Outdoor speaker test 2022

Outdoor loudspeakers (“garden loudspeakers”) are waterproof, temperature-resistant, robust – and intended for permanent installation around the house. We introduce you to the best outdoor models from Bose, Pronomic, Auvisio, Polk and Teufel.

The term “outdoor speaker” is ambiguous, as it is also used to describe portable speakers with Bluetooth. But what follows is mostly about stationary loudspeakers for outdoor use, i.e. for installation on the terrace, the balcony or in the (allotment) garden. Unlike hi-fi loudspeakers for the living room, outdoor loudspeakers are specially equipped for outdoor use. They can withstand wind, rain and sun (“all-weather loudspeakers”) – for many years. Some models are particularly unobtrusive or even camouflaged as a stone, so that placement on the edge of a lawn is not visually disturbing.

Pronomic OLS-5 WH DJ PA (wall speaker, passive)

An affordable wall-mount speaker that’s popular with Amazon customers: the Pronomic OLS-5 WH DJ PA (view on Amazon) features a sturdy ABS plastic body (dimensions: 190 x 158 x 250mm) and is water and dust resistant (IP56 rating). It is attached using an adjustable aluminum mounting bracket, suitable screws are included in the scope of delivery.

A tweeter (1 inch) and a mid-bass driver (5.25 inches) are responsible for the sound – according to the data sheet, this is enough for a frequency response of 90 Hz to 20 kHz. You shouldn’t expect festival volume and thunderous bass in this size class – it’s more about the discreet sound reinforcement when barbecuing on the terrace. The Amazon customer ratings are extremely positive with an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Important: This is a passive speaker that needs to be connected to an amplifier with speaker cables (e.g. Fosi Mini Bluetooth Amplifier on Amazon). The Pronomic OLS-5 WH DJ PA can be purchased individually, as a pair or even as a set of 10. The black color variant is called Pronomic OLS-5 BK DJ PA.

Polk Audio Atrium 4 (wall speakers, passive)

A proven choice when budgets are tight: The Polk Atrium 4 (view at Amazon) can usually be found in stores for around 200 euros (pair price). In return, you get solid branded goods – although Polk is not as well known in this country as it is in the USA, for example. The loudspeakers are each 14.5 cm wide and can be readjusted at any time after mounting on the wall or ceiling (without tools).

The frequency range covered begins at around 75 Hz in the bass range, which is sufficient for most types of music at “room volume”. If you want to make the terrace tremble, you should add a subwoofer (e.g. Polk Atrium Sub 100 Terracotta at Amazon) or choose a model with a larger cabinet volume. “The Atrium 4 deliver a wide, balanced sound that should make most people happy in an outdoor environment. Voices are clear, and instruments sound warm and realistic,” writes Michael Gowan at Tom’s Guide and awards an overall grade of 4.5 out of 5 points.

The Polk Atrium 4 conform to the ASTM D5894 standard (Protection against corrosion from salt water and UV radiation), which is used for classification by the US military, among others. The larger sister models are called Polk Atrium 5 and Polk Atrium 8.

Bose 251 environmental speakers (wall speakers, passive)

At least one price category higher you will find the Bose 251 environmental speakers (view at Cyberport). The US audio giant Bose stands for superior sound quality, which, however, also entails a surcharge. The reviews in the trade press are positive: “They may seem expensive, but they are worth the price,” the blog sums up audio stance in the test report. This coincides with the customer ratings on Amazon, which average 4.8 out of 5 stars. And indeed: If you look around in the commercial sector (restaurants and bars with outdoor areas) you will always discover the Bose 251 environmental speakers.

Bose 251 Environmental Speakers (2 pieces)

The price may be higher now. Price from 07/24/2022 23:13

Bose uses two drivers (2 x 2.5 inches) per speaker for the treble and midrange, and a woofer (5.25 inches) is responsible for the bass. The compact polypropylene housing (dimensions: 343 x 146 cm x 203 mm) is protected from rain and salt water and withstands extreme temperatures (-40° C to +70° C). The Bose loudspeakers can either be attached to walls or flat surfaces, and the Bose logos can be rotated accordingly. Necessary fastening material (8 screws and 8 plastic dowels) is included in the scope of delivery (see also User manual PDF). Interesting at this point: On GIGA you will find detailed purchase advice on cordless drills.

Apart from the comparatively high price of the Bose 251, the limited choice of colors (black or white) can also be seen as a small disadvantage. But that’s about it – all in all a high-quality solution for outdoor sound reinforcement that has been tried and tested in the professional sector.

One Alternative from the premium segment are the Bowers & Wilkins AM-1 (view at Thomann), which are excellently processed and have a very nice design. The sound quality is above average for the price range.

Auvisio garden speaker in stone design (active)

Auvisio is a brand from the well-known Pearl mail order company, which has almost every conceivable technology gadget in its range and is often amazingly cheap. So does that Auvisio garden speaker in stone design (view on Ebay), which, as the name suggests, can be hidden in the garden. From a little distance, the gray block (approx. 27 x 27.5 x 26 cm, weight: 3 kg) looks like a lump of stone and is not recognized for what it actually is: a Bluetooth speaker with an integrated battery (2,000 mAh, approx. 6 hours playing time) and micro-USB socket for charging.

You don’t need an external amplifier with this active loudspeaker – but you do need a USB charger (e.g. from a mobile phone). The music is played wirelessly via Bluetooth, although the limited range (approx. 10 meters) should be taken into account here. It is unlikely that the transmission from the laptop in the living room to the seating area in the garden will be trouble-free. Better: send music from the smartphone that is in the immediate vicinity. You can’t expect the highest sound quality given the construction and the price range – this is more about (almost invisible) background sound.

Devil Rockster (active)

He is 87 cm high and weighs 31.5 kg – the devil rockster (see Teufel) is not an outdoor or garden speaker in the narrower sense, but it deserves a mention here. This massive box (net internal volume 103 liters) has so much sound power that you can organize your own personal Wacken festival in the allotment garden. The 999 euros (RRP) are steep at first glance – but mathematically only as much as 100 crates of beer.

In addition to an insane maximum sound pressure level (121 dB/1m) and up to 20 hours of battery life, the Teufel Rockster also has a few useful details to offer. A suitable castor set is included (then you can roll to the neighbors, who will be happy) and in addition to Bluetooth, wired music transmission is also possible (jack input 3.5 mm). It’s a shame that the Rockster doesn’t spit fire, that would have been a great match for Rammstein. Sometimes you just have to make compromises.