The Best Outdoor Speakers for a Party-Perfect Backyard (2024)

The Polk Atrium 6 offers everything you want in a great pair of outdoor speakers–excellent sound quality, powerful bass to expand into wide spaces, simple installation, and a stylish and weatherproof design.

They're larger than Polk’s cheaper Atrium 4 and Atrium 5 speakers (both of which are solid alternatives), but still designed to fit in tight spaces. Underneath the grilles are dual drivers, including a 1-inch tweeter for high frequencies and a 5.25-inch woofer for excellent midrange sound and bass response.

The Atrium 6’s powerful sound allows them to perform well outdoors, even if there's a lot of background noise. As you’d expect, they’re also designed to take on extreme weather conditions thanks to rust-resistant aluminum grilles, water-resistant port venting, and stainless steel and brass hardware.

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If you want big bass, you often end up paying a pretty penny for it, but these speakers from Dual Electronics give you plenty of oomph for a very reasonable price. The 4-inch woofers aren’t exactly huge, but they pack a wallop for their size.

They can easily push the bass without muddling the treble and vocals. Plus each speaker is weather-resistant, so you don't have to worry when a storm rolls in.

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These outdoor speakers from Bose feature a slim design and a rich and balanced sound. Given the brand, it's no surprise they deliver excellent performance, but they're particularly good at minimizing distortion across a wide area.

The bass is also deep, though not overbearing, and vocals are crystal-clear. The only downsides are that they’re tall, so they may not fit in some spaces, and you can only mount them vertically.

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These speakers may technically be wireless, but they’re designed to take up semi-permanent residence in your yard or on your patio. The discreet design not only resembles a light but functions as one, as well. The LEDs that line the top rim give off a significant amount of light that turns on and off with a button.

The speakers themselves are completely rain-proof and easy to hang without a major installation. It's important to note that wireless speakers like these will need to be charged regularly. The lights can stay on for up to 20 hours, and the speakers can play for up to 12 on a single charge. Make sure to set them up somewhere where you can plug them or easily take them down to charge.

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These “architectural” speakers from Sonos and partner Sonance are a serious investment, but they’re well worth the expense if you’re looking for excellent performance and versatility that lets you grow your system as you go. Compatible with regular amplifiers and receivers, the speakers offer excellent sound quality and robust weatherproofing on their own. But connect them to a Sonos Amp wireless amplifier, and you’ll unlock a whole new dimension of possibilities.

The Sonos Amp can power two pairs of regular speakers, but it supports up to three pairs of Sonos/Sonance speakers in parallel to spread the sound throughout your yard. Connect it all to the Sonos app (for Android or iOS) for tons of streaming playback options, including Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and over 100 streaming services.

It also enables the ability to group your outdoor setup with any Sonos wireless speakers you have inside for cohesive sound throughout your home. The price is high, but you’ll have a hard time finding more versatility in any retail system on the market.

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Looking for a speaker that blends in seamlessly with your landscaping? We can’t promise that the Klipsch AWR-650-SM will fool everyone, but it doesn’t stick out the way conventional speakers do. Despite the Flintstones vibes, they push out rock-solid sound.

The 0.8-inch tweeter and 6.5-inch woofer give you clean, clear highs, and deep, pounding lows. Just like the rock it's imitating, AWR-650-SM can withstand all types of weather and is particularly water-repellent.

Key Specs

If strong bass is your top priority, you can’t go wrong with this Definitive Technology speaker, which features a 6.5-inch subwoofer, 1-inch tweeter, and a 5- x 10-inch bass radiator. The radiator allows it to provide impressively full-bodied bass without distorting mid- and high-range tones.

It comes with a mount that allows the speaker to swivel a full 360 degrees so you can get it angled just right, and the choice of either black or white options makes it easier to find a set that will blend in aesthetically.

Unfortunately, you do only get one speaker for this price, so fully outfitting your space could get pricey, depending on the layout.

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The Sonos Move is not your ordinary Bluetooth speaker. In fact, that’s just one part of the equation here, as this speaker also connects with other Sonos speakers over Wi-Fi to let you do some very cool tricks.

You can connect multiple speakers together, stereo pair two Sonos Moves, and control it all with your voice with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can stream audio directly from the Sonos S2 app, stream to the speaker over Wi-Fi using Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, or use Bluetooth from any phone.

It’s not just the Move’s feature set that makes it an outdoor powerhouse, of course. This speaker sounds full, clear, and powerful, with plenty of thump for most outdoor areas.

It offers 11 hours of battery life per charge, and its armored design is shockproof and rated IP56 for dust and water resistance, so it’s durable enough to hang out on a rainy day (but not enough to leave it out in a monster storm). With the Sonos pedigree and all those features, the Move is not exactly cheap. If the price is too high, you can access the same features in the pint-sizedSonos Roam.

Key Specs

Great outdoor speakers need to be powerful enough to faithfully reproduce your favorite recordings in an open area, without disturbing those outside your bbq or pool party. They need to be weather resistant, not just for wind and rain, but also for exposure to elements like UV rays, humidity, and rust, all of which can do a number on the electrical components without proper protection.

