Setting up an outdoor sound system for a public speaking event may seem daunting, but once you get started, you’ll find that it’s a much simpler task than it appears to be. Setting up the speakers yourself will take an afternoon, but you’ll save a lot by not calling an electrician to do the work for you.
Receiver Setup
Set up the receiver indoors. Most outdoor speaker systems run off an existing indoor receiver. Since the receiver is a sensitive piece of electronics, you almost always want to set the receiver up indoors.
Volume Control Installation
Install a volume control box outside. Make sure that it is in a sheltered location. You will be running the speaker wire from the receiver to the volume control box, and then from the volume control box to the associated speakers. Most volume control boxes can be easily mounted on an outdoor wall. Consider multiple volume control boxes for multiple pairs of speakers. This will allow you to control the volume for the outdoor sound system across multiple zones.
Amplifier Installation
Install a multi-channel amplifier if you are running multiple pairs of speakers. Each pair you add increases the chance of overloading the receiver’s built-in amplifier. You can install the amplifier right next to the receiver and then run the speaker wire out of the amplifier.
Wire Connection
Run your speaker wire from the receiver to the outside area. Drill a hole low in the wall to run the speaker wire from the inside to the outside. Make sure to seal the hole with silicone to maintain your house’s insulation. Run the speaker wire to the volume control box, and then run a second wire from the box to the speakers.
Wireless Connection
Some modern speaker setups are completely wireless and operate using Bluetooth. If you are using a setup like this, you don’t have to worry too much about wiring. You just need to ensure that your receiver supports Bluetooth speakers and that the speakers are setup relatively close to the receiver. Bluetooth can reach about 150 feet (45.7 m) if nothing is impeding the signal. Walls between the receiver and speaker will shorten the effective range.
Speaker Placement
Space your speakers out. Speakers should be about 8-10 feet (2.5-3 m) apart. If the speakers are too close together, the sound will be muddled, and the speakers will overlap. If the speakers are too far apart, it will be difficult to hear, and you will lose any stereo effects.
