A backyard swimming pool conjures images of family and friends gathered poolside, enjoying good food and company. Favorite tunes would certainly add to the ambiance of that scene, but many resort to a boom box from the patio for their musical selections. The good news is that an outdoor sound system doesn't have to be complicated or expensive to provide high quality sound to the outdoor living space! This article gives you tips for adding music to your backyard swimming experience.

Keep it Outdoor Friendly

The first step to successfully installing an outdoor sound system is to purchase a unit specifically designed for outdoor use. That way, you can rest assured the speakers you choose will hold up to a variety of weather conditions. There are many different types of outdoor sound systems available, and you can choose one that fits with the size of your space and the size of your wallet. Some homeowners find that placing speakers right on the patio or under the eaves makes it easy to thread wires up into the attic for attaching to an indoor receiver. Others want their music distributed to further reaches of the yard, using different speakers for this purpose.

Look High and Low

If you want your speakers to extend your music to the garden or pool area, you can choose speakers mounted on poles or buried in the ground for a larger listening range. In ground speakers leave only the top of the speaker above the soil's surface, allowing you to add music throughout your yard safely and inconspicuously. You can also mount box speakers to poles or walls where they send music through the space from a higher location. This is especially effective if you are wiring a gazebo near the pool or wiring up your patio for entertaining.

A New Kind of "Rock"

No matter what genre of music you prefer, "rock" is the way to go outdoors. Rock speakers are used in many public venues from amusement parks to zoos. These speakers are crafted to set on the ground and look very much like the natural rock of a landscape. Now, there are smaller versions for home use that allow you to play your favorite tunes without interrupting the natural flow of your outdoor space. Choose a high quality rock speaker that mixes well with the other hardscape in your space for best results.

Adding Quality Sound

For the best sound quality, opt for an outdoor subwoofer that offers a richer, deeper bass in your small outdoor speakers. Look for a subwoofer specifically designed for outdoor use. Disguise the device in your outdoor landscape using plants or shrubs as the perfect hiding place. Once you have placed your audio equipment, connect it all together using durable wire that will hold up outdoors. You may also want to add a volume control outdoors so you don't have to keep running inside to adjust your sound.

Outdoor sound systems are a wonderful touch to an outdoor pool area. The right equipment will make all the difference in sound that is rich, full and easy to enjoy.