The Best Outdoor Speakers With Powerful Sound for Large Yards

The best outdoor speakers for large yards

According to a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults with backyards, 81% look forward to hosting parties in their backyards in 2024. No wonder we want to make these outdoor spaces as enjoyable as possible—and great sound is a big part of that.

The best way to entertain others outside is to have the right sound setup. It makes all the difference in the world.

Because let’s be honest, what’s a party without music? More importantly, what’s a party if you can’t hear the music?

A powerful and precise audio experience can bring your outdoor living space to life. 

But for those blessed with large yards, finding the best set of outdoor speakers for your space that can provide high-quality sound everyone can hear isn’t always that easy. There’s a lot to consider. 

You might have questions like: 

How many speakers will you need? 

Should you use wired or wireless speakers? 

How much output power should the speakers produce so your space is fully covered?

Below, we’ll answer these questions and cover everything else you need to know about outdoor speakers.

We’ll explain what features are necessary, explore the different types of outdoor speakers, and help you choose the best one for your yard parties.

We’ll also share our top picks for the best outdoor speakers this year to help you create that perfect outdoor entertainment area you’ve been craving. 

Let’s get to it!

A Quick Glance at The Top Outdoor Speakers for Larger Yards

Definitive Technology AW6500 Outdoor Speakers

Definitive Technology AW6500

These speakers offer clear, powerful sound with deep bass, easy mounting and positioning, and full weather resistance.
Polk Audio Atrium 6 Outdoor Speakers

Polk Audio Atrium 6

These compact speakers deliver 100 watts of continuous power with a 90 dB sensitivity, providing expansive sound without clutter.
Soundboks 4 Outdoor Party Speaker

Soundboks 4

A portable speaker that delivers loud, full-range sound with a long-lasting battery, custom audio settings, and a durable design.

What to Consider When Choosing Outdoor Speakers for Large Yards

Before we get into our top picks, you should know what makes a speaker good for outdoor use. Here are some things to consider when selecting the best outdoor speakers for your large yard.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Durability should be a top priority when buying audio equipment for outdoor use.

This means the speakers should either be fully sealed or have rubber gaskets and seals around the seams and connection points. Your best bet is to look for speakers with at least an IP55 rating.

This rating tells you the speaker is good for year-round outdoor use and protects against dust and rain. 

Some speakers will be advertised as weather-resistant, weather-repellent, or fully weatherproof, but it’s better to know their IP rating.

Speakers mounted inside a screened-in porch or under an overhang should at least be rated as splashproof in case some rain does end up getting on them.

What else to look for:

  • UV-resistant materials to prevent sun damage
  • Made with rust-resistant hardware
  • Sealed enclosures to keep out dust and insects

Sound Quality

For large yards, you’ll need speakers that can project sound over a wide area without losing clarity or becoming distorted. This means you should be looking at outdoor speakers designed with:

  1. A high-power output
  2. A wide frequency response
  3. Good coverage and dispersion 

Power Output

Power output is measured in watts (W). For outdoor spaces, especially larger yards, you’ll want speakers with higher wattage so the sound carries well and has good coverage at lower volumes. 

Here’s a general guideline on how much wattage a speaker should have based on your yard size:

  • Small yard (up to 300 sq ft): 60 watts
  • Medium yard (300-500 sq ft): 80 to 100 watts
  • Large yard (500-1000 sq ft): 100 to 175 watts
  • Very large yard (1000+ sq ft): 200 watts or more

Keep in mind that these are just estimates. The power requirement for your yard will depend on the volume you want, the background noise in the area and how your yard is laid out.

When looking at power ratings, pay attention to the RMS (Root Mean Square) power. This tells you the amount of continuous power the speaker can take.

This is more important than the peak power, which only indicates short bursts of maximum output.

Frequency Response

The frequency response of a speaker tells you how well it reproduces both high and low frequencies. A loudspeaker with a frequency response of around 40Hz—20kHz is generally all you need for outdoor environments. 

This balanced frequency range covers the upper limits of high-end treble, has a strong mid-range for vocal clarity and instrument separation, and an excellent low-end response.

Most of the time, you won’t need a speaker that goes much lower than 40Hz because bass tends to thin out when outdoors. Once you start looking at speakers, you’ll notice many wireless options don’t go below this level. 

Producing these lower frequencies requires more power, and the more power used, the faster the battery drains. 

If you want more noticeable bass with an effective lower end, we’d recommend pairing your main speakers with a powered outdoor subwoofer.

Coverage Area, Sound Dispersion, and Placement

Coverage area is the amount of space sound travels from a speaker.

