Outdoor music solution

[wewo]

My goal: To be able to play a variety of music in my backyard.

My current set up:

1. Computer with wireless internet (cable, 50mb download) located at the rear of the house (near the backyard).

2. Flatscreen (not smart) TV connected to cable box (with music channels)and Bose 123 System (receiver plus DVD), plus Wii connected wirelessly, also located in the back of the house.

3. A third storage room with electricity where I can place equipment.

My request: comments and suggestions with how to resolve this and any tech issues I may face. Note that I am not particularly interested in smartphone/Ipod solutions, although ability to connect to these would be a slight benefit (i.e., not my main source of music). However, I am willing to put music on a thumb drive (I have a 16mb one available).

What I have considered:

1. Low tech: Buy a receiver/CD player to go in a third back room and wire to Bose Outdoor speakers. On the plus side it will be completely separate from my TV and computer adventures. Downside, some hassle installing, cost approx $400.

2. High tech: Buy a Blu Ray DVD player with wifi or otherwise connect to my Bose 123 system and TV so I can play cable music and cds. My question here is will Blue Ray help and how do I get the music outside? Do i have to connect outdoor speakers with wires? Or is there a wireless solution? Other than Blue Ray any other cable options. Please note that the Bose system has a special plug and I am also interested in being able to watch TV while the music is playing. I assume some sort of splitter is necessary. Cost of BlueRay and wired outdoor speakers is about $350).

3. Higher tech: Buy a Sonos wireless speaker with bridge to attach to my computer. I am not sure exactly how this works and what effect this will have. However, my understanding is that I can then play any music on my hard drive, a CD, or internet radio. Cost approx $500. Are my assumptions here correct? Is this the easiest rout to take? How does it sound?

I would appreciate any additional suggestions, possible conflicts, concerns and which system would work the best. I would rather pay more for a better solution, within reason. Thanks in advance.

BTW, we are now using an ipod connected portable speaker, which we do not like, so this solution is not a real option.

 

[_Sushi]

I'm not an audiophile, but I know some stuff about speakers. So I'll try to help you out.

Bose 123 System.

This hurts me emotionally. (more on this later)

1. Low tech: Buy a receiver/CD player to go in a third back room and wire to Bose Outdoor speakers. On the plus side it will be completely separate from my TV and computer adventures. Downside, some hassle installing, cost approx $400.

Okay, the Bose speakers aren't that great. Any Bose speakers. Some of them are better than others, the Companion II computer speakers are alright.

All in all, Bose speakers aren't very good at what speakers are supposed to do, sound reproduction. They do it, but it isn't very accurate. With Bose speakers, there is always a little "punch" to the music that makes it sound good to the average consumer, but it isn't a faithful representation of the source material.

In addition, Bose speakers are kind of like Beats in that they claim to be the ish, but they're a low quality product. R&D likely consists of discovering the cheapest way to make a speaker that sounds appealing to the general consumer, then throwing it in an enclosure with an appealing design and selling it with a ridiculous markup.

However, some people swear by Bose. I would still say that you should go to a store, listen to a lot of different speakers and select the one that you like most. Different people appreciate different sounds, and "sound" isn't always respectful to the original recording. That said, Bose is definitely overpriced, whether it sounds good to you or not. There are a lot of better values out there.

Something I would be concerned with is the distance of the third room to the outdoor location of the speakers. If speaker wire is extended over a distance long enough it will begin to lose volume and quality. Of course, this can be fixed by buying speaker wire of a gauge suitable for the distance the sound is traveling.

2. High tech: Buy a Blu Ray DVD player with wifi or otherwise connect to my Bose 123 system and TV so I can play cable music and cds. My question here is will Blue Ray help and how do I get the music outside? Do i have to connect outdoor speakers with wires? Or is there a wireless solution? Other than Blue Ray any other cable options. Please note that the Bose system has a special plug and I am also interested in being able to watch TV while the music is playing. I assume some sort of splitter is necessary. Cost of BlueRay and wired outdoor speakers is about $350).

Bluray isn't going to help the sound quality. Music is music. The only thing that makes a difference is the source of the sound. If you're playing straight from a CD, the sound quality will be pretty great. Vinyl is even better (as long as you have a good turntable), but it isn't going to make a lot of difference. What you need to be worried about is digital files. Anything below 256 Kbps is going to be an impediment on sound quality. For example, YouTube is capped at 192 Kbps. Most digital audio download stores sell at 256 Kbps or 320 Kbps. iTunes and Amazon sell at 256, Google Play and 7digital sell at 320.

Some audiophiles are going to tell you that the only way to listen to music in the form of digital files is through lossless files. These files are an exact representation of the music on a CD or Vinyl, but they are much larger than your average 256 or 320 Kbps MP3 file, because of all the extra sound data they hold. While it is true that a lossless version of a sound file is going to have the most detail, you probably can't tell the difference. I know I can't.

