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There's little better than relaxing in the sun on a deckchair, a choice beverage at your side, while one of the best outdoor speakers plays your favorite tunes. But which should you buy? After all, to survive the potential onslaught of rain, wind, sand or even the odd spilt cocktail, a speaker needs to be a bit special.
You want something weatherproof, potentially even portable. You'll ask questions like "Do I want this permanently affixed to my house, or do I want something that I can take with me on a camping trip?" To make the decision just a little bit easier, I've put together this list of speakers so that you can choose the best for you.
The best outdoor speakers right now are the Polk Atrium 4. If you want the best-sounding speakers to fix to the side of your house, then look no further. Need something to bring about? How about the Tribit PocketGo — a tiny weatherproof hero that won't break the bank.
The best outdoor speakers available to buy right now
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Best outdoor speakers for installations
The best outdoor speakers have to withstand the elements and deliver robust bass, crisp treble and full midrange with enough power to be heard over both the wind and the chatter of a party. These Polk speakers check all the boxes, and still usually cost less than $200.
At 8.6 x 6.7 x 5.7 inches, the Atrium 4s are small enough so that they won't dominate your landscape and big enough to deliver full sound. While they don’t have much bass, they produce more low end than other outdoor speakers of similar size (big bass lover though should perhaps consider Polk's Atrium 5). With a 4.5-inch mid-woofer/tweeter and a 0.8-inch tweeter inside each speaker, the Atrium 4 aptly handled both the distorted guitars of classic rock and the thumping bass of hip-hop while producing clear vocals.
If you want more bass and have the space (and some extra cash), consider Polk's larger Atrium 5 speakers, which come with 5-inch midrange woofer/tweeters.
- Read our full Polk Atrium 4 review
Best value portable outdoor speaker
When you're out and about camping or hiking, you don't want something that's 1. expensive, should it get lost on the trail, or 2. something large that won't fit in your hiking pack. That's where the waterproof and rugged Tribit PocketGo comes in. It's small, so it'll fit in any bag you might throw it in, and it's inexpensive enough that you won't worry if it takes a tumble into the Grand Canyon.
It sounds good for the size and price, and thanks to IP68 water and dust resistance, you don't have to worry about it being defeated by some adverse weather conditions. Or the shower. 20 hours of battery life keep the tunes coming for a long time, and the helpful hook means you can attach it to your pack. It's small, it's cheap, and it's one of the best ways to listen to music outside.
- Read the full Tribit PocketGo review
Best portable outdoor speaker with Wi-Fi smarts
The Sonos Play brings the smarts, looks and sound of the more expensive Move 2 to a smaller and portable package. It's all wrapped up in an IP67 water and dust-proof chassis, so not only can you take it anywhere, you'll want to take it anywhere because you know it'll be safe from harm. Just, you know. Don't drop it down a big hill.
We loved the sound quality when we reviewed the Play, with the lovely bassy Sonos profile un-abashedly present despite the speaker's smaller stature. We also appreciated the simple dock used to charge the speaker — although, should you need to charge on the go, there's a helpful USB-C port on the back. It can also be used to charge your phone, sipping from the 24-hour battery.
The Sonos Play's WiFi connection will only work when you're close to your house and WiFi network, but the Bluetooth for on-the-go listening keeps the tunes coming. This is a portable, flexible speaker — and a great way to get your music outside.
- Read the full Sonos Play review
Best solar powered outdoor speaker
As one of the best solar speakers we've encountered, the Lodge Solar Speaker 4 is ideal for long sunny days with your favorite playlist as your soundtrack. It needs a full hour in direct sunlight to achieve 3 hours of playback, but there's a USB-C port for battery top-ups on cloudy days; battery capacity is expected to top out at 22 hours. The IP66 dirt and water protection rating makes it an ideal outdoor speaker for poolside areas, and the Lodge claims that it can handle temperatures from 32º to 115º Fahrenheit (0º to 46º Celsius).
In our review, we found that the speaker paired easily with Bluetooth devices. It maintained a strong connection outdoors with the playback device placed more than 50 feet away. There are touch controls on the top surface next to the solar panels that allow users to access Bluetooth pairing and navigate playback, volume, and connect to other Lodge speakers. Sound quality was impressive and a match for the Sonos Move 2 listed above. It handled all kinds of music styles well, and although there are no EQ controls, there's a handy Bass Boost mode to add extra oomph should you need it.
- Read our full Lodge Solar Speaker 4 review
Best outdoor installation speaker for bass
If you subscribe to the "go big or go home" school of outdoor entertaining, the AW-650 speakers are some of the best outdoor speakers you can buy. These monsters of rock measure 15 x 11 x 9.5 inches and feature a 6.5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter. The result is thunderous bass and crisp, full vocals that can easily overpower the ambient noise of the outdoors when you want.
The AW-650 speakers are built like a tank, with a UV-resistant ABS plastic polymer enclosure that's backed by Klipsch's lifetime warranty. And at 9 pounds each, you'll want to make sure you securely mount them if you choose to place them up high; they would also work well at floor level.
- Read our full Klipsch AW-650 outdoor speaker review
Best outdoor speakers for installations on a budget
When it comes to the best outdoor speakers, the Yamaha NS-AW150W hit a sweet spot in sound, size and cost. They deliver good overall sound, with especially crisp treble and full vocals. The bass isn’t as powerful as others among the best outdoor speakers, but few this size hammer out the low end well.