Sounds travel better outside because there are usually fewer obstacles and reflection points that could affect the trajectory of sound. This means you shouldn’t need as many outdoor speakers to fill the same space as indoors. 

However, to make sure everyone can hear audio in larger outdoor areas, you’ll want to think about the following:

Speaker Placement

Before buying any speaker, you should already have an idea of where you plan to place them and how far you want the audio to reach. 

For example, if you plan on buying a set of wired patio speakers, you’ll want to mount them above the listening area and angle them slightly downward. This will help disperse the sound effectively and evenly toward the listeners.

Speakers with wide dispersion angles can also cover more area. For example, you won’t need as many speakers if you use one with a 180-degree or 360-degree sound field, instead of speakers that deliver sound directly in front. 

These wide-dispersion speakers are great for open spaces but might not be the best option if you’re trying to direct sound to a specific area, like on a patio or deck. 

You also wouldn’t want to place a landscape speaker off the ground since these are designed to send sound upward.

Wind, trees, and other background noise can also affect how sound travels. Wind can carry sound away or distort it, while trees and other obstacles can block or reflect sound waves.

The Number of Speakers

If your yard has a lot of walls, a separate pool area, grilling area, or garden with walkways in between, you’ll need more speakers than if you just had an open space. 

The more walls, bushes, or trees you have between areas will dictate how well you can hear sound. In these cases, overlapping areas with speakers will help avoid any dead zones where sound might be weak or inaudible.

Some manufacturers provide guidelines on speaker placement and coverage, but if this information isn’t available, you’ll need to test and adjust their placement yourself to get the best sound distribution. This will give you a good idea of how many speakers you’ll need and how far apart to place them.

Connections

There are benefits and challenges to both wired and wireless speakers. Choosing the right type of speaker for your situation will depend on how much audio customization you want to have, how much work you want to put into installing the speakers, and the specific layout of your outdoor space.

Wired Outdoor Speakers

Wired outdoor speakers provide the most reliable connection and, in most cases, give you more control over the sound compared to wireless options. 

However, they will require more effort to install and can be more challenging to set up initially, especially if you’ve never wired speakers before.

Unless you plan on setting the speakers close to your audio source, you’ll need to run cables from each speaker back to an amp or AV receiver. This might include burying speaker cables in your yard or drilling holes to secure them or hide them so they’re not as noticeable.

To get the best performance out of your speakers, you’ll need to make sure you’re using the correct gauge wire to connect them. You’ll also want to make sure the cables are waterproof and be prepared to cut and strip the cable to make the wire connections to the speaker.

Wired speakers are the better option if you want a reliable connection, precise sound control with advanced equalization, or a multi-channel setup, and don’t mind extra work during installation.

Wireless Outdoor Speakers

For some, wireless speakers will be the better option. These types of speakers connect to your audio source using Bluetooth or WiFi. 

This simple connection makes it much easier to get these speakers up and running right out of the box compared to wired outdoor speakers. 

Bluetooth Outdoor Speakers

Bluetooth speakers are the easiest to use. Just charge the battery, connect the speaker to your audio source, and you’re good to go. Since they don’t require any wiring or power source, you’ll have more flexibility with placement and won’t have to worry about mounting them if you don’t want to.

WiFi Outdoor Speakers

Even though you don’t have to install dedicated speaker cables to WiFi speakers, most of them still need to be plugged into an outlet, which limits where you can use them. 

However, many WiFi speakers come with support more advanced features, like app control, compatibility with voice assistants, and access to more music streaming services.

The Downsides to Wireless Outdoor Speakers

While wireless speakers are convenient, they do have some downsides. Especially when considering them for larger areas.

For example, Bluetooth speakers rely solely on batteries for power, so you’ll need to make sure they’re charged each time you plan to use them for a long period of time. They also have a limited range, so you’ll need to keep your audio source within that range or lose the connection. 

The same can be said about WiFi speakers. If your WiFi signal isn’t strong enough or doesn’t reach out into your yard, the speakers won’t play anything.

Also, without a direct cable connection, you could experience latency issues (audio delays or syncing issues) and some degree of audio compression with wireless speakers, affecting the overall sound quality. However, this is more noticeable with Bluetooth speakers than with WiFi speakers. 

So before you buy, ask yourself the following:

  1. Do you want a more reliable connection with wired speakers, or is the idea of running speaker wires too much for you? 
  2. Do you want to invest in an entire audio system or a more portable option that allows you to wirelessly connect using Bluetooth or WiFi?

Voice Control

Many speakers now include built-in voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, making them great for outdoor use. 

