The Best Outdoor Speakers That’ll Boost Your Backyard Tunes (2024)

Christian de Looper

Contributor

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Polk Audio Atrium 6 Outdoor Speakers

Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.8 x 11.8 inches | Driver size: 5.5-inches, 1-inch dome tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: All-weather certified

Best for: Mounting a pair of stereo speakers outside wherever you want to hear audio.

The Polk Audio Atrium 6 outdoor speakers come fully weather sealed and are ideal for playing music anywhere outside. Mount them horizontally or vertically on your deck, near a pool or throughout your entire yard with the included mounting hardware.

Each speaker has a wide dispersion pattern with powerful bass and outputs 100 watts of audio power to deliver high-fidelity sound. Audio sounds clear and full-bodied thanks to the speakers’ long-throw polypropylene cone driver with rubber surround pumps and dynamic balance anodized aluminum dome tweeters. In short, you’ll get a deep bass and practically no distortion.

What the reviews say: One reviewer on Amazon noted the fact that the speaker is great for a variety of situations. “The sound quality is great whether you’re playing it loud or quietly. It was easy to mount and easy to adjust the direction of the sound.”

Pros:

• Impressive audio with rich bass
• All-weather certified
• Includes mounting brackets

Cons:

• Not as powerful as the more expensive Atrium 8 speakers

Polk Audio Atrium 4 Outdoor Speakers

Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 7.5 inches | Driver size: 4.5-inch driver and .75-inch tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: All-weather certified

Best for: Getting excellent audio for a reasonable price.

For an affordable price, the Polk Audio Atrium 4 speakers deliver a strong balance of performance. With 80-watts of audio power, their baffle design maximizes mid- and high-frequency dispersion so you can hear audio clearly across a large area. Like the Atrium 6, the Atrium 4 includes an easy-to-install speed-lock mounting bracket. The speakers’ smaller size makes them ideal for tight or out-of-the way installation.

While all of the outdoor speakers in the Polk Atrium lineup look similar on the outside, each offers a slightly different physical size. As the model number goes up, so does the size of the drivers, the power output and the price. The Polk Atrium 4 speakers sit at the lower end of Polk’s product line—and so you can expect a larger design—but they offer great value and impressive overall performance.

What the reviews say: A reviewer on Amazon was impressed with the fact that the speaker is so weather-resistant. “I bought these and hooked them up on my outdoor patio. They have been outside through rain, hail, snow, etc... No fading, no weathering, they are holding up well.”

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Easy to install
• Impressive sound for the size

Cons:

• Drivers are smaller than in other Polk Atrium speakers

Dual Electronics 3-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speakers

Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.3 x 7.3 inches | Drivers: 1.6-inch cone, 0.8-inch midrange driver, 5.25-inch woofer | Wireless audio: Yes | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: For use in covered outdoor areas.

Best for: Installing outdoor speakers on an extreme budget.

For those who want to maximize their sound for the price, the Dual Electronics LU53PB speakers cost $80 for the pair and come with great sound. The speakers use a weather-resistant coating and UV-resistant resin, but you may still want to keep them out of the direct line of fire of downpours and other inclement weather.

For those who need to adjust on the fly, the speakers offer a swivel mount, making them great for those that want to redirect the tunes toward the pool party or just away from neighbors.

What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon noted the fact that the speakers offer excellent value for the money: “I recommend these to anyone looking for a speaker that is durable, provides excellent sound quality and doesn’t drain the bank account.”

Pros:

• Very affordable
• Sold as a pair
• Can handle use in the rain

Cons:

• Not fully weather resistant
• Lacks sturdy design

Sonos Architectural Speakers By Sonance

Dimensions: 7.5 x 15.4 x 7.8 inches | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: IP66

Best for: Homes already using Sonos audio equipment.

The Sonos Architectural Speakers By Sonance can fully integrate with your existing Sonos home speakers. For those who have an indoor/outdoor setup, you can control the audio inside your home and outdoors from a single device. These passive speakers require an amplifier and speaker wire (sold separately). They work with the Sonos Amp, sold separately for $699 or as a bundle with two speakers for $1,418.

Each speaker has one high-excursion pivoting woofer that produces mid and low frequencies, along with a one-inch tweeter that produces high frequencies. The speakers have an IP66 water- and dust-resistance rating, making them perfect for permanent outdoor installations.

