Choose the system before the speakers
Whole-home audio can be wireless, wired or hybrid. Wireless speakers are easy to add room by room. In-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor passive speakers usually need an amplifier and speaker wire, but can look cleaner and cover larger spaces.
10 audio products and system types worth comparing
- Sonos Era 100. Flexible compact wireless speaker for kitchens, bedrooms and smaller living spaces. Manufacturer information.
- Sonos Arc Ultra. Premium soundbar option when the TV is the center of the room. Manufacturer information.
- Sonos Amp. Useful bridge between traditional wired speakers and app-controlled multiroom audio. Manufacturer information.
- Sonos/Sonance in-ceiling speakers. Discreet built-in audio for kitchens, great rooms and hallways. Explore architectural audio.
- Sonos/Sonance outdoor speakers. Weather-resistant speakers for patios and decks, typically powered by an indoor amp. Outdoor set.
- Definitive Technology AW-650. A strong all-purpose outdoor speaker category for decks and larger patios. Research at Crutchfield.
- Polk Atrium8 SDI. Outdoor speaker designed to work in stereo or single-speaker applications. Research and buy.
- Landscape speakers. Low-mounted speakers can spread sound more evenly across a yard than blasting music from the house. Outdoor planning guide.
- Outdoor subwoofer. Useful for larger entertainment areas where full-range outdoor sound matters. Compare outdoor systems.
- AV receiver. Best fit when the goal is a dedicated surround-sound theater with multiple HDMI sources and wired speakers. Compare receivers.
- Whole-home multi-zone amplifier. Best for larger homes with several wired rooms or outdoor zones and centralized equipment.
Outdoor audio: plan coverage, not volume
For a small patio, a properly spaced stereo pair can work well. Larger yards generally sound better with several lower-volume speakers distributed through the space. This improves consistency and is kinder to neighbors than mounting one loud pair on the back wall.
Five installation questions
- Will speaker wire be installed before walls or ceilings close?
- Where will amplifiers and networking equipment live?
- Are outdoor speakers and connections rated for exposure?
- Do you want independent volume in each room or zone?
- Will TV audio need to join the same whole-home system?
Editor note: The right answer depends heavily on the room, outdoor space and installation path, so Roof & Lawn emphasizes system design before shopping.