With voice control, you can manage the audio without needing to go inside or use your phone. This feature lets you adjust the volume, skip tracks, or control other smart home devices like outdoor lights.

Now that we’ve covered everything you should consider when buying outdoor speakers, let’s get into our top picks for the best outdoor speakers for large yards.

What Are The Best Outdoor Speakers For Large Yards?

*Any product links are merely suggestions. When you purchase through referral links on our site, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Definitive Technology AW6500

Best Outdoor Patio speakers

Frequency Response: 40Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity: 92dB

Tweeter Size: (1) 25mm

Midrange/Woofer Size: (1) 6.5″ 

Bass Radiator: 5″ x 10″

Type: Passive – Wired

Max Power Output: 200 watts

RMS Power Output: 100 watts

Weight: 9.2 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.8″ x 14.4″ x 9.2″

If you’ve got a big patio and need speakers to fill it with sound, you’ll love the AW6500’s from Definitive Technology.

These powerful speakers handle up to 100 watts of continuous power, giving you clear highs and full, articulate mids that’ll make your patio the go-to spot for gatherings.

With a sensitivity of 92 dB, the audio will be clear and loud enough for your large yard, with a deep bass that’ll make you think the speaker is bigger than it really is.

This expansive audio experience comes from how well the drivers work together.  The 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” bass/mid driver, and 5” x 10” pressure-driven low bass radiator combine to produce deep, full-range sound without taking up a lot of space. 

With the bass radiator working with the BDSS mid/bass drivers, the bass you’ll experience is more comparable to an 8” woofer. 

You can mount them vertically or horizontally, whichever works best for your patio and the actual installation is easy. You just remove the speaker from the bracket by completely loosening the thumbscrews, and then once set, adjust the speaker up and down or left and right to get your exact sweet spot. 

Additionally, they’re fully sealed and water-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about mounting them directly under an overhang. The fully sealed design also means you can paint them to blend in and match your outdoor décor. 

This gives you more flexibility in where you place them to make sure the sound is dispersed the way you want it. 

If you’re looking for a set of patio speakers that will give you a detailed sound with some depth behind it, the Definitive Technology AW6500 speakers should be on your list.

2. Sony SRS-XP700

Best Outdoor Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Frequency Response: 50Hz – 15kHz

Sensitivity: 99dB

Tweeter Size: (3) 60mm front + (1) 50mm rear

Midrange/Woofer Size: (2) 2.75″ 

Type: Active – Wireless

RMS Power Output: 78 watts

Weight: 37 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D): 27.2″ x 12.3″ x 14.4″

The Sony SRS-XP700 is perfect for anyone looking for a powerful, multipurpose outdoor wireless Bluetooth speaker that can be taken anywhere.

This speaker delivers an engaging audio experience with its advanced sound technology, including the X-Balanced Speaker System and Mega Bass function.

These technologies bring out the best in the two large 6.75″ woofers and four high-efficiency tweeters, producing a wide-ranging and omnidirectional sound with an energy-filled bass.

Outputting 110 Watts RMS, it gets loud enough to handle most larger yards. But if you need a wider soundstage, the Party Connect and Stereo Pair functions through the Sony Music Center app. These let you link up to 100 other compatible speakers for synchronized sound at a range of up to 98 feet using Bluetooth 5.0.

Sony states the battery can last 25 hours on a full charge, but we only got around 20 hours out of it, which will still cover those all-day parties. And even if it doesn’t last as long as you need it to, you can charge it for 10-20 minutes, and you’ll get another 3 hours of playback.

It also includes customizable RGB lighting to create your own personal party atmosphere, and it has two mic and guitar inputs for karaoke nights or popup jam sessions.

With its strong battery life, multipurpose functions, and clean audio performance, Sony’s XP700 is the best wireless Bluetooth speaker you’ll find at a reasonable price.

3. Klipsch AWR-650-SM

Best Outdoor Rock Speakers

Frequency Response: 66Hz – 20kHz

Low Frequency Extension: 43Hz

Sensitivity: 94dB

Tweeter Size: (2) 19mm

Midrange/Woofer Size: (1) 6.5″ 

Type: Passive – Wired

Max Power Output: 200 watts

RMS Power Output: 50 watts

Weight: 13 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D): 17″ x 15″ x 11″

The Klipsch AWR-650-SM rock speakers are for those who value the natural look of their yard and want better control over where their audio comes from.

As far as landscape speakers go, you’re not going to find a better speaker. Their rock-like design will blend in perfectly with any natural area you have or flower bed and will practically disappear if you have any kind of stone landscaping.

