The Best Outdoor Speakers For Pools, Patios, and Parties 2024

Bowers & Wilkins of Worthing, South England – trusted and embraced by legendary studios like Abbey Road and considered by many the world’s finest loudspeaker maker for over 50 years, is our unanimous choice for “best all-weather outdoor speaker.” The press calls Bowers & Wilkins' AM-1 “the most durable loudspeaker B&W has ever made, achieved without compromising power or sound quality the way so many lessor outdoor speakers do.”

Inside the AM-1: a 2-way design with an inverted drive unit and a 25 mm aluminum-dome tweeter mounted below (rather than above) its 5-inch glass-fiber bass/midrange driver. This configuration ensures the AM-1 provides optimal dispersion of sound when mounted high on a wall or ceiling, where best-case scenario, it belongs. On the rear of the AM-1, an auxiliary bass radiator (ABR) adds exceptional bass for a speaker this size. The combination – B&W’s unique architecture and high-end drive units add up to seriously great sound, particularly when it comes to more intricate or nuanced music. (Mozart. The Roots. Beck. Miles. Etc.)

The AM-1’s weatherproof housing is sealed from the elements, mounting is easy, and recommended amplifier power = 20 W to 100 W into 8 ohms. Our opinion: Bowers & Wilkins' AM-1’s also qualify as awesome indoor speakers too, whether for stereo or home theater.

Klipsch is the Harley Davidson of the speaker world: an American company with a great backstory and a legendary product line. Klipsch is about muscle and finesse… and whether a rip-tearing Joe Bonamassa guitar hook or a Benny Goodman clarinet lead, Klipsch serves it up like it’s happening live, right in front of you. No one does “thank you sir, may I have another?” quite like Klipsch. How fitting then, that Klipsch’s outdoor entree, the AWR-650-SM, comes in the form of a big rock, available in dirt brown or mountain black.

At 50 Watts of power each, a pair of AWR-650-SMs can handle the biggest big block party without breaking a sweat. Turned down, they’re perfect for musical chairs at a kid’s birthday party. In between, you can hear the game like you’re sitting in the press box.

Naturally, Klipsch built the AWR-650-SM to withstand extreme weather conditions (hello Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Louisiana, and the entire left coast). Each weighs 13 pounds and features a dual voice coil polymer woofer for a powerful, precise low-end, along with dual polymer dome tweeters – so any one speaker can process both left and right stereo channels. (Most customers buy two, one left and one right for a traditional stereo setup.) Obviously, they blend in well wherever you put them, because they’re, well… rocks. That ROCK.

We love the OD Stone 8 unique design, but we also love its sound. It feels like Focal figured out how to have a proper bookshelf speaker live outside (not an easy task).

The OD Stone 8 has incredible dynamics as it plays thumping basslines and precise vocal reproduction with it’s 8” mid-bass drive and 1” Aluminum ‘M’-shaped inverted tweeter.

As an integrator, we really appreciate that Focal has a 5-strand cable so it can be wired to either a “traditional” 8 ohm amplifier or a 70/100 volt amplifier (which is usually saved for commercial installations).

Focal designed the OD Stone to have a physical wire to choose between the two and not a switch to engage one versus the other. This calculated design choice means there was no chance of degrading the audio by having to pass through an additional component. When you design with uncompromising audio as your end result like Focal, you know you’re in for an outdoor speaker of the highest quality.

Rockustics is one of the leading companies providing outdoor speaker systems. With this 300W in-ground subwoofer, it's easy to see why. You're gonna feel the music before you ever see where the sound is coming from. The SubScape 12's clever vent system makes this powerful speaker look no more obtrusive than the outdoor lighting you already have along your garden path. Since it's fully weatherproof, you don't have to worry about this speaker being damaged by water, even from routine yard watering.

Designed for easy installation into a wired, in-ground sound system in your patio — especially with the Rockustics Periscape speakers — the SubScape 12 also can operate in larger environmental installations where lower voltages of 70V allow for the use of lighter-gauge wiring. The SubScape 12s also feature multiple tapping settings, which lets you quickly set the volume for a specific area by setting the power each unit or group of speakers takes. The clever vented cap design will blend into any outdoor yard or patio design. Put some boom into your outdoor room!

Kicker, a major player in the custom automotive sound system world, knows how to get big sounds from small products at great prices. With a 6.5" woofer and two 5" horn tweeters, the KB6 speakers are a fine example, producing remarkably clear and transparent mids, highs, and seismic bass. Ideal for patios and poolside installation, the KB6 enclosure and components are weather-resistant and can easily handle rain, mist, and proximity to freshwater environments. The included brackets make installation flexible and straightforward, and the easy pinch terminals make wiring a breeze. All this at a price per pair lower than the cost of many individual speakers.

The Sonos Roam 2 is our favorite portable outdoor speaker for lots of reasons. First and foremost, it's a true outdoor speaker. It's wonderfully waterproof and dust-proof, so when you get tired of listening to music on your patio, you can roam with the Roam anywhere. Its outstanding sound and powerful bass won't get drowned out by wind or traffic noise, and the Trueplay function automatically adjusts the sound to your environment, so you don't miss out on the lyrics. With Bluetooth and WiFi, the Roam will pair with your devices and your home WiFi setup, so your connections will always be ready to go when you're ready for some tunes. Voice control implementation lets you use Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant to access your favorite content and control your other devices. Plus, it's small, lightweight, and practically begs to go outside with you.

The new Sonos Roam 2 vs. Sonos Roam introduces a streamlined design with distinct power and Bluetooth buttons for effortless control. Now available in a sleek monotone finish, this updated model also includes a USB-C to USB-C cable for faster and more efficient charging.

Also check out our Sonos Roam review.

One sure way to separate the men from the boys when it comes to portable wireless speakers: Cue up the A Capella bass harmony at the beginning of Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk” and turn it up – WAY up. We did just that with the Bose Portable Home speaker, a smart speaker Bose claims is “best at bass,” and yeah – we’re believers. At this price point, Bose crushes the competition when it comes to powerful bass in a portable package.

The Bose Portable Home speaker is an Amazon Alexa / Googe Assistant smart speaker from a company that continues to out-innovate everyone save for maybe Sonos. (Depends on who you ask.) It streams whatever you like via at-home Wi-Fi or when you leave home, it acts like any other portable Bluetooth speaker controlled via your phone or tablet. It proved excellent at hearing and executing voice commands, too – though voice commands only work when connected by Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth. As for sound quality, it’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Bose: powerful, and remarkably crisp and clear.

With the nifty little handle on top, the Bose Portable doesn’t exactly hide its rugged portable-ness. All the controls are on top, and it comes with a USB-C cord for charging the battery, though Bose also offers a charging cradle in the $30 range. Add the cradle, and the Bose Portable begins to approach the Sonos Move with respect to price. Tough choice, for sure.