How to enjoy the best in alfresco audio quality
Our expert Chris Haslam gives valuable advice on buying and using your hi-fi
Summertime is on the way, with the promise of long balmy evenings. And however you enjoy your outside space, there’s a music system to suit.
Bluetooth and battery technology has improved so much lately that for those of us who stream music, a portable wireless speaker is ideal for the garden. Brands such as JBL, Bose and Bang & Olufsen have a great selection of batterypowered weatherproof speakers that take up little space but still sound impressive. Lithe Audio even has a range of Bluetooth speakers disguised as rocks.
Look for portable designs with at least ten-hour battery life and ideally Bluetooth 5.0, which offers 120 metre range compared to just 30 metres from Bluetooth 4.2 – the extra range means you can potentially stream from Hi-fi inside, rather than relying on your smartphone. While Sonos sells a couple of portable speakers, it also has architectural outdoor speakers that add your garden to a multi-room setup, though you may need to boost your Wi-fi signal to take full advantage.
What if you don’t stream music? The days of the portable CD player are over, but with a little planning you can bring your existing hi-fi into the sunshine. Wall-mounted outdoor speakers – try
With a little planning you can bring your hi-fi into the sunshine
Polk Audio’s Atrium range and Bowers & Wilkins’s sublime AM-1 speaker – require wiring, but are impervious to the weather and have been tuned to work in wide-open spaces, so the detail in your music isn’t simply lost to the environment. If you have a large garden and distant or understanding neighbours, you can extend your sound system to all corners using in-ground speakers, mounted on spikes, or those disguised as rocks, both available from Klipsch (see left) and Sevenoaks Sound and Vision. Installation isn’t difficult and the results can be wonderful, but cables do need to be well buried to avoid the mower or being accidentally dug up.
Quality outdoor speakers cost from £200 each, but increase your budget for better sound and longevity. Be aware that speakers designed for alfresco use are rigorously tested against moisture, dirt and temperature fluctuations, but for occasional garden speakers, check the IP (Ingress Protection) rating. These two numbers indicate the speaker’s ability to keep out dust (first number) and water (second digit), so an IPX4 speaker hasn’t been rated for dust but is splashproof, IPX7 can survive a shower, IP66 is completely dust-tight and hose proof, and IP68 can be submerged for 30 minutes.