The Best Outdoor Speakers (2024)

I’ve worked as an editor and writer in audio publishing for over 30 years, and I’ve reviewed more outdoor speakers than any other writer in the world (which says more about audio publications’ lack of interest in outdoor speakers than it does about me).

In the course of producing the original version of this guide and many updates, we’ve conducted brand-concealed listening tests to get feedback from numerous listeners, including senior staff writer and headphone expert Lauren Dragan.

Outdoor speakers are for people who want a more permanent audio option for a patio, backyard, or other outdoor space, as opposed to using a portable Bluetooth speaker.

Outdoor speakers are weather-resistant, so in most cases you can leave them outside without having to worry about them malfunctioning due to water damage. These speakers have metal grilles and fairly rugged plastic enclosures, so they usually survive minor impacts, and bugs find it difficult to nest inside them.

Outdoor speakers can be standard passive designs, which require use of a separate amplifier, or Bluetooth models that have their own amps and a Bluetooth receiver built in.

Passive outdoor speakers don’t need to be plugged in or recharged, but you need to run speaker wire to them from the amp. You can power the speakers off of an existing AV receiver, if you have a couple of unused amplifier channels. Most stereo receivers have a “speakers A/B” button that lets you route the sound to a second set of speakers, or you can use an inexpensive speaker switcher. You can also use a mini stereo amplifier.

You have to keep the amplifier indoors and run the wires through your walls or attic to the outside of the house, which requires skill, effort, and experience. Most localities allow running low-voltage (namely, audio, video, and networking) cables through walls without a permit, but you should check your local building codes to confirm. Be sure to use CL2- or CL3-rated cables, which are fire-rated for safety.

A simpler alternative is an outdoor speaker with amplification and Bluetooth built in. With this option, the only wires you may have to run are the cable between the two speakers and the connection to the power supply. Unless the speaker is rechargeable, you need a nearby outdoor AC outlet, and you’ll probably prefer to unplug its power supply when the speakers aren’t in use.

Outdoor speakers rarely sound as good as a decent set of bookshelf speakers designed for indoor use. The very things that make them suitable for outdoor use can hinder sound quality—the plastic enclosures tend to produce a boomy sound, and the perforated metal grilles can partially block the sound waves coming from the speaker drivers.

So our search for the best outdoor speakers focused on finding the ones that make the fewest sonic compromises while offering easy setup and good weather resistance.

Here are the criteria we considered:

I started the testing process by breaking in every speaker with music for 10 hours. I then listened to all of them in my backyard. If any speaker exhibited severe anomalies, such as distortion in deep bass notes or harsh treble that made voices sound grating, I eliminated it.

With the traditionally styled outdoor speakers, I conducted brand-concealed listening tests with two or three speakers at a time, using an Audio by Van Alstine ABX remote-controlled switcher and Outlaw Audio Model 2200 amplifiers. I mounted the traditional speakers side by side on large wood panels attached to the walls of the house, covered the speakers with thin black fabric, and used the Audio by Van Alstine switcher to match the levels of the speakers to within about ±0.3 decibels and select among them. I then asked the listening panelists for their opinions on performance. Lastly, I revealed the identities and prices so they could judge the looks and value.

The rock-shaped speakers we tested were Bluetooth-only models with no auxiliary inputs, so we couldn’t switch rapidly between them to do A/B tests. And of course, when we compared them with traditional speakers mounted on a fence, it was obvious which was which. So rather than concealing the identities of the speakers, we just matched the levels and did our best to put our biases aside.

The OSD Audio AP650 is the best traditional outdoor pair because the speakers are rugged and fully sealed against weather and insects, they sound good, and they’re reasonably priced.

They sound better than anything else in their price range. Our listening-test panelists picked the AP650 speakers as their favorite because they delivered a more even balance of bass, midrange, and treble than all the other speakers we tested in their price range. Bass and kick drum, sax and vocals, and cymbals and acoustic guitars all came across about even, and no instrument drowned out the others.

We did find the midrange and treble to be a little boosted and coarse-sounding, which could make voices sound a little scratchy. But for an affordable outdoor speaker pair, these are pretty great.

They’re rugged. The mounting bracket is folded at the edges to add stiffness, so it doesn’t sag the way simpler, cheaper brackets sometimes do. It’s also powder-coated, which means the finish is less likely to flake off and encourage rust.

Heavy-duty, spring-loaded, push-button binding posts provide a firm, reliable connection for the speaker cables. OSD Audio provides a snap-on cover to help prevent water from dripping into the speaker connections.

Because the AP650 speakers are sealed, you don’t need to worry about water or bugs getting inside. I tried blasting an AP650 speaker with a hose, and the speaker survived just fine. The AP650 carries an IP rating of IPX6, which means it can withstand powerful jets of water but is not dustproof.

They’re versatile. These speakers swivel back and forth, and unlike most traditional outdoor speakers, they can also tilt up or down plus or minus 25 degrees, thanks to a series of holes drilled in the mounting brackets. This feature will come in handy if you have to mount your AP650 speakers high on an exterior wall.

