Summer 2023 Trend. Your backyard, your musical oasis! All about outdoor sound...

It is well known that Quebecers love the outdoors: we cook on the barbecue, spend our days at the pool, light a campfire, or simply relax with a drink in hand. In many cases, we accompany ourselves with a music source to complete the experience with a portable device or, when the weather permits, we bring out the sound system we use indoors. Care should be taken as these devices are not designed to withstand humidity.

Did you know that more can be achieved by using a system designed specifically for outdoor use and that it is not such an expensive investment! The secret, as always, is knowing what to buy and how to place the equipment on the area to be soundproofed. Here I will try to explain the right approach to avoid disappointment. Moreover, in case of resale of your home, what you have invested will come back to you and will be an added value for the eventual buyer...

What should be considered when setting up an outdoor sound system? 

Rock Monitor decorative and discreet!

Before starting your project, you should consider the following factors

1. Large spaces require more power, while the sound disperses without constraint in the absence of a reflecting wall. So two speakers in most cases will not be enough if you want to hear well and hear everything!
2. For your neighbourhood, sound coming from a multitude of small speakers at low volume will be less distracting than if you use a masterful pair such as those usually used indoors.
3. Bass sounds tend to be lost quickly in open areas, so it is strongly recommended to use a subwoofer to avoid overloading the speakers of your set. Why? Simply because in order to obtain a good bass sound, one will tend to compensate and increase the general volume. This will result in premature wear and tear on the small speakers of the set, but above all, for your neighbours, it will be a louder sound for the most part, but without really more bass that they will hear.  
4. In order to make the right choice, it is also necessary to consider the use of the outdoor set. The use could be dynamic, such as for parties where people dance to rhythmic music. In this case, it will be necessary to favour speakers placed in such a way as to impact more directly on the listeners.
5.  For a more attentive listening, it will be favourable to select a product which favours this listening. A set of smaller speakers working in synergy and judiciously placed will give you a "magical" atmosphere so much you will be enveloped...
6. Consideration should be given to weather resistance such as operating temperature range, moisture resistance and ability to come into direct contact with water.
7. Finally, if you wish to remove your set from its environment during the winter, ease of installation/removal will also be a consideration as there are products with quick connectivity while others are designed to remain in place.

SONXPLUS BUYING GUIDE

Here is a list of products available by type (3) of installation according to the desired effect that will allow you to figure out your project.

Here you will find the characteristics and the main use that can be made of them. There are mainly 3 categories of outdoor speakers: (1) semi-conventional wall-mounted speakers, ideal for dynamic sound reinforcement, but less aesthetic. (2) The speaker that fits in the floor, easy to hide and offering a high-fidelity and modular rendering, and finally (3) the decorative rock speaker, which offers a compromise between dynamism, fidelity and discretion.

Paradigm Stylus Range = Usage (1) Dynamic Party Performance

 Paradigm® Stylus® speakers are designed to provide high quality sound outdoors. Their thin, reinforced PolyGlass injected enclosures are UV and fade resistant. Their aluminum grills, stainless steel and brass hardware, gold-plated binding posts and stainless steel and polymer mounting brackets are weather resistant. These types of materials are more expensive, but will stand up to outdoor abuse indefinitely.

All models come with brackets for easy wall mounting. On the back of the Stylus® speaker cabinet, there are holes spaced two and a half inches apart to accommodate many types of mounting brackets if you wish to use other than those included in the box.

Solution for small environments stereo/mono or "SM".

The 370SM and 470SM will offer a simple but effective solution. We're talking stereophony here, so you get a bass/midrange driver with two tweeters for left and right sound. The increased size of these two models will give you full performance of the audio frequency band.

The Stylus series is one of the closest to conventional speakers. Adding an external subwoofer will result in an amazing performance! Available in black or white.

All Stylus speakers feature a 1" Titanium tweeter and the bass/midrange elements feature a large magnet and coil, resulting in a powerful, yet controlled sound.

