The Best Outdoor Speakers, Selected By Audio Tech Experts

Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.8 x 11.8 inches | Driver size: 5.5-inches, 1-inch dome tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: All-weather certified

Best for: Mounting a pair of stereo speakers outside wherever you want to hear audio.

Pros:

• Impressive audio with rich bass
• All-weather certified
• Includes mounting brackets

Cons:

• Not as powerful as the more expensive Atrium 8 speakers

The Polk Audio Atrium 6 outdoor speakers come fully weather sealed and are ideal for playing music anywhere outside. Mount them horizontally or vertically on your deck, near a pool or throughout your entire yard with the included mounting hardware.

Each speaker has a wide dispersion pattern with powerful bass and outputs 100 watts of audio power to deliver high-fidelity sound. Audio sounds clear and full-bodied thanks to the speakers’ long-throw polypropylene cone driver with rubber surround pumps and dynamic balance anodized aluminum dome tweeters. In short, you’ll get a deep bass and practically no distortion.

What the reviews say: One reviewer on Amazon noted the fact that the speaker is great for a variety of situations. “The sound quality is great whether you’re playing it loud or quietly. It was easy to mount and easy to adjust the direction of the sound.”

Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 7.5 inches | Driver size: 4.5-inch driver and .75-inch tweeter | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: All-weather certified

Best for: Getting excellent audio for a reasonable price.

Pros:

• Affordable price
• Easy to install
• Impressive sound for the size

Cons:

• Drivers are smaller than in other Polk Atrium speakers

For an affordable price, the Polk Audio Atrium 4 speakers deliver a strong balance of performance. With 80 watts of audio power, their baffle design maximizes mid- and high-frequency dispersion so you can hear audio clearly across a large area. Like the Atrium 6, the Atrium 4 include an easy-to-install speed-lock mounting bracket. The speakers’ smaller size makes them ideal for tight or out-of-the way installation.

While all of the outdoor speakers in the Polk Atrium lineup look similar on the outside, each offers a slightly different physical size. As the model number goes up, so does the size of the drivers, the power output and the price. The Polk Atrium 4 speakers sit at the lower end of Polk’s product line—and so you can expect a larger design—but they offer great value and impressive overall performance.

What the reviews say: A reviewer on Amazon was impressed with the fact that the speaker is so weather-resistant. “I bought these and hooked them up on my outdoor patio. They have been outside through rain, hail, snow, etc… No fading, no weathering, they are holding up well.”

Dimensions: 7.5 x 15.4 x 7.8 inches | Mounting required: Yes (includes hardware) | Waterproof rating: IP66

Best for: Homes already using Sonos audio equipment.

Pros:

• Integrates with other Sonos gear
• IP66 weatherproof rating

Cons:

• Professional installation recommended
• Expensive

The Sonos Architectural Speakers By Sonance can fully integrate with your existing Sonos home speakers. For those who have an indoor/outdoor setup, you can control the audio inside your home and outdoors from a single device. These passive speakers require an amplifier and speaker wire (sold separately). They work with the Sonos Amp, sold separately for $699 or as a bundle with two speakers for $1,418.

Each speaker has one high-excursion pivoting woofer that produces mid and low frequencies, along with a one-inch tweeter that produces high frequencies. The speakers have an IP66 water- and dust-resistance rating, making them perfect for permanent outdoor installations.

What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon are particularly impressed with these speakers when using them with a wider surround-sound system. “The sound from these are phenomenal, even without a subwoofer,” one says. “We use them daily throughout the house and for our 5.1 surround sound, it’s fantastic.”

Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.7 x 4 inches | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Wireless audio: Yes | Battery life: Up to 12 hours | Waterproof rating: IPX4

Best for: Robust, 360-degree audio you can carry with you.

Pros:

• Lightweight, water-resistant and portable
• Produces 360-degree, room-filling sound
• Connects directly to Wi-Fi or pairs with a Bluetooth device

Cons:

• No speakerphone support

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker produces full-bodied, 360-degree sound from a compact package. Use it poolside or at your campsite thanks to the built-in IPX4 water resistance. It’s perfect for group listening, since it produces an immersive sound with impressive bass and reasonable loudness heard in every direction—filling all corners of your space.

Connect the speaker to Wi-Fi to use voice commands via the built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can control the Bose Portable Smart Speaker using the physical controls on the top surface or using the mobile app, which lets you pair the speaker with a second Bose smart speaker. It also works with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Spotify Connect.

I wrote an in-depth review of this Bose Portable Smart Speaker, in which I determined it “outperformed the competition time and again. This speaker earns the distinction of the best Bluetooth speaker overall for its well-balanced audio and robust features.”

Dimensions: 17.5 x 13 x 16 inches | Driver size: 1-inch dome tweeter, 8-inch woofer | Waterproof rating: All-weather sealed

Best for: Incorporating a subtle speaker design into your landscaping.

Pros:

• Resembles a rock
• Outputs 200 watts of audio power
• Available in a variety of sizes and colors

Cons:

• Must bury waterproof cabling

The Outdoor Speakers Direct (OSD) Audio RS850 sits hidden inside a rocklike enclosure for a subtle 8-inch, high-fidelity speaker you can place around your backyard. The outer shell of the rock enclosure uses a multilayered composite that’s designed to withstand harsh weather. Get it in brown, grey or slate to get a speaker that blends in with your landscaping aesthetic.

OSD sells the speaker individually, but you can use multiple speakers, each placed no more than 30 feet apart. The manufacturer recommends using waterproof cables and burying the wire connectors. These speakers require an amplifier or receiver that can push out at least 100 watts of power. OSD also has various shapes and sizes for its enclosures so you can customize your design.

What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon note that these speakers are particularly well-built, while looking natural. “I expected them to be made out of some kind of hard plastic material, but they’re made from a rubber-like material and appear to be very well constructed.”

Dimensions: 15 x 9.5 x 11 inches | Drivers: 1-inch titanium dome tweeter and 6.5-inch woofer | Wireless audio: No | Mounting required: Hardware included

Best for: Listening to high-quality audio outdoors with a little extra bass.

Pros:

• Excellent bass response
• Good clarity in the high end
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Expensive

If you’re looking for a high-quality speaker with great bass response, and don’t mind spending a little extra for it, then the Klipsch AW-650 is an excellent option. The speakers aren’t as cheap as some of the others on this list—and they’re typically sold in pairs. They’re weather-resistant and they come with brackets to mount them horizontally or vertically, which allows you to position the speakers to your needs.

The speakers offer a 1-inch tweeter coupled with a 6.5-inch woofer, which is able to pump out solid bass for those who want it. Thankfully, they don’t verge into sounding overly inaccurate—they just deliver great bass while also offering great clarity and detail in the high end. 

What the reviews say: Reviewers on Amazon loved the overall audio quality on offer by these speakers. One reviewer found the high-end particular impressive. “They are crystal-clear and sounds like guitar and horns project from the horn tweeters far better than you will get from most speakers. They are bright, but not too bright. Some extra brightness is usually needed outside anyway, because it’s a wide open area.”

Dimensions: 12 x 8.8 x 7 inches | Drivers: 1.5-inch tweeter, 6 x 9-inch woofer | Wireless audio: Yes | Mounting required: Built-in handle | Waterproof rating: IP67

Best for: Outdoor adventure