Outdoor Loudspeakers

Feb 11, 2010 12:00 PM, By Bennett Liles

For gardens and other landscaped settings, Klipsch offers the AWR-650-SM outdoor rock loudspeaker in a two-way design with a dual voice coil 6.5in. polymer woofer and two 3/4in. poly-dome tweeters with neodymium magnets. Using a 2.5kHz crossover, the AWR-650-SM produces a frequency response of 66Hz to 20kHz ±3dB with a power rating of 50W continuous and 200W peak.

From the peace of the garden, we jump to the raucous blare of sports stadiums and exhibition halls with the AM404 large-format mid/high horn from Martin Audio. The 40-degree by 40-degree large-format horn punches vocal sound across a long throw in either a biamplified or optional two-way passive configuration. Reflex porting the driver's rear chamber extends response down to 120Hz at -10dB.

Martin Audio AM404

The MAS-MC60 indoor/outdoor cabinet speaker from Mas Audio has an indoor look with the weatherproof durability of an exterior loudspeaker. The high-impact, UV-protected ABS plastic case contains an 8ω, 60W, 5 1/4in. woofer with a polypropylene cone and rubber surround along with a 1in. Mylar tweeter with a neodymium magnet. Available in black or white, the case mounts on a swiveling ball-joint bracket.

The patented Omniguide module used in the Mirage Oasis Omni 5 distributes sound evenly over a wide area, and the unique mount and design allows the housing to rotate on a circular track built into the cylindrical body. The 5 1/2in. woofer, passive radiator, and 1in. tweeter put out a frequency response of 65Hz to 20kHz at up to 100W through an 8ω impedance.

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The Niles Audio OS7.5 indoor/outdoor loudspeaker increases bass output with an integrated woofer/baffle assembly using a 7in. interlaced carbon fiber cone and butyl rubber cone surround. Paired with a 1in. tri-laminate Teteron dome tweeter, the 8ω unit propels audio at 5W to 150W with a response of 60Hz to 23kHz ±3dB.

With an unusually elegant appearance for an outdoor loudspeaker enclosure, the NXG Technology NX-PRO-6000W consists of a UV-treated ABS composite case to resist sun fading. This houses a 6 1/2in. metallic anodized, injection-molded cone woofer with rubber surround and a 1in. liquid-cooled dome tweeter that together produce a response of 55Hz to 20kHz at up to 125W.

Designed for maximum vocal intelligibility at high sound pressure levels, the 212-CM from One Systems provides a 60-degree conical dispersion pattern at 1200W continuous power with a frequency response of 75Hz to 16kHz. The unit is protected against weather with a unique drain design and a three-layer rain-shield grille. It has terminals in the form of 4-pin Neutrik Speakons and a stainless steel barrier strip.

The Paradigm Electronics Rock Monitor 80-SM is a single loudspeaker system with stereo inputs and two two-way coaxially mounted 1in. PTD dome HF drivers. The dual voice coil 7 1/2in. bass/midrange driver extends lows down to 42Hz while the on-axis response tops out at 20kHz. The 80-SM can be connected in 4ω mono or 8ω stereo configurations.