I'll be honest, I don't know a lot about the Bose 1-2-3 system, but if there's a special plug I would assume it constricts your speaker choice. I wouldn't go with it.

3. Higher tech: Buy a Sonos wireless speaker with bridge to attach to my computer. I am not sure exactly how this works and what effect this will have. However, my understanding is that I can then play any music on my hard drive, a CD, or internet radio. Cost approx $500. Are my assumptions here correct? Is this the easiest rout to take? How does it sound?

Sonos wireless speakers are pretty good. The wireless system lets you stream high-quality audio all over your wireless network. The Sonos CONNECT and CONNECT: AMP modules that lets you connect a Sonos system to your speakers are also very good. It's definitely easy to set up.

My main concern with Sonos speakers is that they aren't designed for outdoor use. They don't have the same kind of defenses that conventional outdoor speakers have against outdoor dangers such as the weather.

However, one option you have is to put a Sonos CONNECT or CONNECT:AMP module/receiver into your closet (that has power). From there, wire standard outdoor speakers to the Sonos module (in the same way as in "1. Low tech"). This option is definitely going to be the priciest option, especially since the Sonos CONNECT module is even more expensive than their modules that have a built-in speaker. In addition, it's going to be more difficult than setting up a PLAY:3 or PLAY:5.

You could also get a Sonos PLAY:3 or PLAY:5 and drag it outside whenever you need it, but if you're actually using the outside speakers I could call this too much of a hassle and you still shouldn't be using it in questionable outdoor conditions.

However, in the end the convenience and ease of using Sonos is unmatched by options #1 or #2.

 

[wewo]

That helps alot Sushi, I was leaning toward the Sonos, and moving it in and out is not a problem; actually, being able to move it throughout the house is a plus. Weather-wise, we only go outside in good weather and have a place where it will be spared from a random/surprise rain storm.

However, my main concerns are convenience and access to a larger music source more so than quality. But, what outdoor speakers would you recommend? I can get a pair of Bose 151 outdoor speakers with brackets at BJ's for about $150.

 

[_Sushi]

These could be some of the best in the 100-200 price range. Yamaha makes some good outdoor speakers too. Boston Acoustics makes some good outdoor speakers past 200. You get what you pay for, obviously, but once you get past the 500-600 price range the sound quality kind of plateaus to the point where it isn't worth it IMO.

That said, you can get some worthy speakers in the 100-200 range. These obviously need to hook up to a receiver/amplifier in the 3rd room, Sonos or otherwise. Like I said, it's best if you can try it out in a store such as an A/V store. Some Best Buys have audio rooms where you can try out speakers.

www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-Atrium-Speakers-Black/dp/B00378KMF0/
http://www.polkaudio.com/products/atrium4

(amazon seems to be the cheapest place where you can get them)

I had not heard of BJ until you mentioned them, I live on the west coast where the only warehouse store is Costco.

 

[wewo]

Dang, my wife does not want the Sonos because the speaker is not made for outdoors! So I will likely get a receiver and outdoor speakers to be hard-wired. Any suggestions on receivers that allow multiple options, such as flash drive, ipod/android phone connections, etc. I will prolly go with the Polk speakers.

Or, what about this, any thoughts? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Rocketfish%26%23153%3B---Rocketboost-Wireless-Indoor/Outdoor-Speaker-with-Wireless-Sender/Receiver/9426089.p?skuId=9426089&id=1218103733077#tab=reviews

 

[_Sushi]

Dang, my wife does not want the Sonos because the speaker is not made for outdoors! So I will likely get a receiver and outdoor speakers to be hard-wired. Any suggestions on receivers that allow multiple options, such as flash drive, ipod/android phone connections, etc. I will prolly go with the Polk speakers.

Or, what about this, any thoughts? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Rocketfish%26%23153%3B---Rocketboost-Wireless-Indoor/Outdoor-Speaker-with-Wireless-Sender/Receiver/9426089.p?skuId=9426089&id=1218103733077#tab=reviews

I don't have any receiver suggestions. A receiver is a receiver. Of course, just a Hi-Fi receiver isn't going to have flash drive or an iPod connection. You have to get something sophisticated like a home theater receiver.

Those outdoor speakers would work, but I'm not sure of the sound quality. I would expect the Polks to be better, and the Polks would be a more permanent solution.

 

[wewo]

Thanks again Sushi, I think I will go with the Polks. Receivers are pretty pricey but whatcha gonna do?

Order the Polks, bought a nice Denon Receiver on clearance from Best Buy, If I run a cat5 I can network it, also has USB input, so I am set, just need to set it up, got me some outdoor 16 gauge and I have all the tools to set it up, so this weekend if the weather is nice enough.