Question

What are some semi-permanent options I have for having music outside? I have a Bluetooth speaker we currently bring in and out as we need it and connecting it to a smart phone. I’d like something more hands free and already set up. Like, I can walk outside, ask Alexa to play something and it starts happening. I currently run Alexa, Siri (through iPhone) and have Sonos throughout the house. I am looking to stay within a reasonable budget (let’s say under $500). The system would need to be removable as I am not keeping speakers outside in -40 when nobody is going outside for 3-4 months straight during a Canadian winter. Any thoughts would be great! Thanks.  

Answer 1

So I bought some cheap, waterproof Bluetooth speakers and connected them to an Echo Input. I put the Echo inside a double gang weatherproof box and disable the microphone. They stay on all the time, and I bring them inside in the winter. Works perfectly and cost me under $100 per zone. I set the Echo's volume to 100% and control volume on the speaker.  

Comments

@shriek So can you ask Alexa to play a certain song/adjust volume etc?  

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I talk to Alexa from inside the house and control the volume on the BT speaker. You can also open the Alexa app and control from there. For example "Alexa play my music on the Front porch. " But yes, you can talk to it if you want. I am personally a little nervous about Alexa being accessible from outside.  

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That could work. Except we don’t have the Echo input in Canada. I’m assuming the Echo Flex would work the same though.  

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That or an Echo Dot would work as well. I'm not sure if the Flex has Bluetooth/headphone jack or not. Its not perfect, but it's cheap and does the trick. I'd also be concerned if the Flex will fit in the outdoor electrical box.  

Answer 2

You can use Sonos Amp and outdoor speakers.  

Comments

@debroahdebs978 I’ve thought of that, and even planned how to run wiring to make it all neat and clean. Unfortunately for what I need I feel the Sonos is overkill both in budget and quality. I live in suburbia, I don’t crank music super loud outside out of respect for my neighbours. the Sonos system in Canada is $1000 over budget for what I want to spend.  

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@aquanaut108 , I know. I work in the industry in the GTA area. Do you have the outdoor speakers yet? You can get an Amazon Echo input, used amp or a cheap amp from Amazon to do what you want.  

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I don’t have anything that I really like. We have a great Bluetooth speaker, but it stays plugged in at the garage and I bring it around to the backyard as needed. Not exactly quick, simple or easy.  

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How much are you looking to spend on equipment? Echo input is $20 or so from Amazon.  

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@debroahdebs978 No more than $500 all in. Those would connect to an amp, and then the input also to the amp, correct?  

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If you are not rushing, sometimes there are people selling used items in Facebook market. You could look for PSB, Monitor Audio, Sonance, etc. outdoor speakers

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Well this amp is dirt cheap but I know it can power up thos Russound speakers. Try to aim for a better 1.  

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So if you go with at least a Sony stereo receiver, outdoor speakers, and Amazon Echo Dot (or input). there is your budget probably around $600+ with taxes in. You do the labour. This should beat out your bluetooth speakers.  

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500 all in? that is guaranteed to be bad quality with no low end sound. try to increase your budget to at least 1500 and get landscape speakers. this will give you equal, yard filling sound. rather than two big russounds mounted to your house blaring music in one direction.  

Answer 3

So far these are my options I can think of. 1. Sonos amp and outdoor speaker. Drop the speaker wire down through the soffit. Disconnect and wrap the wire during winter. Pro - it can talk easily to the rest of my system. Con - Sonos amp is fairly pricey, as are quality outdoor speakers. 2. Mount a quality Bluetooth speaker under the soffit and above my outdoor electrical box. Have that paired with an echo dot inside. Pro - Cheaper than Sonos Con - I’d have to go inside to control music

Answer 4

Sonos amp inside, run speaker wire to exterior, either on wall speakers or landscape speakers.  

Comments

@ploughboy36982 I’ve looked into that, and planned it out. unfortunately it’s about $1000 over budget.  

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Do they have ebay?  

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What's the price on that individually? Sonos amp is like 550 here and can get some outdoors speakers for 100

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@ploughboy36982 Gen 1 amps are legacy, no longer receiving updates. So I could get one cheap, and it could last me a couple months then brick if Apple Music updates anything. Gen 2 amps, even used, are still pricey. usually over $500 for good working condition.  

Answer 5

Soundcore Flare2 If you have several you can move the ones that need charging inside.  
https://youtu.be/OmDAIeWDqt0?t=50

Answer 6

I have a pair of speakers under the eaves of my gazebo, wired into the house. They connect to an old amp that has an Echo Input. I then put the echo input into a group called "The Deck. " Works great and was very cheap since I had all the pieces except the input.  

Answer 7

Why not just a Sonos Move?  

Comments

@woodhead that would work to give music to a single patio. but won't fill the yard equally or properly. especially without blowing people's ears out that are nearby the Move.  

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Moves are great for condo patios, beach party's, etc.  

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Who said anything about multiple patios? Does the existing bluetooth solution “fill the yard equally”? Love to see how you plan to do a full on landscape style system with a budget of $500.  

Answer 8

We use Sonance

Comments

Right, but with the Sonos amp I’m now looking at $1689 on sale. over $1000 over my budget. Don’t get me wrong, this would be awesome but I can’t justify spending that much on music in my backyard.  

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@aquanaut108 we use this to connect to Sonos.  

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@randolph you should have probably selected the one with the amp

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@randolph you’re welcome

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Wow you’re big mad ha. Sorry bout that.  

Answer 9

I know they're not insanely good, but why not a bunch of Google Home Minis? They all have voice activation, you can group them in their own audio group, and so on. If not, I think Amazon Echo Dot has something like that as well.  

Answer 10

Keep it in your Sonos ecosystem and in budget. Done.  
https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/mo....html

Answer 11

Best thing I’ve found. Acoustic Research made RF speakers. They got their signal from a transmitter with audio in cables. I plug this into my Alexa and 4 wireless speakers use the signal on my front and back porches. I know, it’s only RF. But honestly, if your listening to music outside with other sounds going on around you, it doesn’t have to be super high quality. The best thing about these is that as long as the speaker and transmitter both have power, they start playing without the need to re-pair, no matter how long it’s been since they last played. Any Bluetooth speaker I’ve tried drops the signal once sound stops for a length of time. If I could find more of these I would buy them, last add-on I git was from EBay a few years ago.  

Answer 12

Any amp, any outdoor speaker. direct connection (3. 5mm) from echo dot to amplifier. done

Answer 13

We just have a google mini in a shelter place .  

Answer 14

I mounted soundbars 1 under my front porch - 1 by my dock outback for fishing - 1 on the other side of my house all connected to a echo dot or echo input. 3 soundbars and 3 echos and all i have to say is play on the backyard group and all my soundbars fire up. They are all out of direct weather. I leave these mounted throughout the year and have never had an issue. My echo dots were outside with below zero weather and worked just fine. The soundbars i got were off amazon for like 35. 00 a piece