Outdoor Entertainment

Most of the landscape speaker products that we offer include a 5 year limited warranty, and the Amp AV labor warranty is 2 years.  Patio speakers are generally 10+ years for the manufacturer warranty and the same 2 year Amp AV labor warranty.

Landscape speakers are wired using what's called "direct-burial" speaker wire.  They are connected to an amplifier that typically will be located in a climate controlled environment, so inside the house.  The speaker runs out of the house from a "stub out" location (PVC box and conduit that runs down into the ground) and from there the wire is freely ran underground much like an irrigation drip line.  

Since all the speakers need to be wired, there must be a clear pathway to get to each one.  Pavers, pool decks, curbs, etc. need to be bypassed using underground sleeves.  These are pipes put there by landscapers or pool builders to run future irrigation lines or wires.   These pathways need to be thought through and coordinated with multiple trades early on in the pool building and landscaping process for a new yard.

For retrofit projects, we try to keep the wiring in gravel or mulch areas.  If we need to bypass a patch of astroturf or paver pathway and there's no evidence of an existing sleeve, we'll subcontract a landscaper to remove and reinstall pavers or turf as needed.

Yes!  Although not all types of speakers that we offer are available to demo, we do have a few of the most popular speakers for demo at our office/showroom.  There are both landscape speakers and surface-mount speakers on display, and other in-ceiling speakers that are indoor/outdoor rated throughout our showroom.  Be sure to schedule an appointment to come check out these options.

Most often we will tie the outdoor audio into an existing multi-room audio system as an additional zone.  This might be through Sonos, VSSL, Control4, or Savant.  Then you can play audio to the patio or yard in the exact same way as you already do elsewhere.

If there is not an audio system already in place in the home, VSSL or Sonos will do nicely to stream and control the music, and are Apple Airplay 2, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home compatible.  If the outdoor entertainment install is part of a larger project incorporating the Family Room and other entertainment zones, Control4 or Savant might be a better solution.

In any case, you'll want reliable outdoor WiFi to stream the music without dropouts.  Boosting your WiFi with an outdoor-rated WiFi access point is usually part of the quoted project to make it a comprehensive installation.

You can, but we won't warranty it, and neither will the manufacturer.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND AGAINST PUTTING AN INDOOR TV OUTDOORS

• They do not last in the Arizona heat or sun
• You cannot forget to cover them, and doing so is a hassle when you're still dripping wet from the pool or otherwise occupied with dinner and guests
• Indoor TV's are not bright enough for daytime viewing the way outdoor TV's are

There are several important reasons for installing an outdoor TV:

• BRIGHTER—they can be seen clearly in the daytime
• WEATHERPROOF—and will not be destroyed by moisture
• HEAT RATED—Arizona won't cook the TV to death
• WARRANTY—Depending on make and series, they carry a 1-3 year warranty whereas an indoor TV being installed outdoors would void the warranty

*Please note that there are different levels of outdoor TV ratings, such as full shade, partial sun, and full sun.  These ratings affect the brightness level, sun damage resistance, and whether the unit is fully waterproof or not.  Full-sun rated models are the most costly.

Yes, and yes.  They are generally 3-5 times the price of an indoor TV of the same size, however, it's a matter of being able to enjoy the TV in the daytime, or it being completely unusable due to extreme glare.  That, and the other reasons listed above pertaining to the longevity and protection of the investment.

This is possible and fairly straightforward, but it must be wired correctly.  If this is one of your must-haves, we know how to make it happen.  You'll be able to enjoy both TV audio and music through your outdoor speakers if you have a TV in your outdoor living space you'd like to hear.  We'll also make sure to keep it simple for you to operate.