A 70-volt version of the AP650 is available for an extra $10 to $15 a pair; this option is useful if you want to string multiple speakers around your yard, but it requires a special 70-volt amplifier.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The bass output is limited. The AP650 speakers have a decent amount of bass, but people who want lots of deep bass should upgrade to the Dayton Audio IO8XTB speakers.

The sound with vocals can be a little rough and scratchy, especially at loud volumes; again, demanding listeners should consider the IO8XTB speakers.

Listening tests of outdoor speakers are usually like taste tests of under-$3 wine—you hope for transcendence but are wise to keep your expectations low. That’s why it was such a delight to find the Dayton Audio IO8XTB.

This speaker sounds great and plays loud. It has the same smooth, natural sound with voices that you can expect from a good indoor bookshelf speaker, which few outdoor speakers deliver. This model also has a lot more bass than most outdoor speakers.

The IO8XTB’s speaker drivers—an 8-inch woofer, a 1-inch tweeter, and a bass-boosting passive radiator on the back—work together flawlessly, so the IO8XTB exhibits none of the roughness with voices that’s typical of outdoor speakers.

Also unlike most outdoor models, the IO8XTB can play loud, deep bass notes from hip-hop and EDM tunes without distorting. I found that a pair of them could easily fill my 1,800-square-foot suburban backyard with loud, clear sound.

The IO8XTB is bigger than many outdoor speakers. It measures 15 inches high and weighs 10.8 pounds, so it may look obtrusive in some settings. It’s available in black or white (if you prefer a white finish, look for model number IO8XTW).

This speaker carries a more robust IP rating than the OSD Audio AP650. The IP66 designation means it’s dustproof and can tolerate direct blasts from a hose.

A switch lets you use the IO8XTB with a 70- or 100-volt audio system. So you can drive large groups of speakers with a single amplifier, but this requires an amp designed for that purpose.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The grille dents easily. And unlike most speaker grilles, it can’t be removed easily. So if you try to pull the grille to pop a dent out, you may end up putting more dents in it.

The IO8XTB’s mounting bracket doesn’t seem as sturdy as the one that comes with the OSD Audio AP650, and we worry that it might sag a little after a few years.

The spring-loaded binding posts are sturdy and secure, but they are placed in a way that makes attaching the speaker cables difficult. However, that’s likely a one-time task.

The Victrola Rock Speaker Connect is the easiest way to set up a music system in your backyard. You don’t need to run any wires, connect a power cable, or even turn a screw. Just set it down and pair it with your phone through Bluetooth, and you get year-round outdoor sound.

It has built-in Bluetooth and a solar panel. The Rock Speaker Connect works exactly like a portable Bluetooth speaker, except you may never have to plug it in for a recharge because a solar panel on the top charges the internal battery. We found that even in Seattle’s intermittent spring sunshine, the solar panel eliminated the need for charging through the USB-C jack.

Even with the solar panel covered, the speaker played at about 80 decibels (a comfortable listening level that probably won’t annoy your neighbors) for 31 hours after a full charge.

The only setup required is to pair the speaker to your phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth-enabled audio player. You can wirelessly connect as many as 20 of the speakers to run in sync from the same source, making it easy to cover large yards.

The rock-shaped design sits on the ground, so you don’t need to install a speaker bracket or climb a ladder.

It sounds like a good portable Bluetooth speaker. The Rock Speaker Connect is a two-way design, with a 4.5-inch woofer and a 0.5-inch tweeter. It has a clear and reasonably full sound that’s comparable to what we’ve heard from some of the larger inexpensive portable Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested, such as the W-King X10.

The molded, rock-shaped cabinet is surprisingly sturdy, so it doesn’t produce the annoying vibrations and rattles that plague many cheap outdoor speakers.

The Bluetooth range is excellent. In our tests, the range was about 110 feet, which should be enough even for a large backyard. It doesn’t have a speakerphone built in, but when you answer a call on your phone, the sound playing through the speaker pauses and you can converse on the phone. When you hang up, the speakers start playing again.

Victrola sells the Rock Speaker Connect individually, not in pairs, and it comes in three colors: stone, sandstone, and granite.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The IP rating is a bit low. The Rock Speaker Connect’s IP54 rating means it’s dust-resistant and splashproof. That should protect it against rain showers (it weathered three light rainstorms during our testing), but it may not resist a strong blast from a hose—something that could easily happen if you place it in your garden.

The 4.5-inch woofer can’t touch the bass performance of our other picks. If you’re a fan of hip-hop, R & B, or heavy rock, this speaker’s sound may not satisfy, and it wouldn’t be a good choice for pool parties.

For someone who wants more-robust landscape speakers that are still very simple to install, we recommend the OSD Audio BTR805.

Like the Victrola rock speaker, the pair of speakers has built-in Bluetooth and amplification, so you don’t need a separate amp and can send audio signals to them wirelessly. But this set—with one speaker containing the electronics and the other being passive—lacks a built-in battery, so you do have to plug it into a power outlet and you must connect the two speakers via speaker wire.

