Outdoor Speakers Technology Showcase

Jun 6, 2011 11:54 AM, by Mark Johnson

Tannoy Di 8DC

StereoStone specializes in speakers that look like rocks and planters. The Gibraltar Stealth model features Soundstealth, in which the grille area is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the enclosure. The speaker incorporates an 8in. coaxial poly mica driver, and 25V, 70V, and 100V transformers are available.

The Tannoy DI Range Di 8DC features an 8in. dual-concentric constant directivity driver with a resin-treated multi-fiber paper pulp cone. The enclosure is a weather-resistant HIPS. Standard finishes available are textured black or white with matching rubber trims. Custom trim colors are available by special order.

Technomad MP Paris

Technomad’s MP Series features the two-way, full-range Paris, which comprises two 6.5in. custom polypropylene low-frequency drivers and a 1in. horn-loaded compression high-frequency driver. The roto-molded polyethylene enclosure is available in 14 colors, and the speaker comes with a multitap 70V transformer.

The TOA Electronics F-2000 features an 8in. lowfrequency driver and a 1in. hard-dome tweeter mounted in a HIPS enclosure. High-frequency coverage is adjustable from 110 degrees horizontal by 100 degrees vertical to 80 degrees horizontal by 80 degrees vertical.

Yamaha NS-AW992

The NS-AW992 natural sound all-weather speaker system from Yamaha is a two-way acoustic suspension design comprising an 8in. waterproof low-frequency cone driver and a 1in. coated soft-dome tweeter. The speaker is available in a black or white finish, and its frequency response is 50Hz to 20kHz.

Yorkville Sound C120

From Yorkville Sound comes the Coliseum C120, which is available in black or white. The C120 has a 5in. woofer and a Mylar tweeter. It is available in a 70V option with transformer tap of 6W, 12.5W, 25W, or bypass (8Ω), selectable via a rear-panel rotary switch.

While some manufacturers, such as Meyer Sound and Renkus-Heinz, do not market a specific product as an outdoor speaker, many of the products in their lines are available in a weather-protected option that includes special construction, finishes, and additional hardware to help protect the speaker from the elements.