Outdoor AVR, how do you do it?

EndersShadow

So I'm thinking I need to add a bit o sound outside to my yard this summer. I've got a nice decently powerful stereo AVR that I could use with a pair, or pairs of Polk Atrium speakers.

Here is my question. Do you build a waterproof type box to store it in in weather, do you disconnect it each time you want to use it, etc.

I do not really have anywhere that I could put it inside and then run the wiring outside without a ton of work.

So I'm looking for solutions that DO NOT involve bluetooth speakers lol....

bikezappa

Put the receiver in the basement. Run speaker wire from there.








P

pitdogg2

bikezappa wrote: »

Put the receiver in the basement. Run speaker wire from there.
P

Run the cables underground like most and get outdoor speakers....

mantis

I use a Multi Channel amp that lives in my basement that runs all the Multi Room speakers around my house. I have 7 pairs outside of my Theater system.
I use Sonos as my source so I can go outside and control my volume and music selection from my iPhone.
My Atrium speakers have been mounted to my house on my deck for 13 years now. They probably should be replaced soon but they still work.
My wiring is direct burial for outdoors which is different then standard indoor speaker wire. Audioquest FLX 14-4 is direct burial and thats what I use. It's amazing wire and can be used for just about any audio system setup. For awhile I was completely wired in my Theater with FlX 14-2 but I changed that to Rocket 44 for all channels including the surrounds.

Dabutcher

I use a Pioneer Elite reciever (older model) set up in garage with four JBL control 25's under the overhang from garage. Use a five disc CD player from GW. Drill two holes through garage wall to get to speakers. Put it on shuffle . I also bring out my Benq 1080 projector and set it on a folding table w PS3 and run two IC's to garage system on movie nights. Keep us posted. Good luck. D

tonyb

My receiver is on the inside by my dining room, drilled a hole through the wall to run speaker wire. Unless your walls are solid concrete, which I doubt, a small hole is easy to drill. I control it from the outside with my phone or Sonos controller which is connected to the receiver inside. You could do that too with a 30 buck chromecast I would imagine also.

motorstereo

My avr has been outside for a couple years now. It doesn't get directly rained on but it does get snowed on if it's windy enough. I fired it up last week and it sprung to life no problem and started playing the station I left it on a few months ago.

Avr's are cheap and ubiquitous so if it dies at some point it doesn't really matter. I certainly wouldn't keep something of value outside. Even if it's covered it will get condensation from the temperature swings

rooftop59

Both @tonyb and @moterstereo offer good suggestions. A third is to get a tiny t-amp from amazon or parts express. They sound surprisingly good with efficient bookies, and I would be happy with that combo for outdoor tunes. Much easier to shelter from the elements.

Thorton

pitdogg2 wrote: »

bikezappa wrote: »

Put the receiver in the basement. Run speaker wire from there.
P

Run the cables underground like most and get outdoor speakers....

This is how I have it. I have 2 extra channels on 1 of my multi-channel amps. Drill a hole through the wall as Tony suggests and bury it underground. My phone controls the Sonos up to about 70-80 yards away.

EndersShadow

Well, if I had a basement, I could see putting it in there, but I dont so thats not an option.

I get the wiring part as outdoor wiring was something I was aware I needed to do.

It was mainly to see what enclosures (if any) you guys were using. I'd already planned on a bluetooth adapter to hook up phones and whatnot.

As @lightman1 can attest to, the layout of my house is not really ideal for storing the AVR anywhere near where I would need it to be, so its gotta be outside or not at all....

My main concern was the hot/cold we get here, although I could just pull it back inside come fall/winter, though lately with 60 degree swings in weather you never know.

txcoastal1

Just get a pair of Sonos Play:1's and a Sonos bridge...no wires, no AVR, easy storage, .....point to playlist and go
http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/play1.html

ZLTFUL

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Just get a pair of Sonos Play:1's and a Sonos bridge...no wires, no AVR, easy storage, .....point to playlist and go
http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/play1.html

Still requires power which is one of the things Dan seems to be lacking.

tonyb

ZLTFUL wrote: »

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Just get a pair of Sonos Play:1's and a Sonos bridge...no wires, no AVR, easy storage, .....point to playlist and go
http://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/play1.html

Still requires power which is one of the things Dan seems to be lacking.

I'm sure the guy has an outdoor wall socket, don't think they build homes without them. Still, the Sonos solution is probably more than Dan wanted to spend on this.

Dan, you have a system upstairs in that loft area, why can't you drill a hole through the wall there and run wire out to your yard ? Or go up through the attic and drill a hole there at the rear of the house ?

I wouldn't suggest keeping electronics outside, in Midwest weather. Arizona is another story. If you have a covered patio, maybe....still you'd have moisture issues.