What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon were particularly impressed with these speakers when using them with a wider surround-sound system. “The sound from these are phenomenal, even without a subwoofer. We use them daily throughout the house and for our 5.1 surround sound, it’s fantastic.”

Pros:

• Integrates with other Sonos gear
• IP66 weatherproof rating

Cons:

• Professional installation recommended
• Expensive

Bose Portable Smart Speaker

Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.7 x 4 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Wireless audio: Yes | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Waterproof rating: IPX4

Best for: Robust, 360-degree audio you can carry with you.

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker produces full-bodied, 360-degree sound from a compact package. Use it poolside or at your campsite thanks to the built-in IPX4 water resistance. It’s perfect for group listening, since it produces an immersive sound with impressive bass and reasonable loudness heard in every direction—filling all corners of your space.

Connect the speaker to Wi-Fi to use voice commands via the built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.You can control the Bose Portable Smart Speaker using the physical controls on the top surface or using the mobile app, which lets you pair the speaker with a second Bose smart speaker. It also works with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Spotify Connect.

Excerpt from ourfull review: “Out of the ten Bluetooth speakers I recently evaluated for a roundup of thebest Bluetooth speakers, I found the Bose Portable Smart Speaker outperformed the competition time and again. This speaker earns the distinction of the best Bluetooth speaker overall for its well-balanced audio and robust features.”

Pros:

• Lightweight, water-resistant and portable
• Produces 360-degree, room-filling sound
• Connects directly to Wi-Fi or pairs with a Bluetooth device

Cons:

• No speakerphone support

Soundcore Motion 300 Portable Speaker

Dimensions: 1.9 x 2.3 x 2.7 inches | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Driver size: 4 mm 2x | Wireless audio: Yes | Battery life: Up to 13 hours | Waterproof rating: IPX7

Best for: Listening to tunes outside without spending a fortune.

You don’t have to spend much to get a great portable outdoor speaker. The Soundcore Motion 300 comes at a fraction of the price of the Bose option above, but boasts many of the same features and an excellent audio quality. The speaker has an IPX7 water-resistance rating that allows it to withstand most day-to-day outdoor use, plus, with dual 15-watt drivers, it offers a relatively powerful sound. The sound can be tweaked to your preferences, too, thanks to the companion app that has a built-in EQ. The Motion 300 connects through Bluetooth 5.3, but that’s the only method of connectivity—there’s no 3.5 mm port here.

The battery life on the speaker is 13 hours, which is fine but not incredible. If battery life is important to you, there are better options out there. Additionally, the speaker is a little heavy compared to some, so it may not be the best choice for those who want something very lightweight. But if that’s not a deal-breaker, the Motion 300 offers a great audio quality with a range of helpful features.

What the reviews say: One reviewer on Amazon was particularly impressed with the audio quality of the Motion 300: “I must admit that the clarity that comes from these speakers is excellent. You can hear instrument separation, and there is no distortion at higher levels of volume. The speaker is loud and it can be customized to your liking in the app. I’d create your own EQ to listen at the sound that is pleasing to your ears.”

Pros:

• Budget-friendly
• Outputs 15-watts of audio power
• Customizable EQ

Cons:

• A little heavy
• No 3.5 mm port

Dimensions: 17.5 x 13 x 16 inches | Driver size: 1-inch dome tweeter, 8-inch woofer | Waterproof rating: All-weather sealed

Best for: Incorporating a subtle speaker design into your landscaping.

The Outdoor Speakers Direct (OSD) Audio RS850 sits hidden inside a rocklike enclosure for a subtle 8-inch, high-fidelity speaker you can place around your backyard. The outer shell of the rock enclosure uses a multilayered composite that’s designed to withstand harsh weather. Get it in brown, grey or slate to get a speaker that blends in with your landscaping aesthetic.

OSD sells the speaker individually, but you can use multiple speakers, each placed no more than 30 feet apart. The manufacturer recommends using waterproof cables and burying the wire connectors. These speakers require an amplifier or receiver that can push out at least 100 watts of power. OSD also has various shapes and sizes for its enclosures so you can customize your design.

What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon note that these speakers are particularly well-built, while looking natural. “I expected them to be made out of some kind of hard plastic material, but they’re made from a rubber-like material and appear to be very well constructed.”

