Looking for recommendations for outdoor speakers

Definitive Technology   AW 6500

Crutchfield has some interesting stuff. I like the ones that look like potted plants.

https://www.crutchfield.com/g_12400/Outdoor-Speakers.html?tp=188&pg=3

Where are you mounting them? 

There are a ton of really great outdoor speakers available so depending on your application and budget I'm happy to help you.

@senseyng 

Interesting. Like the included sub.

@g2the2nd 

Thanks. Ground locations are out, although I do like the "bollard" style.

@sunshdw 

"Where are you mounting them?"

These would be WIRED, mounted to poles, and up relatively high. 

"budget"

There's really no applicable limit given the modest price of outdoor speakers.  Under $25K, but it looks like there's nothing over $7K for speakers and subs.

@davetheoilguy 

Sorry, I guess I need to be more specific. Where are the poles going? Out in the yard facing the listening area? Flanking the Patio? How close to your listening area? How much area are you wanting to cover?

Consider the on wall from Ambisonic. They can be pole mounted, made into a line array and they use a planar tweeter so they can cover quite an area with good sound. They sell a complete system so it's pretty simple plug n play. I've heard and sold their products and I think it'll fit the ticket for your install. 

https://ambisonicsystems.com/hd6-5-loudspeaker-modules/

@sunshdw 

The patio is slightly over 1000sf total long rectangle, residential, more or less equally divided between (1) a large in-ground hot tub (about 10X20), (2) a seating area in front of a large fireplace, and (3) a table for 10, with a grilling area along the wall.  Ceiling is approximately 20 feet or so high, with mounting around ~17-18 feet off the ground.  Three walls with hot tub on left and kitchen on right if you were standing facing the fireplace (with back to the open area).  Fireplace/seating in the middle.

The mounting pillars are to either side of the fireplace (so the speakers face the open area), roughly 15 feet apart, and facing the seating area, which would be the primary listening area.

My turn to be unclear.

The pillars are not "going" anywhere.  They exist now and hold up the roof. 

About six by six square metal poles, filed with concrete.

 I posted the below reply on another forum. I didn't buy a vineyard but I visited a tasting room for a release yesterday and they had the Model 6.5 installed outside as well as a subwoofer. They have been out in extreme elements for many years and sounded very good.

I had looked at Ambisonic Systems at one point but determined we didn't spend enough time playing music outside and these are much higher priced than most outdoor speakers. More in the commercial class. They look very nice though. I considered the landscape posts with speakers and a subwoofer hidden in the garden and pointing towards the house so the sound didn't carry over the lake and down the valley as much. Maybe when I buy a vineyard and have a release party. 

https://ambisonicsystems.com/loudspeakers-2/

https://ambisonicsystems.com/

@davetheoilguy 

That sounds like a really nice patio area! I think the Ambisonic speakers will do a really good job to cover that big of a space. Hopefully there's a dealer near you so they can come out to take a closer look and make their recommendation. 

Look into Coastal Source.  I’ve done numerous outdoor projects with AM-1s, KEFs, Sonance, and various custom subs.  Coastal Source is top notch.

I have Klipsch RSM400 mounted in my backyard sanctuary, perfect for our use entertaining by the pool and sitting by our fire-pit. 

I have a pair of Paradigm Stylus 470 and 2 pairs of Kef Ventura 6. Both sound amazing for outdoor speakers. The Paradigms are run by a Bluesound Powernode and the Kefs are running off a parasound new classic amp and a BS Node. Do not get the Kefs if you do not plan on using a real amp to power them. An AVR or cheap low current amp will not run the Kefs adequately. Not sure about the outdoor sub, I use a homemade sub that I built to look like an end table. 

I have 3 pairs of sonance speakers mounted on various sides of my house. I run them with Sonos amps so that for casual outside listening, I can use my phone to control everything. For casual outdoor listening, this sounds quite good does not really lack bass terribly. My personal feeling is that subs are probably not needed for your application. I think you'll be surprised with how the little speakers sound

Another vote for Coastal Source!

I researched outdoor speakers about a year ago and ended up with a pair of PSB CS-1000 speakers. I drive them with a Sonos amp and am really happy. Enough volume to get calls from the neighbors if I am not careful.  They have good bass for an outdoor speaker and I don not have a sub. The Definitive Technology line gets great reviews as well. Your space is a good bit larger than mine, FYI. 

JBL has mini line arrays for outdoor mounting. Absolutely rock 

I have these in my deck, surprisingly good sound quality, easy to mount...

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_022AW592BL/Yamaha-NS-AW592-Black.html

I have a few sets of outdoor speakers.   But these are by far my favorites.   They sound huge.  Dayton Audio IO8XTW 8" Indoor/Outdoor 2-Way Speaker w/ Bass Radiator White

Having installed zillions of outdoor speakers in my lifetime, the best sounding weatherproof traditionally styled speakers I have ever come across are the Near LB6 and LB8's.  They are not cheap, though. Subs not needed, especially with the 8's.

They also offer landscape speaker systems which are great.

For other brands, check out James Loudspeaker, https://www.jamesloudspeaker.com/categories/40 

James is top-tier stuff, for sure.  Fantastic stuff.

If not either one of those and I was on a budget, I'd look at MSE Audio:

https://mseaudio.com/products/speakers/outdoor.html?product_list_order=price&product_list_dir=desc

Made in America with great warranties and customer support.

I have had Klipsch AW-650's mounted under the eave of my house above my back patio / pool area.  I have had them for almost 20 years.  I drive them with an Adcom GFA-55.  I love them and everyone who has heard them is amazed at how good they sound in my back yard. I also have a few outdoor subwoofers but rarely ever turn them on, they are not needed with the Klipsch against the brick wall.  Plenty of bass for all levels of volume.  I cannot recommend them more and I believe they are less expensive now than when I bought them 20 years ago.  If or when they finally go out, I will definitely replace them with the same AW-650's.  

+1 @vintageadict  I also have the PSB CS1000 driven by a Sonos Amp, and really enjoy them. They do have pretty good bass, and I even used them for dancing at an outdoor wedding reception with good results...until the neighbours asked us to turn it down.

I have 2 pairs of B&W AM-1 wired into a Nakamichi AV-10 with AQ Niagara 1000 and upgraded AQ power cord, with Bluetooth connected as well. Music and movies sound amazing. My neighbor has come over multiple times and asked me to turn my music up louder because of how good it sounded. Highly recommend. 

All:

I ended up vacillating between Coastal Source and Ambisonic.

Ambisonic looked to be a great fit but they only work through dealers.  I’m from a younger generation than most here, and like most of my generation would rather have a colonoscopy than talk to a salesman.  Just give me a price and let me click or not click.  So they were out.

Ended up with two (but will probably end up with four - 1000 foot space) of the largest Coastal array panel speakers, along with one of their amps.  Wiring is bi wiring (double amped is required) 14 g CL2/3 (direct bury) that you pair with their proprietary ends.

I’m doing basic LR speakers on each side of the fireplace.  1400 watt four channel amp.

If I do 4 speakers, I have to mount on the same wall and get a second amp.

my assumption is you go RLRL or is it LLRR or even LRLR, keeping in mind the are between the two center is the primary listening area?

Klipsch AW-650's are monsters. Things get LOUD and sound great. 

@squared80 

Thanks, but those don't have the sound quality I'd want.

Per above, I went with the Coastal Source Razor RZ310

https://coastalsource.com/outdoor-audio/razor/