EndersShadow

@tonyb

The issue is the layout of the house. Yes I have a loft, but the loft is on the second story. Where I was wanting to mount the speakers is a bumpout for the eat in kitchen which meets the deck. The logistics wouldn't work in this case.

What I wanted to avoid (as its likely a non starter with the wife), is mounting the AVR high up on a shelf in the eat in kitchen area and drilling through the wall to run wire to the Atriums.

Some pics to help illustrate. Some are from the listing when we bought the house that I marked up for other stuff, so this isnt my decorating or furniture...

The loft is on the back corner of the house on the second floor.






The rear wall of the loft closet is against the exterior of the house (but no outlets inside). The rear wall of the loft itself is actually NOT the exterior of my house as there is the Master Bath between it and the outside. So there is no real good way to run wires unless I went up into the attic, then out the sofit.

And that still doesnt help me as its on the second floor.

The entire section below is a bumpout with its own roofline, which I was going to mount the atriums under



So looks like my only real option is to mount the AVR on a shelf up in the corner, put holes through the wall for the atriums and that should work and keep it out of the weather....

pitdogg2

Well time to buy a new house pal
or a BOOM box

DaveHo

Source is my Pioneer N50 which I stream to from my NAS or Tidal using BubbleUPnP on my phone or a tablet as the controller. That connects to the main networked Pioneer AVR whose zone2 out goes to extra channels on an Outlaw 770 which feeds an Adcom GFS-4 speaker selector. Have speakers on the deck, in the garage, kitchen, & my basement shop. Aside from manually selecting speakers on the Adcom, I can control the whole shebang from my mobile device.

Not what you want to hear, but, yes, I had to open walls, pull down sofits, & do other things which you'd rather not do to run speaker wire. Bite the bullet & run the wire. Having one integrated solution, which aside from the speaker selector & speakers did not require the purchase of extra equipment, rocks.

Willow

I'll be using an RX a1010 to power 4 atriums in the backyard this year all controlled via the Yamaha app. When the electricians were over doing their thing for the pool, I had them install a waterproof electrical box so that I can run my cables outside. I bought 150 feet of cable I can burry. That's how I'll be running my music, 2 by the pool and 2 in the gazebo using party mode on the amp to run two zones and the 4 speakers playing the same music, oh and running off my rotel 1075.

EndersShadow

@helipilotdoug

Is your Furez wire able to be buried? I know its in-wall rated, but wasn't sure about the other.

In my case it would more than likely be dealing with weather 24/7 as I would run it along/under the sofit outside

tonyb

I'm still confused Dan, that loft area has an outside wall, unless the window is overlooking the bedroom. lol Doesn't matter if it's on a second floor or third floor, once the wire is outside you can run it under the roof line wherever you need to go.

In the dining area, replace that top shelf to the right of the sliders with a slightly bigger shelf, drill a hole there. You can also just get a taller shelving unit for that corner and use it for the same purposes.

lightman1

I'll be in Noblesville on Saturday, Dan. I'll pop by and eyeball it for you.

EndersShadow

Spiffy. I know you just want to spend time with your tube amps and I'm just "there" but I will take it lol

ZLTFUL

I keep trying to get him to go with a solution designed for self containment and outdoor use but he refuses because his OCD means once he gets an idea in his brain, he refuses to consider alternatives.

lightman1

ZLTFUL wrote: »

I keep trying to get him to go with a solution designed for self containment and outdoor use but he refuses because his OCD means once he gets an idea in his brain, he refuses to consider alternatives.

Fixing that problem on Saturday, Ryan.
Skye and myself will make sure he doesn't booger up the program with his linear thinking.

txcoastal1

This otta' work

txcoastal1

Dan are you a Libra?

lightman1

Thanks for the restraints idea, Ron. Heading over to Lowes and getting a contractor pack in a few. That should keep him out of my hair.

tonyb

I'd watch him real close Dan, considering he quit smoking. Might drill a hole the size of a softball in your wall. Which you can then use that space for a service bar for the patio.

EndersShadow

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Dan are you a Libra?

Don't think so... June 6 bday so whatever that is

EndersShadow

It's ok, if he stopped smoking I can bet he hasn't stopped drinking lol... so I'm good

txcoastal1

EndersShadow wrote: »

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Dan are you a Libra?

Don't think so... June 6 bday so whatever that is

Gemini, just about the same

EndersShadow

txcoastal1 wrote: »

EndersShadow wrote: »

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Dan are you a Libra?

Don't think so... June 6 bday so whatever that is

Gemini, just about the same

So I can blame it all on that? Can't WAIT to tell my wife that's why I am the way I am... it's the DAMN STARS FAULTS!