Setting up a music system outside isn’t as simple as placing a regular speaker on your patio. For a fully immersive experience in your backyard, you are going to need to work with a local expert like us. Why? In this blog we are going to share some basic tips with you on renovating your Charlotte, NC home with outdoor audio video.
SEE ALSO: An Expert’s Guide to Outdoor Video
#1 Use Weatherproof Speakers
Some wireless speakers you see in the store may be marketed as travel friendly, but that doesn’t mean they can withstand the rain, sun, and wind. You need speakers that have been engineered to survive nature’s elements. But you can’t pick up high-quality weatherproof speakers in your run of the mill storefront. That’s why working with a local dealer is so important.
The Integrated Home has relationships with speaker manufacturers like Sonance that have been designing and making these smart outdoor devices for decades. Sonance Landscape Series Speakers are waterproof, can withstand the harmful UV rays of the sun, and still operate in freezing temperatures as low as negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Their color-molded composite construction also won’t chip, peel or fade over time.
#2 Use Wireless Technology
Running wires over your patio or pool area is first and foremost not safe because someone could trip over them, and it’s also an electrical hazard. Today, we get to enjoy the convenience of wireless technology so you don’t have to worry about connecting all of your speaker with wires.
With a solid and secure home network, your outdoor speakers will connect with each other to play the radio, stream stations like Spotify or access your digital music collection from iTunes. You can pick and play any source using a mobile device, including a smartphone, smart watch, tablet or remote control.
Let’s say you have 10 outdoor speakers in your backyard. They still need to be plugged into a power source, so we will safely run those cords to the outlets, but they won’t have to be connected to each other with wires. So your outdoor areas will maintain a beautiful look and you can have peace of mind knowing an expert has taken care of the technical details.
#3 Use a Scalable System that Can Connect to Your Smart Home
Whether you have a smart home system or not, it’s always a good idea to invest in a music system that can connect to one—just in case you want to make updates in the future. As a Platinum Control4 dealer, we can connect your outdoor music system to your Control4 smart home so that you can press one button and get your entire home ready for guests, a weekend you go away on vacation or any other occasion. Save your music settings under specific names like “Pool Party” or “Christmas Brunch” and then they will automatically turn on at the time you set.
We can integrate all of your outdoor amenities including pool and spa controls, outdoor lighting, the security system, and more. Our outdoor audio video systems are scalable, so you can start small and go big later; it’s all up to you. We accommodate homes of any size and projects on any budget.
If you want to make sure your outdoor entertainment setup is done the right way, the best approach is to bring in a skilled and experienced audio video professional. To learn more about our outdoor entertainment services fill out this online form.