DIY Outdoor

[bhuck]

Have "reasonable" understanding and experience building loudspeakers for in home audio and surround sound; however, can't google anything meaningfull about building your own outdoor speakers.

I assume you choose from the same diver(s) and the trick would be the enclosure contruction...has to be more to it with the moisture, humidity, heat / cold.

Is there anything written which would help a person design some outdoor speakers?

Thank You, bhuck

[mike1234]

...you'd need weather-proof components. I dunno why but drivers from Lightning Audio and sound gear from Raine come to mind.

JK!!

Have "reasonable" understanding and experience building loudspeakers for in home audio and surround sound; however, can't google anything meaningfull about building your own outdoor speakers.

I assume you choose from the same diver(s) and the trick would be the enclosure contruction...has to be more to it with the moisture, humidity, heat / cold.

Is there anything written which would help a person design some outdoor speakers?

Thank You, bhuck

[nick29498141]

[bhuck]

very productive! appreciate you vast knowledge

[johnastockman]

Have "reasonable" understanding and experience building loudspeakers for in home audio and surround sound; however, can't google anything meaningfull about building your own outdoor speakers.

I assume you choose from the same diver(s) and the trick would be the enclosure contruction...has to be more to it with the moisture, humidity, heat / cold.

Is there anything written which would help a person design some outdoor speakers?

Thank You, bhuck

I don't know the exact name, but some have mentioned the MDF they make highway signs out of. For drivers, maybe some "marine grade" drivers? Probably not a large selection there, but I have a friend who uses some in an outdoor arena that are directly exposed to the weather...no cover or roof over them. But they're simple co-axials, so you might want something a bit better.

John A.

[donparsons]

I am working on the totally tubulars from the project showcase for out near the pool. Rubber surrounds and aluminum cones seem like a good choice. I have no idea how well they will last, althoug I am considering a mounting sytem that lets me keep them indoors and to hang them up when we have a party.

I am going to stick with the outdoor Russounds I got way back for quieter music up under the roof at the outdoor kitchen.

Have "reasonable" understanding and experience building loudspeakers for in home audio and surround sound; however, can't google anything meaningfull about building your own outdoor speakers.

I assume you choose from the same diver(s) and the trick would be the enclosure contruction...has to be more to it with the moisture, humidity, heat / cold.

Is there anything written which would help a person design some outdoor speakers?

Thank You, bhuck

[markk]

This is a nice idea. Mount them upside down, hanging. You could design them omni at the same time minimizing the influence of the elements.

I've been toying with this idea for a while as well.

[scottsehlin]

I've been contemplating an outdoor project, too. Metal cone, solid piston drivers with rubber surrounds should be optimal (Hi Vi "M" or "B" series, AR buyouts if you have 'em). For tweeters, probably aluminum or titanium domes. The PVC fenceposts seem to make a good enclosure if you are okay with small drivers. A few coats of truck bed liner over MDF or plywood should be pretty durable, too. Just make sure all everything is well sealed (caulked, weather stripped, etc...)

I've haven't tried this yet, but I did have a pair of NEAR outdoor speakers at one time that followed this approach and seemed effective.

[donparsons]

You can also use pvc pipe. If you use drain pipe they have end caps that are flat and routable. I unfortunately used 6" schedule 40 whose end caps are not flat and cost $21 per. So I used wood to cap them off and provide a baffle.

Note that drain pipe is measure on the OUTSIDE diameter and Schedule 40 the inside diameter. So the 6" drain pipe will only likely hold a 5-5.5" woof.

I've been contemplating an outdoor project, too. Metal cone, solid piston drivers with rubber surrounds should be optimal (Hi Vi "M" or "B" series, AR buyouts if you have 'em). For tweeters, probably aluminum or titanium domes. The PVC fenceposts seem to make a good enclosure if you are okay with small drivers. A few coats of truck bed liner over MDF or plywood should be pretty durable, too. Just make sure all everything is well sealed (caulked, weather stripped, etc...)

I've haven't tried this yet, but I did have a pair of NEAR outdoor speakers at one time that followed this approach and seemed effective.

[brianp]

Have you checked out the various commercial "outdoor" systems in the PE catalog? These already have cabinets and drivers optimized to withstand the elements, but probably could benefit from some DIY crossover tweaking. Some of the TIC omnis look especially promising.

Unless you intend to listen outdoors in the rain and snow and blazing midsummer sun, you might just consider a reasonable portable system you can tote out to the yard whenever you have friends over for a BBQ, and put away in the house afterwards. Some 2 or 2.5 ways with full 6dB BSC, that will deliver reasonably low bass, might be the ticket.