Cabinet Speaker
Waterproof Speakers – why you need them and how to choose them
Normal living rooms present few problems, apart from wiring, and even these can be addressed using wireless speakers. You will find however that any normal speakers installed in humid or damp areas like the kitchen, bathroom or patio, will sooner or later, degrade as the water ingresses the paper based speaker cones which form the basis of most conventional speakers. Eventually the speakers just collapse – a bit of a disaster if they were expensive speakers
The solutions to the problem are readily available and in forms to fit all pockets. For very light use in occasionally damp areas which are not subjected to direct water jets, it may be that the simple application of a water resistant spay to the cone will protect adequately and usefully extend the life of the speakers. However even the lightest application of coating will affect the sound reproduction qualities of the speaker which is why you should NOT go down this avenue with any of your more valuable speakers.
A more practical alternative is to choose speakers specifically designed for these environments, especially so if you are concerned with marine based installation where corrosive saltwater is ever present.
These “waterproof” speakers will come in a variety of specifications, designs and sound quality. In-wall and in-ceiling flush mounting models, free standing cabinet type shelf speakers, wall fitted cabinet speakers are amongst the choices available. The cheaper ones will incorporate a single plastic based speaker cone but may not have stainless screws and fittings. The plastic may be a bit on the thick side for high quality music but at least the speakers will last.
The quality available from the higher priced units is amazing and results from the correct usage of specifically designed materials within the units. Wafer thin Kevlar speaker cones provide exceptional sound reproduction. Flexible Neoprene and silicon joints provide the ideal platform for the cones. Marin equality stainless and brass fittings with aluminium grilles complete the water resistant package such that the more resilient units can survive even high pressure water jets directed at them (food preparation or external marine use)
For the best sound quality the use of at least 2 separate speaker cones is required. One larger unit provides the deeper bass and mid-range sound. A more delicate tweeter adds the treble and the distribution of signal to these separate units is achieved by electronic crossovers which “separate” the incoming signal. This format is fine for the cabinet type speakers but in-wall unit need to be compact and slender. They achieve this by incorporating the “tweeter” within the mid range speaker – a co-axial speaker arrangement. Needles to say the best quality is achieved by matching the performance of the respective units.
It is doubtful whether within the noisy echo chambers of the bathroom and kitchen you will require the HiFi quality sound that you would expect from £1,000 units in the lounge, but even the more expensive in-wall units can provide the quality you require in such an echo chamber as the bathroom or kitchen.
Whilst warning remarks are not normally necessary it is worth considering some basic physics since the volume requirement in “waterproof” type areas is generally lower and could lead to specifying the speakers with regard to output level rather than possible input level – do not go down this path
The speakers will generally be available in input wattage of anything from 10 to 100 watts. In would be unusual to require anything like the potential maximum but you should be aware that when fitted to an amplifier with a capability of providing 100 watts, it would be very easy to blow a set of 10 watt speakers. Very delicate treatment of the volume control would be required and an inadvertent wind up would result in instant death for the speaker cones. Much better to go for the higher rated speakers and provide some”headroom” for the amplifier.
For the patio, pool area or garden the selection of speakers will probably narrow to the cabinet type. These areas are much more likely to have direct contact with water whether from the weather or hosepipe and you may well be advised to up the wattage of the potential speakers to compensate for external noise contamination from aircraft, traffic, mowers etc. if the wiring is required to go underground ensue that you use properly rated cable. Whilst the voltages used are safe (around 12 volts) you will not be pleased when you have to dig the garden up again due to failed cable
You may see reference to IP ratings in the specification of waterproof speakers. IP5x is generally sufficient for internal speakers. Dependant on the severity of the conditions outside you may find it necessary to require IP66 rated speakers which more or less guarantees immunity from water ingress. But it may also be the case that speakers with a lower IP rating (that is they may let water in) will still be satisfactory since all the components will operate normally even when wet.
All of the speakers discussed above are generally non- directional – the sound is spread in a fairly wide area in front of the speakers. More focussed waterproof speakers are available in the form of projectors which are very directional in nature and which are useful in directing sound so as not to annoy neighbours for example
About the Author
http://www.aqsound.com was born out of frustration with the total lack of the ‘personal shopping’ experience currently available on internet retail sites. We began our revolution by offering our specialist knowledge of DAB Digital Radio, Waterproof Audio and Wireless Audio to all our customers with great prices and first class service. Now we can offer you all this and more as we move forward into the Home & Lifestyle arena. We have hand selected though research and development a complete range of high quality products to compliment every room in your home and even your garden.
For a full range of waterproof speakers vist our site at,
http://www.aqsound.com/store/en/menu/175/
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