Installation is simple, but these aren’t battery-powered. Many people are probably more willing to eat live crickets than they are to drill a hole in the side of their house to run speaker wire. Yet that’s exactly what most installations of passive outdoor speakers require.

The BTR805 makes things simpler. Just place the pair down wherever you like (as long as the speaker with the power connection is within 18 feet of an outdoor AC outlet), use the included waterproof wire nuts to connect the included 10-foot-long cable between the two speakers, then plug in the power and pair your phone or tablet through Bluetooth.

This set puts out party-level sound. The BTR805 speakers have a big, full sound that’s well suited to pool areas and large yards and ideal for fans of bass-heavy music such as EDM, hip-hop, R & B, and heavy rock. Each speaker has an 8-inch woofer that puts out plenty of deep bass, and the sturdy, rock-shaped enclosures aren’t prone to the music-marring sympathetic vibrations that some outdoor speaker cabinets suffer.

Bluetooth reception was clear even at a distance of 150 feet, which was as far as we could walk without bumping into a neighboring home. When you get a call, whatever you’re playing through the speakers will pause, and you can use the phone as you normally would. Then when you hang up, the speakers start playing again.

The system looks rugged enough to last many years. The power supply is IP67-rated—that means there should be no danger if it gets wet. The speakers themselves do not carry an IP rating and are listed only as “water resistant,” but the enclosures are made from thick molded plastic that’s well sealed with silicone caulk.

During our testing, they survived two weeks of intermittent Pacific Northwest rainstorms and still worked perfectly.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

You have to run a cord between the two speakers. One speaker in each pair houses the built-in amplifier, and you have to run a 10-foot cord from that speaker to power the other one. The cable is generic zip cord, not burial-grade cable. However, you should be able to conceal it with mulch if you don’t want your wires showing.

Even though the power supply is waterproof, the three-prong AC plug isn’t, so you’d probably want to disconnect it when it’s not in use—unless it’s connected to a covered, weather-resistant AC outlet.

If you want outdoor speakers that can be hung overhead: Consider a set of pendant-style landscape speakers. They’re designed to either hang from a cable (in which case they point downward) or be staked into the ground (in which case they point forward, presumably at the listener). The Dayton Audio WP65BT and the OSD Audio Forza 6 look and sound the same, and both sounded good hanging from my eaves, with a mild emphasis on the midrange (voices) and enough bass that they didn’t really need a subwoofer. However, when we staked them into the ground, the sound was somewhat glaring.

If you want a wireless system with a more traditional look: The OSD Audio BTP525 and BTP650 are good-sounding outdoor speakers with amplification and Bluetooth built in, which makes them much easier to install and use than traditional passive outdoor speakers. Just screw the brackets into the wall or fence, connect the power supply, connect the supplied cable between the two speakers, and plug in the system. The smaller, less expensive BTP525 is good enough for most patios, but if you want more volume or more bass, we suggest spending extra for the larger BTP650.

If you want the cheapest outdoor speakers that still sound decent: The Dual Electronics LU53PW is the least expensive passive outdoor speaker set we’ve found that’s worth buying. The speakers don’t have much bass, and they can sound harsh when you crank up the volume because they emphasize the midrange too much. But they don’t distort when they play hip-hop and heavy rock, which is something few cheap speakers can claim. For casual background music, they’re fine—but if you want to create more of a party atmosphere, you’ll be better off with one of our larger picks.

We have evaluated numerous outdoor speakers over the course of several comparison tests. If you’re interested in a certain model that’s not listed below, check out our running list of the outdoor speakers we’ve tested.

The Dayton Audio IO65X is the smaller version of our upgrade pick, the IO8XTB. Although it’s only about half the price of the IO8XTB, it’s just an average performer in its price range; the bass sounds somewhat bloated, and voices can sound a little rough.

We found the treble of the Klipsch AW-525 exceptionally clear, but it overpowered the midrange and the bass, making the sound somewhat thin.

The little MartinLogan ML-45WH speakers offered wonderfully clear reproduction of voices and most instruments, but their bass distorted.

The Monitor Audio Climate 60 is a beautifully designed speaker, but its midrange didn’t sound very smooth, and it needed more bass.

The Monoprice 13614 had an extremely bright and blaring sound.

The OSD Audio AP850 sounded way too bassy to most of our panelists.

The Polk Audio Atrium 4 sounded too midrange-heavy to our panelists, making voices and many instruments sound blaring.

The Sound Appeal SA-BLAST5 Bluetooth pair costs a little less than the OSD Audio BTP525 speakers but sounded slightly distorted in our tests, which reduced the clarity of vocals.

The Yamaha NS-AW294 speakers are a former pick. They’re typically less expensive than the OSD Audio AP650, and their bass performance is pretty impressive, but they don’t sound as clear, and their ported design makes them less water-resistant.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.