Semi Outdoor Sound System Requirements

[rayong09]

I have an outdoor entertaining area 12 meters by 6 meters, 1 solid 12 meter wall and three open sides with roof.

I have a smallish budget of 100,000 baht for a system that will play music from CD's only but I really do not have any idea what is good and what would sound good in that environment when full with people.

The sound must be enjoyable if loud and pleasant background sound if turned down.

If anyone has a spare few minutes and would possibly type me out a list of what to buy and from where in Bangkok I would really appreciate it, IE, Amp brand name and specs, speakers etc.

I do not have the confidence in shop sales staff to sell me what I need.

Thank You.

[JackA]

At least I would give you some advice on the speakers,

Don't buy any with fiberboard enclosure (they will suck up any humidity and disintegrate - so no veneer).

Also you need to make sure that the drivers are able to withstand humidity, so paper cones and foam surround

are not recommended.

But I would not have any electronics outside, but rather get an AVR (Audio Video Receiver) - with multiple zones,

which most do have - and then configure a Zone to Outdoor duties.

I would look into "media streamers" rather than a CD Player.

By my understanding - the outside use wouldn't be "hi-fi", but rather for background / partying (loud). With that

MP3 shouldn't be sufficient - and I presume that ripping CD's isn't a big deal - once done, you'll not have

to worry about changing CD's all the time.

- Rugged speakers (And bose, even in plastic won't do - as they have both paper cones with foam surrounds)

- AVR with multiple zones

- a Media streamer.

But I'm sure that Benji would help you - as I believe he's also an integrator (which means he will have a lot of experience).

Edited April 11, 2010 by JackA

[rayong09]

Cheers JackA you gave me the foundations to start my research whereas before I didn't know what to start with.

After reading your advice I have been reading up and trying to educate myself with what might be best for my requirements.

Looks like a Denon AVR with 6 JBL speakers 1 each corner and 2 subs either side center along with an Xtreamer box.

Will wait until songkran has finished and take a trip to Mahajak see if they can kit me out.

Seriously bro I would of just bought an amp and maybe Jamo speakers (home entertainment pack - paper cones!!!) and thought that would of done it, you saved me a few quid that's for sure, nice one and happy Songkran.

[Benjie]

Yes I'd make sure to get some good weatherproof outdoor speakers and then hook them up to an amp.

If it's only 1 zone (area) I'd be tempted to say go for a Sonos amplifier and wire 2-3 pairs of speakers into that. You could then either control it with the Sonos controller or alternatively your iPhone. However I'm biased as we sell Sonos.

The logitech kit could also work (similar to the Sonos) or even an iTunes/Airport setup but either way media streaming is a much better idea than CD's for a remote location IMO, you don't want to have to keep standing up to adjust volume, change song etc.. in an ideal world.

[JackA]

Another question - any specific reason you're looking at Jamo? - I'm not sure that they would have anything that is "rugged".

I would seriously look into :

http://www.hifitower.co.th/products.php?cat1=7&cat2=39

Wharfedale - semi professional - rugged and no real sticker shock.

And from what I've read - actually - for music, the Marantz SR5003

is pretty hard to beat - As both Denon and Marantz (D&M Holdings)

Denon have more features - but for music - you get a better receiver

in the Marantz SR5003.

http://www.powerbuy.co.th/ProductDetailPag...de=PWB000166925

Avoid SR5004 / 6004 as both suffers from "POD" (Pop of Death - Even though they are newer).

Streamer : The WDTV Live HD Media Player is right now on sale 4.990,- baht (that one is hard to beat....).

http://www.wdtvlive.com/products/wdtv_live#highlights - have network capability and with the "right" dongle it is also WIFI capable.

Unless you want to take the hassle out of the whole thing and go with a

full SONOS setup - I'm not sure Logitech is available in Thailand.

(I don't work for either - but MY observations). - happy hunting...

Edited April 12, 2010 by JackA

[craigt3365]

JackA: Wow...I really liked the Bose outside speakers. Sounded great at the store...but sounds like they are not the best way to go. Mahajak had some neat wireless JBL speakers here in Pattaya...they were on sale about a month ago.

I am in somewhat of the same situation as the op. A fairly large outdoor area that needs some music. I am still not 100% sure what I am going to do, but I have it hard wired, so don't need wireless.

I am going to put the receiver in the house, as was recommended here. One zone for the TV/etc., the other zone for outside. Back in the US, I had a nice Denon that I hooked my 80GB iPod up to. I had multiple outside zones that went through a speaker selector with volume controls for 6 sets of speakers. Here is a link to the unit I purchased:

http://www.amazon.com/Niles-SSVC-6-Speaker...cp_ob_e_title_1

It worked pretty good...except I really needed volume control outside, not just inside. So this time, I am going to put the speaker selector/volume control outside...but inside a cabinet. Wish I could figure out a way to have the iPod outside...but worse case, have it inside, and just let it play. I have some 10k or 12k songs on the iPod...all setup by genre. So I can play my jazz, thai, rock...or all my Carlos Santana...tough to beat.

Rayong09: can you post an update of what you are going to do? Would love to see how things work out...I will do the same, but it won't be until we get back from the US in June...

Craig

[Saraquin]

It worked pretty good...except I really needed volume control outside, not just inside. So this time, I am going to put the speaker selector/volume control outside...but inside a cabinet. Wish I could figure out a way to have the iPod outside...but worse case, have it inside, and just let it play. I have some 10k or 12k songs on the iPod...all setup by genre. So I can play my jazz, thai, rock...or all my Carlos Santana...tough to beat.

Hi

Just a thought but have you looked into a base station with remote for the ipod? then a remote extender if the equipment indoors is out of sight/range of where ya wish to use the remotes from.

Cheers