The speakers produce a crisp sound with some bass, though the low frequencies may get lost among ambient sounds. The sound is also fairly narrow, meaning it doesn’t spread as widely across an open backyard. Still, they produce good vocals and crisp treble, and throw in a bit of bass too — all for just $99 for the pair.
- Read our full Yamaha NS-AW150W review
Best boombox-style portable
The JBL Boombox 3 is one of the larger portable Bluetooth speakers around. Its deep bass and vocal clarity fill large open spaces with a big sound that's perfect for larger outdoor parties, and the IP67-rated beast makes it perfect for outdoor events and pool parties.
As the name suggests, this isn’t the first Boombox in the series, and JBL has built on its predecessors with a new three-way speaker system made up of two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a racetrack-shaped subwoofer.
Its size and shape feel like a bit of a throwback to those nineties boombox days. But unlike the bulky models of the era, the JBL measures 19.0 x 10.1 x 7.9-inches and weighs an entirely portable 14.7 pounds. Battery life is entirely practical too, and runs to 24 hours for all-day sounds from a 6.5-hour charge. It comes in two color options: black or a more conspicuous squad colors design. Among big portable Bluetooth speakers that are rugged enough to withstand the elements, the JBL Boombox 3 stands out for its sound quality.
- Read our full JBL Boombox 3 review
Best outdoor portable speaker for bass
The UE Hyperboom blends the size and power of a true outdoor speaker with the versatility of a Bluetooth speaker. This 14-inch tall speaker offers huge, balanced sound for outdoor gatherings and cookouts, and lasts for 24 hours on a charge to power your patio hangs all day and night.
The Hyperboom is also IPX4 rated, making it able to withstand splashes and drizzles. With easy Bluetooth pairing to any mobile device, big bass and sharp high-end, the Hyperboom is one of the best outdoor speakers you can buy for social gatherings.
- Read our full UE Hyperboom review.
Also tested
As Tom's Guide's audio experts, we test a lot of speakers but not every model makes it into a buying guide. That's not to say that they're not great performers, just that they're beaten by rival models with a stronger set of features or performance. The picks in this guide are the very best we've tested and have all been given full reviews. But with more models to choose from than ever, we want to make sure that you consider these also tested options. These alternatives have all been through our rigorous testing processes but didn't quite make the grade to rank among the best of the best.
How to choose the best outdoor speakers for you
5 things to consider
Along with price, there are several other factors to consider when choosing the best outdoor speakers.
1. Design: As you shop for outdoor speakers, the first thing you’ll want to look for is weather-proofing. Outdoor speakers should be at least partially water-resistant, and if you want to leave them outside all the time, they should be fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating. The next thing you’ll want to consider is how the speakers will be connected. Many outdoor speakers are wired, so you’ll need a power source. If that’s not doable in your backyard or patio, then you will want to concentrate on portable Bluetooth speakers.
2. Sound quality: Next, think about how big your space is and what kind of volume level you’ll require. If you have a small patio or mainly want music for dinner parties, a smaller set of outdoor speakers may be perfectly adequate. But if you have a large suburban backyard or want to host crowded dance parties, you may want to shop for larger speakers with more audio capacity.
Different models offer different sound, and some models offer personalized sound via companion app, which allows the user to create their own profiles and tweak EQ levels to their hearing.
3. Battery life: Most outdoors speakers are also portable and typically manage around 15 to 20 hours.
4. Accessories: Make sure there's a power/charging cable at the very least, and a user guide.
5. Pricing considerations: Last but not least, there’s cost. Outdoor speakers can get pricey, as they need to be tough and rugged enough to withstand the elements. You can still find great sets at any budget level. Note that Bluetooth speakers are generally going to be more expensive.
Although there are always exceptions, big-name brands will typically command a bit extra, but generally speaking, the less you spend on an outdoor speaker the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for the budget option isn't always the best choice, as any money you save on your purchase won't do you much good if you're constantly needing to recharge your audio gear, or the sound quality is poor.
As the saying goes: timing is everything; and right now many of our favorite models are discounted at online retailers, meaning you can bag a bargain for even less. Bookmark our tech deals pages to keep track of the lowest prices.
How we test
For the best outdoor speakers, we look at a number of factors. We start with audio quality: how bass, mid-range, treble and vocals sound. Are they balanced? What kind of woofer, midrange driver and tweeter do the speakers have? We also look at size and range to determine how the outdoor speaker will sound in different settings, from a large backyard to a smaller patio or deck. Will the speaker be able to fill various areas or are they better in certain set-ups?
Naturally the best way to answer these questions is to play a variety of music genres, outside in the conditions you'd normally expect to find these speakers.
Next, since these are outdoor speakers, we have to take weatherproofing into consideration. Are they temperature and water resistant? Does the speaker’s housing ward off against bugs and dust? Other factors include how easy it is to mount/install the speakers along with using any smart technology features.
And we want to test a variety of outdoor speakers at different price points, so that we can recommend one for every type of budget. If you want something even more affordable, check out the best cheap Bluetooth speakers — though only some of these will offer waterproofing.
Find out how we test for more information on our reviewing procedures.