For a sufficiently high output for a party, I recommend the 470 or 370 model, whereas the 170 and 270 are more suitable for a more discreet atmosphere...

Paradigm Oasis range = Usage (2) Versatility and discretion, high fidelity.

Oasis speakers are designed for permanent outdoor installations. It offers the best technologies for sound dispersion and 4 seasons resistance. Here we would consider this product to be "audiophile" grade...

The Oasis range includes patented technologies such as Reduced Edge Diffraction (RED) which provides a cleaner, more powerful midrange sound through a unique tweeter enclosure. With irregular edges and off-centre placement, you won't get any of the standing wave reverberations that reduce performance through phase cancellation. (Full explanation will follow in an article on high fidelity) Diffraction reduction system

For the ultimate stealth outdoor experience, the Garden Oasis family of products evenly distributes sound throughout your yard by combining multiple speakers with one or more subwoofers on the ground. Not only does this reduce potential noise complaints, as the sound is less "pitched", but the products also blend into your landscaping for an easily heard, yet invisible performance.

I recommend 4 or 8 speakers for a conventional garden and the addition of an underfloor sub will be a virtual necessity. In return, you'll get a system with sound qualities that rival the very best for indoor use. Subwoofer Oasis underground hyper discrete 

There are two versions of Oasis speakers, the regular ones that are powered by a conventional home amplifier, and a 70 and 100 volt version to handle large spaces with up to 100 speakers! (The 70 and 100 volt is often used in commercial applications such as shopping centres)

For an assured result and a project that can be managed by the individual, I recommend the "Essential 8.1”. This set includes 8 outdoor speakers with an underfloor woofer and 20 sealed connectors. Add some 4 season wiring and a conventional or network amplifier and you have a project that can be done in a weekend!

Coverage up to 3000 square feet.

Accessories required: a shovel and wire strippers!

Distribution plan of a typical Oasis system.

 The Paradigm Garden Oasis Essentials outdoor music system is designed to provide consistent and evenly distributed sound coverage in an 'outdoor' environment. The illustration below shows how a chain of satellite and subwoofers should be strategically placed to create a consistent and balanced dispersion around the outdoor environment. The satellite speakers should be spaced 6 to 10 feet apart for optimum imaging. With the sound well distributed and low to the ground, your neighbours will never be affected while you enjoy more than enough volume!

To achieve the best balance between the satellites and the subwoofer, the subwoofer should be placed as close to the centre of the satellites as possible. Keep in mind that this is only a suggestion and that your unique environment may dictate otherwise. If you want more bass, placing your "Sub" near a wall or other solid surface will greatly enhance the low frequencies. (This tip about using a wall also applies to indoor subwoofers)

Paradigm Rock Monitor Ranges = Usage (3) Decorative and performance compromise.

These are single-box, high-performance rock stereo systems that provide two channels of L/R sound. They have two tweeters, each offset at a 30° angle, and a dual voice coil bass/midrange driver to ensure extremely wide dispersion, a particularly important consideration outdoors where there are no walls or ceiling to contain the sound. Rock Monitor speaker 

Rock monitors are ideal for small outdoor spaces. In large or unusually shaped areas, multiple rock speakers can be used, they are decorative with a quality finish, which is not always the case with cheaper competitors.

The need for a subwoofer will depend on the space to be covered, because although they are more efficient in bass than the high-fidelity Oasis, for very dynamic music they will be welcome.

As with the rest of Paradigm's outdoor products, the use of strong composite materials as well as aluminium and stainless steel will ensure that you make a very long term purchase, a wise investment in the end!

The last word.

At the time of writing this article, Quebec is getting rid of its winter, we will have, we hope, a beautiful summer! I hope to have made you aware of the benefits of outdoor ambiance when there are perfectly adapted products available these days. What's more, outdoor solutions are more affordable than ever.

Let's hope it's a great one this summer!

And... stay tuned!

 Christian.