The best way to add a touch of flair to a backyard entertainment area is to install a TV and speaker system. Imagine it. The summer sun is beating down. You’re outside, soaking up the rays. You might be enjoying a BBQ, perhaps a drink or two. You don’t want to head inside, so you switch on your outdoor entertainment – your TV. You might catch a game, your favorite reality show, or even play your favorite video game. Can you honestly think of anything more relaxing?
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Our website recommends the best audio and visual equipment for the backyard. We want to help people to find the best outdoor all-weather speakers and the best outdoor TVs. Our advice will help you to build that comfortable, stylish backyard retreat that you’ve always wanted. Use our recommendations to help build up your outdoor entertainment ideas. We’ll make sure that you get the right gear.
Remember – not every TV or speaker system is built for outdoor use. You can’t just pull out the TV from your home and switch it on outside. It could be dangerous if the bad weather starts to roll in. Nowadays, you’ve got dedicated speakers for outdoor use, and plenty of waterproof outdoor TVs to choose from.
Because we want to help you make your backyard as cozy as possible, we want to share a few tips & tricks for choosing the right speakers. This website will be loaded with all sorts of specific small backyard entertainment ideas, but we want to dedicate a small amount of time to helping you consider what you should think about when purchasing all-weather speakers and an all-weather TV.
Choosing the Best All-Weather Speakers
You’ll need some great outdoor speakers if you want a nice, cozy retreat in your yard. You’ll want to surround yourself with crystal-clear sound. Choose the right speakers, and you can watch TV in comfort. You can enjoy each sound that blasts out of them. It’ll take your backyard entertainment to a whole new level.
There are three main things you’ll need to think about when selecting all-weather speakers:
- Whether the speakers are waterproof. Even if your outdoor retreat is sheltered, it can get cold and wet outside. You need speakers that can withstand even the toughest weather.
- The quality of the speakers. The more money you spend on your outdoor speakers, the better they’ll sound.
- The power of the speakers. This will be measured in Watts (listed as W). The more watts, the louder the speakers can get.
When thinking about the power of the speakers, you’ll need to consider how large the area your retreat covers is. Here is a quick range guide:
- For anything up to 300 square feet, 60-watt speakers should be fine.
- Between 300 and 600 square feet, you’ll want to go up to 80-100 watts, depending on how loud you want those outdoor speakers to get.
- Between 600 and 800 square feet, that wattage will need to be cranked up to between 150W and 175W.
- Go over that? Well, you’ll need some seriously big speakers. Thankfully, most people don’t have outdoor retreats larger than 800 square feet.
Considering the range of the outdoor speakers should be your biggest concern. Once you’ve worked out how loud the outdoor speakers need to be, you can start thinking about how much cash you’ve got to spend on them. This should help you to find the perfect brand of speakers for your outdoor retreat.
But are outdoor speakers waterproof? Absolutely! The good ones should be. Since you probably don’t want to be lugging your speakers in and out when the rain hits, you’ll want to choose outdoor speakers that have been rated as ‘waterproof’.
Choosing the Best All-Weather TV
Your speakers need a good TV to be paired up with. This is easier said than done since the list of the best projectors and screens to buy for an outdoor home theater is extensive. You need to think long and hard about what suits your budget, plus what you have in mind for your outdoor entertainment area.
The main things you’ll need to consider when selecting the best all-weather TV is:
The IP Rating
This is how well the TV has been ‘sealed’. This means how resistant the TV is to water, plus dirt & grime. The best projectors and screens will be properly sealed to ensure they can handle the elements.
The IP rating is also known as the Ingress Protection. It is two numbers. The first number is between 0-6 and indicates how well the TV can withstand solid particles e.g. dust. The higher the number, the better. We do not recommend going below 5 for this number. 6 is preferable in most areas.
The second number indicates the water resistance. This is scaled from 0-9. The higher the rating, the better. However, most outdoor retreats probably won’t need to go above 6 for this. You can probably get away with a rating of 5 if the area is sheltered.
You have multiple options available, but here is a quick overview of some of the best IP ratings for outdoor TVs and audio equipment:
- IP65 is for any speaker or TV that is outside but is unlikely to get too much rain on it. They can get slightly wet, on occasion. However, preferably, they stay dry.
- IP66: for when regular water splashing, or even a bit of heavy rain, is a very real possibility. These TVs can also stand up to a lot of dust in the air.
- IP67: TVs can be immersed in water for long periods, and they won’t be impacted. For most outdoor retreats, IP67 may be overkill.
TV Brightness
Outdoor TVs are a bit different from indoor TVs because they’ll likely be exposed to direct sunlight. Since you can’t pull the curtains to shut the sunlight out, you need a TV that has been designed to stay looking great, even with the sun beating down on it. This is where you need to look at the type of TV you’re buying:
- Full Shade: these outdoor TVs have been designed for when your cozy retreat is in the shade i.e. fully covered. They tend to have lower brightness settings and are very similar to their indoor counterparts. These TVs are much cheaper, but once you get them out in the bright sun, you can’t see much.
- Partial Shade: these outdoor TVs are when a small amount of sunlight may hit the TV, but not too much. These TVs are often placed under a partial gazebo or a bar.
- Full Sun: these TVs are fully exposed to the elements. They’ll have direct sunlight hitting them constantly. As a result, they have a very high brightness and often anti-glare tech. They’re expensive, but they’ll always be the best outdoor TVs no matter the situation.
Screen Size
This is very much a personal choice. You’ll want a TV that suits the size of the area you’re in (plus your budget). If you’re covering a larger area, and we’re talking 600-800 square foot areas here, then you might want to get yourself a projector instead. This way, you can have a full cinema experience in your backyard. How’s that for cozy?
Operating Temperature Range
The weather outdoors is inconsistent. It can be wildly hot one day, and a few weeks later, dreadfully cold. You want a TV that can put up with these fluctuations in temperature, as well as handle the coldest and the warmest weather without faltering. All outdoor TVs will have an operating temperature range. Look at it. Compare the operating temperature to the standard temperatures in your area. Make sure that the TV is capable of being outdoors where you live.
Start Building Your Cozy Outdoor Retreat Today
Yes. Choosing the right speaker system and outdoor TV (or projector) is just one part of the puzzle when building the coziest outdoor retreat, it is a very important part. The TV is likely to be the main source of entertainment, so you want to choose well. If you follow the tips we’ve highlighted in this blog post, then you’ll be well on your way toward making the right decision.
Remember – if you’re looking for the best outdoor TVs and audio equipment, you’ll find that this site is jam-packed with information. Whether you’re looking for a ‘guy’s retreat’, or a place that the whole family can enjoy, our tips & tricks have got you covered. Bookmark us, so you can always enjoy the latest buying guides. We’ll help you make the right decisions. Start your backyard transformation here.
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Make sure you choose the right audio and TV equipment for your outdoor retreat. Our quick buying guide will ensure you end up with the best products for your outdoor entertainment space.