garage, in the garden, or out on the deck during those hot summer nights.

8. Can I connect my outdoor speakers to my receiver in the house? Yes! While many configurations are possible, including the use of booster amps, and other stereo components, our outdoor speakers are commonly connected directly to in home stereo systems using standard household amplification. Please refer to your amplifier for correct connection procedures.

9. How do I connect or extend the wiring for my outside speakers? We recommend the TIC SP CN1 weatherproof cable connector which is one of the only specifically designed and weatherproof connectors made for outdoor speaker applications. They are available on our Accessories page under “other accessories”.

10. How far apart should we put the outdoor speakers? It is generally accepted that speakers under 100 watts can perform satisfactorily in the 30 foot broadcast range. Outdoor speakers above 100 watts should adequately reach and even begin to exceed the 60 - 100 foot separation stage. The actual outdoor speaker type as well as configuration also plays an important part of outdoor system design; whether the speaker only plays in one direction vs. full surround sound (omni-directional), or whether it is stereo sound vs. mono, etc.

11. What Type of Wire Should I Use Outside? If you are using standard outdoor speakers, any of the wire we recommend or sell on our site will do for this application. If you are running this wire for more than 100 feet, you might want to insure you use 14 gauge wire in order to maintain a good signal. If you are using 'garden' or 'rock' style speakers that require hidden underground wiring, we recommend you use 'direct burial' wire. This type of wire is designed to withstand the elements, and more directly, the heat of decomposing organics which would melt the coating of traditional wiring.

12. How deep should we bury the speaker wire? Could animals chew the burial cable or some insects infest it?" We recommend burying speaker wire at least four to six inches. This has been the industry “standard” for years, and in all that time we have never had any reports of wild animals chewing or piercing the outdoor speaker cable nor any type of insect infestation.

13. What Gauge of Wire Should I Use? For in wall or in ceiling speakers, for runs up to 100 feet for background music, you should use 16 gauge wire. Most homes under 2500 square feet would do fine if they are pre-wired with 16 gauge wire. For distances exceeding 100 feet, you should use 14 gauge wire. Please note that Gauges of wire are measured inversely. For instance, a 22 gauge speaker wire is very small; as a 12 gauge speaker wire would be large. Most of today’s consumer electronics accept 14 gauge wire. Some high end equipment accepts 10 gauge wire.

14. What is Impedance Matching? On average, most home speakers have an impedance of 8 ohms. An Ohm unit measures levels of resistance. Resistance in a speaker varies based on the frequency it is using. A stereo receiver can operate speakers with total impedance of 4 ohms or more, depending on the quality of the receiver. Some common examples are as follows: 2 - 8 ohm speakers together in parallel = 4 ohms 3 - 8 ohm speakers together in parallel = 2.67 ohms 4 - 8 ohm speakers together in parallel = 2 ohms Impedance matching can be easily achieved by adding a speaker selector or impedance matching volume controls to your new sound system.

15. Can I Paint My Wall or Ceiling Speakers? Yes. Manufacturers understand that the whole point of flush-mount speakers is to conceal their presence. In wall speakers are designed to be painted with the same wall-paint you use to decorate your room.

16. Are There Any Discounts Available? Our pricing is very competitive. However we do offer discounts to contractors and orders over $1,000. If you’re interested in quantity pricing, please send us an email and provide the details of what you're interested in.

17. Are Speakers Priced per pair? Most of our rock speakers are sold individually. The remainder of our speakers are priced per pair. There are a few eight inch speakers, enclosed speakers, dual voice coil speakers (designed to play both left and right stereo) and center channels that are sold as singles.. If you're unsure about the speakers you are ordering, go to the product page of that brand and model, and read the description; that information (whether they're pair priced or singles) is provided.

18. Does it Cost a lot to Ship Heavy Speakers? Large speakers can get heavy, and that will affect the cost of shipping. We use UPS Ground Service rates to calculate our shipping. If you want any type of expedited shipping, the costs will vary based on weight and distance. We can also provide quotes for second day and third day shipping by request.

19. How soon could I receive my outdoor speaker order? Every attempt will be made to ship orders the same day as ordered, contingent upon availability. Orders not shipped same day as ordered will be shipped the next business day, contingent upon availability. Please note that if you order more than one style of product, your products may be shipped from multiple warehouses, and arrive at the shipping address at different times.

20. What do you mean 70v switch-able on some TIC outdoor speaker models? TIC "Pro" products are equipped with an "on the fly" 70v switch assembly. This allows an installer to rapidly switch to the correct 70v wattage tap each installation may require without soldering, tapping or disassembly and reassembly which normally complicates such installations.

21. On your TIC outside lighting, what does "LV" mean? "LV" stands for Low Voltage on all TIC outdoor lighting. All TIC exterior lights are low voltage requiring only 12v to operate the lamp. 12v lamps are extremely safe in use. A concern of all homeowners with kids, pets and visitors in mind. LV lamps are very cost effective and the Hi-Halogen bulbs make them bright in exterior use.