Speakers

[jaege]

My experience with speakers and sound systems amounts to the system that is somewhere in my car, so, with that in mind, I just bought a 16 channel system with the mini director. I was wondering if I need speakers that are self powered or can I use the (?) non-powered variety?

[Orville]

My experience with speakers and sound systems amounts to the system that is somewhere in my car, so, with that in mind, I just bought a 16 channel system with the mini director. I was wondering if I need speakers that are self powered or can I use the (?) non-powered variety?

If you use an FM Transmitter and an old Stereo connected to non-powered speakers, you're good.

But going directly from the MP3 Director units will require some type of powered/amplifed speaker system, the directors work geat if listening with a set of headphones, but they aren't powerful enough to drive any speakers, and if you do, they will be heard very, very low, if at all, so powered speakers do work better if going directly to the MP3 Director unit.

[TJ Hvasta]

The non-powered volume will be, most likely, too low to be effective.. the powered speakers (pc desk type) are cheap enough (under $20) and can easily be protected from the elements when put inside large freezer zip-lock bags (what I do). I have the ac powered speakers in ziplock baggies (doesnt buzz the plastic), placed under my mini-trees so: 1) they're waterproofed, and 2) hidden. I run the power off one of my controller channels that is always on, and it just removes power when the sequence is over. You dont need a Boze set.. Creative, or Altech, or similar are sufficient.

Edited August 15, 2012 by TJ Hvasta

[George Simmons]

You dont need a Bose set...

No, you don't NEED Bose speakers, but if you have them, they certainly enhance the experience a great deal.

[vincerules]

I use this amplifier with these speakers. Connected them with speaker wire from monoprice. Works great, plenty of sound for my yard.

[scubado]

What is your objective with the speakers? If for Halloween and doing lightning and thunder, go big or go home! Neighbors will tolerate louder sounds for the TOTs. Thunder is rough on amps and speakers, I fried a channel last year, I have two amps this year. Garage sales are a great place to get large stereo speakers.

[Caleb Linburg]

I don't use speakers at all. If people want to stand outside their cars they just turn up thief own stereos. It really helps keep my neighbors happy. I may disappoint a few foot travelers but it keeps the neighbors from complaining so the rest of the viewers can watch.

[JSelph]

Any suggestions on powered speakers that I could use with the Showtime Director? I was also wondering about how to control the volume if they don't go through an amp or stereo.

[SoCalJimH]

I was browsing Best Buy and Fry's a few weeks ago for PC speakers. Most of the ones I looked at had a volume control on one speaker as a master control and a couple others had level control on each speaker. I use a couple 'rock' outdoor speakers that I was able to obtain at a garage sale last year.

[gtoyeah]

Agree rock speakers seem to be the way to go. They blend in well. Provide just enough sound to hear out front without you driving the neighbors crazy listening to the same songs over and over. I think mine are 75 watts each.

[JSelph]

I like the idea of rock speakers, but the ones I have found were not powered. They also didn't appear to have volume controls. I'll do more research on them since many of you have recommended them.

[Guest Don Gillespie]

You dont need a Boze set.. Creative, or Altech, or similar are sufficient.

I have Bose speakers, my dad had Bose speakers my Grandpa had Bose speakers what is wrong with Bose speakers, people can really hear the music with Bose speakers. ( taking a scene from sienfeld with the pony discusion) really any speaker will work for you, its fun to watch people dance outside your home on a cold winters night.

[larrym20]

Here's what a lot of us in Texas use. http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/osom4paousp.html

They also have some great prices on rock speakers. Many of these are OEM speaker manufacturers for some of the bigger box retailers.

I work in consumer electronics and play with this stuff all the time. For those wanting powered outdoor speakers you may be forced to look at some of the wireless options out there like these http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/wireless-outdoor-speaker.html

All you really need to get the audio out to your visitors that are not in cars is a two channel stereo receiver that you connect up to your speakers.

Easy setup:

Computer headphone output to a Y audio splitter (male to two female)

Connect one of the splits to your FM transmitter and the other to your stereo - you will need a mini to RCA adapter here (female headphone to two RCA male connections)

Connect the speakers to the stereo for your show outside

Transmit through your fm transmitter to the cars outside

Depending on the stereo receiver you use, it will have an A&B speaker output so you can hookup two pairs of speakers. If you need more than that you can get speaker switch boxes that will amplify souks for additional speakers.

Hope this helps a little.