Inside these rock speakers sit a 6.5” dual voice coil woofer and two 19mm poly dome tweeters that deliver loud, clear sound at ground level with impressive range.

They’re outstanding for larger yards because you can wire them for mono output instead of stereo. This means the audio will be more evenly distributed, so everyone hears the same clear audio no matter where they pick it up.

The bass output you get from each speaker is respectable but somewhat limited, which is to be expected with landscape speakers. However, if you’re having a party, you can pair them with an external woofer to give you more depth and extra thump.

As far as the build quality goes, you won’t have to worry about leaving this waterproof speaker outside year-round. They’re sturdy enough to just sit on the ground in most cases, but they also come with a hook on the bottom so you can secure it if needed. 

Also, since they sit on the ground, you’ll have to install and hide more speaker wire than you would with other outdoor speakers to get them where you want them in your yard. Just keep that in mind before you buy these and hire help if needed.

Otherwise, the initial hookup is easy with the included waterproof wire nuts and sealed 36” speaker cable that comes already connected to the speaker.

These speakers are tough, sound amazing, and they’ll fit right into your yard, giving you an audio system that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the ear. 

4. Polk Audio Atrium 6

Best Outdoor Speakers for Decks

Frequency Response: 50Hz – 27kHz

Sensitivity: 90dB

Tweeter Size: (1) 25mm

Midrange/Woofer Size: (1) 5.25″ 

Type: Passive – Wired

RMS Power Output: 100 watts

Weight: 5.4 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D): 11.6″ x 7.6″ x 8.75″

The Polk Atrium 6 speakers deliver powerful audio in a compact design. These will work well on decks and in areas where you don’t have a lot of space available for speakers. 

With a 5.25-inch dynamic mid/bass driver, it’s one of the smaller speakers on this list, but don’t let that deter you. These wired speakers are reliable and produce high-quality, powerful, and detailed sound. 

With the help of its PowerPort bass venting system, the low-ends extend down to 50Hz which will be enough for most listeners. For the highs, they have a 25mm dome tweeter. Together, you get a rich and intricate sound that works well for any music genre.

With 100 watts of continuous power and a 90 dB sensitivity, the sound will be loud enough for everyone to hear and enjoy.

If you want a little more volume, you can also check out Polk’s Atrium 8 outdoors speakers. These come with dual tweeters and can handle up to 125 watts with a sensitivity of 91 dB. However, they’re about half an inch deeper and an inch taller than the Atrium 6’s, so be aware of that.

Regardless of which model you choose, the Atrium series from Polk Audio will give you a clear and imposing listening experience where your audio needs are met with fineness and reliability.

Designed to remain outdoors in year-round weather conditions, they’re built with a rustproof aluminum grille and bracket, along with stainless steel and brass hardware. And they’re easy to install with their one-handed Speed-lock mounting system.

The Polk Atrium 6 speakers show that even with a compact design, outdoor speakers can deliver substantial audio performance without cluttering a space.

5. Soundboks 4

Best Outside Party Speaker

Frequency Response: 40Hz – 20kHz

Sensitivity: 126dB

Tweeter Size: (1) 25mm

Midrange/Woofer Size: (2) 10″ 

Type: Active – Wireless

RMS Power Output: (3) 72 watt amps

Weight: 35.5 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D): 25.6″ x 17″ x 13″

If you’re looking for a single speaker to handle your party music this year, the Soundboks 4 is it. This thing is seriously a beast.

With three 72-watt Class D amplifiers powering two 10-inch woofers and a 1-inch tweeter, the Soundboks 4 delivers a clear, full-range sound up to 126 dB.

But besides producing some seriously loud sound, the most impressive thing about this speaker is its battery life. With 40 hours of playback on a single charge, it’s one of the longest-lasting batteries you’ll find in an outdoor speaker.

The battery is also interchangeable, so you can swap it out quickly with another one or keep your music playing while you recharge it to 100% in only two hours.

For those who want to be able to customize their audio outside of buying wired speakers, you’re in luck. Using the Soundboks app, you can choose from one of the preset audio settings or tweak the EQ settings based on the group you’re with or the music you’re listening to.

If you’re a musician or just like playing around with a guitar or keyboard with friends, you can hook those up too, as it has two XLR inputs and a ¼” jack. You’ll then be able to adjust the EQ and input gain from within the same app.

The Soundboks 4 has a splash-proof exterior and is built to handle any kind of outdoor party with its powder-coated aluminum frame, steel handles, and silicone ball corners.

This sturdy build ensures that the speaker keeps going strong no matter where you take it, and its Bluetooth 5.0 technology provides a stable connection for uninterrupted music playback.