They also need to be able to either connect to your source devices wirelessly or be properly mounted and wired into an amplifier or receiver over longer distances than your average indoor speaker setup. After nailing down these essentials, you'll be able to gauge your priorities and dealbreakers, and weigh them against your budget.

Size

The size of your speakers matter, both for physical placement and the quality of the sound they can pump out. Consider both size and weight—these speakers are relatively permanent, so you'll want to make sure they look good where they’re mounted and that you install them somewhere stable that can handle their heft.

Larger speakers usually have more and/or larger drivers, and more power output so they’re louder and clearer, with a more balanced sound. In general, speakers need to recreate a wide range of frequencies, literally moving the air to create vibrations our ears can pick up that replicates recorded music.

Small models, like portable Bluetooth speakers, use digital enhancements to create a full range of tones in small packages, but that approach can only take you so far. When it comes to getting the most accurate and full sound, you’ll need speakers large enough to move the air and fill your outdoor space—otherwise the performance may sound tinny and lose clarity.

Of course, some of this needs to be tempered so you’re not disturbing the neighbors. That’s why the choices we picked strike the best balance between recreating powerful and full sound without blasting your neighborhood and annoying those around you.

Sound Quality

The sound quality you'll get from any given set of outdoor speakers depends on the model's interior drivers, which produce different types of sound. Most speakers have two types of drivers inside: The “tweeter” handles the treble and upper midrange frequencies, where most of the sound information from melodic instruments and vocals lives. The subwoofer handles the bass and lower tones.

A speaker’s capacity to produce a clean and clear sound that lets you hear every part of your music is complex, and relies on a variety of factors, including the size and quality of the drivers, as well as how they’re arranged in the speaker cabinet (or enclosure). While the cabinet itself plays a part when it comes to coaxing the best and most efficient sound from the drivers, when it comes to getting serious bass, the bigger the woofer, the more depth and boom you’ll get.

This is particularly important outdoors, where the less targeted sound waves that make up the lower register of your favorite tunes tend to dissipate over larger distances. That’s why small speakers typically cannot compete with larger options in wide-open spaces like your back patio or yard.

Connectivity

Logistically speaking, the most important thing you want to check before buying a new set of speakers is its ability to work with a system you already have in your home, or one that works with your mobile device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Most of the options on our list are wired speakers, so you’ll need to connect them to a power source like an amplifier or receiver with speaker wire to work.

All of these models should work with a wide variety of amplifiers/receivers, so if you already have a system set up, you should be in good shape.

Most modern amplifiers or receivers allow for wireless streaming from your phone, which then sends the sound to your wired speakers via either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. When buying and setting up your speakers, keep in mind both of these connections come with tradeoffs.

Bluetooth works well outside, but with limited range. (In most cases, you’ll need to keep your phone within 30 feet of the receiver.) Wi-Fi, by contrast, is often spotty outdoors. Bluetooth is usually the better bet: Just make sure you leave your phone behind if you go inside for a drink or to use the bathroom.

If a wired installation seems too complicated or permanent, look for portable outdoor speakers, which are battery-powered and allow you to stream music over Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi directly. Portable speakers do not require separate amplification or wiring, but they also must be charged regularly.

Are outdoor speakers waterproof?

Most wireless speakers offer some level of water resistance, and many feature other kinds of weatherproofing, including protection from humidity, UV rays, dust, and even rust so they can stay outdoors amongst the elements for years. That said, many aren’t completely waterproof–they can’t be submerged in water and likely wouldn’t fare if left out, uncovered, through a storm.

To keep your speakers safe, we recommend installing them in a location that’s at least partly covered. Even top-rated weatherproofing has its limits, especially when it comes to snow and freezing rain in the winter.

Do I need a receiver or amplifier for outdoor speakers?

In most cases, yes. Unless you buy a portable, battery-powered speaker, you will need a receiver and speaker wire to power your speakers. Luckily, all of our picks can be powered by the vast majority of standard receivers, so you won’t need anything fancy.

We recommend holding out for a model that supports wireless streaming, so you can pair your phone with your speakers through the receiver and control the music without needing to step inside.

Have an older receiver without wireless streaming? You can easily make it a wireless streaming source with a Bluetooth adapter.

Are outdoor speakers wireless?

Technically, most large, semi-permanent outdoor speakers are wired, including the majority of our picks, but they will effectively function like wireless speakers if you pair them with a receiver that supports wireless streaming via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You will still need to deal with some wires when you set them up, but you’ll be able to play music from your phone without plugging in.

There are also options like the Sonos Amp, which lets you connect regular “dumb” speakers – including speakers from other brands – to the Sonos app to group them with other Sonos speakers, stream from multiple services, or use Spotify Connect or Apple AirPlay.

How do I install outdoor speakers?

Most outdoor speakers will come with detailed installation instructions. We recommend you follow the instructions that come with the model you purchase.

That said, we do have a few general tips. First, make sure you install your speakers under an overhang or enclave to keep them somewhat protected from direct elements. If you mount them, make sure you’re attaching them to solid materials like wood or concrete. Lastly, regarding proper speaker placement; install them high up (around 10 to 12 feet is best) and several feet apart (at least 6 feet) to make sure the sound is well dispersed.