Pros:

• Resembles a rock
• Outputs 200 watts of audio power
• Available in a variety of sizes and colors

Cons:

• Must bury waterproof cabling

Dayton Audio IO8XTB Indoor/Outdoor 2-Way Speaker

Dimensions: 14 x 13 x 18 inches | Drivers: 1-inch silk dome tweeter and 8-inch polypropylene woofer | Wireless audio: No | Mounting required: Included | Waterproof rating: IP66

Best for: Listening to high-quality audio outdoors, no matter the cost.

The Dayton Audio IO8XTB speakers don’t come cheap. They’re sold individually and priced at $175 each—and you’ll need at least two of them. In addition to being waterproof, these speakers come with a bracket that allows them to be mounted horizontally or vertically, with the ability to pivot to your needs.

The internal passive radiator offers extended low-end response that generates deep bass via the 8-inch woofer. Meanwhile, the 1-inch silk dome tweeter keeps the high-end of the audio sounding smooth and clear. The Dayton Audio IO8XTB speakers are plenty loud, so you can easily fill a larger patio, deck, backyard or pool area with high-quality audio.

What the reviews say: One Amazon reviewer with experience using outdoor speakers noted how impressive the Dayton Audio IO8XTB speakers sound. “I have installed many brands of outdoor speakers with my A/V for over 20 years and these are by far the absolutely best-sounding I’ve ever heard! Every outdoor mounted speaker sounds pretty good, usually really tinny, not these! Excellent low end and great sound projection!”

Pros:

• Designed for larger areas
• Offers impressive bass with clear high-end audio
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Expensive

Turtlebox Loud! Gen 2 Outdoor Portable Speaker

Dimensions: 12 x 8.8 x 7 inches | Drivers: 1.5-inch tweeter, 6 x 9–inch woofer | Wireless audio: Yes | Mounting required: Built-in handle | Waterproof rating: IP67

Best for: Outdoor adventurers.

Available in multiple colors, the Turtlebox Loud! (Gen 2) is ready for any outdoor adventure. Enjoy up to 25 hours of continuous listening with this waterproof outdoor speaker. At maximum volume, this speaker can reach up to 120 decibels. It comes with a built-in handle, so you can easily bring this speaker with you camping, to the beach, on a boat or wherever your outdoor adventures take you. On other side of the speaker are sturdy metal clamps for attaching the speaker to a boat, bike or vehicle.

Pair two of these speakers together to achieve true stereo sound. Due to its design, the audio output is directional—outward from the front of the speaker. The build quality of the Turtlebox Loud! is top-notch and the audio quality will leave you impressed.

What the reviews say: A reviewer on Amazon was particularly impressed with how durable this speaker is. “We loved the sound quality, battery life and durability so much (yes, we’ve thrown it right off the boat into the ocean) that we bought a second one for the feature of connecting them via Bluetooth for true L & R stereo sound.”

Pros:

• Waterproof and extremely durable
• Generates up to 120 decibel audio
• Impressive battery life

Cons:

• Expensive

Sonos Move 2 Wireless Portable Speaker

Dimensions: 5 x 6.3 x 9.4 inches | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Drivers: 1.6-inch tweeter, 6 x 9-inch woofer | Wireless audio: Yes | Battery life: 24 hours | Waterproof rating: IP56

Best for: Sonos users who want something they can use on the go.

Staying within the Sonos ecosystem has its advantages, like the fact that you can manage your entire audio setup within one app and use all of your speakers in a multiroom setup. The Sonos Move 2 is the perfect portable speaker for anyone who already uses lots of Sonos products. Like other Sonos speakers, the Move 2 supports Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2, and can be controlled straight from the Sonos app. Unlike some other Sonos speakers, the Move 2 has Bluetooth, which is necessary when you might not have access to your Wi-Fi network. The speaker also offers that much-loved Sonos audio quality, with excellent bass response and good clarity in the high end. And, you’ll be able to listen to that excellent audio for a solid amount of time, thanks to the 24-hour battery life.

All those features don’t come cheap—the Sonos Move 2 is a little pricey, and won’t be worth the cost for everyone. However, you may be able to justify the price given the fact that the speaker isn’t only built for on-the-go use—it can be docked at home for use with the rest of your Sonos system.

What our writers say: Audio expert Christian de Looper is a big fan of Sonos speakers for multiroom use. “The Sonos Move 2 may be a little pricey, but the top-tier audio quality and range of smart features will make it worth the money for those who can afford it.”

Pros:

• Works with other Sonos products
• AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
• Excellent audio quality

Cons:

• Expensive