While its price might be a little high for some, we think it offers a lot of value and is worth every penny. That’s why it’s our pick for the best outdoor party speaker of the year.

6. JBL PARTYBOX 710

Best Outdoor Speaker for Bass

Frequency Response: 35Hz – 20kHz

Sensitivity: 80-104dB

Tweeter Size: (2) 2.5″

Midrange/Woofer Size: (2) 8″ 

Type: Active – Wireless

RMS Power Output: 800 watts

Weight: 61.3 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D): 35.6″ x 15.7″ x 17.2″

If you’re after booming bass you can feel in your core, the JBL Partybox 710 is the speaker for you. With 800W RMS of power and an impressive frequency response range of 35Hz to 20kHz, this speaker brings concert-quality sound to any event.

It has the unique capability of carrying a panoramic sound that’s bold and punchy through large outdoor areas. The dual 8″ woofers and 2.75″ tweeters provide a wide soundstage with a balanced mix of lows and highs, where the bass can get deep without overwhelming the clarity of the higher frequencies.

For a more low-end punch, you have the option to apply two additional levels of bass boost to amplify those deep sounds and give your music more intensity. You can also use JBL’s PartyBox app to give you even more control over how the speaker sounds and looks.

The app allows you to adjust the volume, lighting, and sound effects directly from your smartphone with a Bluetooth 5.1 connection. If you want a surround sound experience, you can also sync it to another partybox.

Just like other portable speakers already mentioned, this speaker also has inputs for a guitar and microphone for those who want to put on a live performance.

Although it’s technically portable with a handle and wheels, you won’t want to move this 61lb speaker around too much.

Moving it to a back deck or patio should be easy, but the wheels become useless when trying to pull it through any type of bumpy surface or up a set of stairs. It also needs to stay plugged in to work, so you won’t be able to bring it with you to a place without a power source.

If you’re looking for a true portable speaker with the same standard in bass response, take a look at JBL’s Partybox Stage 320. This speaker outputs 240W of power through dual 6.5” woofers and has around 18 hours of battery life. 

Despite its limitations in portability, the JBL Partybox 710 is a powerhouse of sound with impressive bass. It’s a great option if you want a fixed outdoor setup without the need for wired speakers or expensive professional audio equipment.

7. JBL SRX835 Speaker with JBL SRX818S Portable Passive Subwoofer

Best Outdoor Sound System

Frequency Response: 28Hz – 20kHz

Impedance: 8 Ohms

Sensitivity: 137dB 

Tweeter Size: 1.5″

Midrange: 6.5″

Woofer Size:

  • SRX835: 15″
  • SRX818S: 18″

Type: Passive – Wired

RMS Power

  • SRX835: 800 watts
  • SRX818S: 600 watts

Weight

  • SRX835: 95lbs
  • SRX818S: 78 lbs

Dimensions (H x W x D)

  • SRX835: 18.7″ x 21.4″ x 38.7″
  • SRX818S: 22.6” x 26.9″ x 26.8″

The JBL SRX835, connected with a JBL SRX818S subwoofer, forms an unbeatable outdoor audio system for any event requiring powerful, high-fidelity sound.

The SRX835 is a three-way passive loudspeaker with a 15″ woofer, 6.5″ horn-loaded midrange transducer, and 1.5″ neodymium compression driver. Its frequency range spans from 32Hz to 20kHz, producing a rich, nuanced sound profile that enhances the listening experience for any genre of music.

And with a max SPL of 137 dB, your music will reach every corner of a large outdoor venue.

Constructed from plywood with an Obsidian Duraflex finish, the SRX835 is rugged enough for demanding outdoor use, while its powder-coated, perforated steel grille protects the components without sacrificing sound quality. 

The SRX835 is easy to set up in different ways, whether you want to keep it in one place or move it around.  You can hang it from above using its built-in suspension points or use its pole socket for stand mounting.

This flexibility allows you to easily install it as a fixed solution or quickly set it up and break it back down for different events. 

The accompanying SRX818S subwoofer extends the system’s bass response even further, delivering a deep 28Hz low-end response. It’s specifically designed to work with the SRX835 loudspeaker, improving its bass capabilities without muddying the overall sound profile.

This setup provides not only the additional clarity and volume expected from audio professionals but also the reliability needed for any large-scale outdoor event.

Just know, you’ll need an amplifier that meet the demands of these passive speakers. To get the best performance from both, look for an amp that can handle 1.5 to 2 times as much continuous power as these speakers (1200 to 1600 watts) at 8 Ohms. 

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