[sponger]

Thank you for looking at my post.

I just bought some outdoor speakers that look like rocks. I have 3 pairs. But, I just realized that I need a signal and some power. What would you guys recommend? Basically, I am not brand conscious. I just need to know what all would go into this set-up. Thanks a bunch.

[MaxCast]

You could get one of those old receivers that have the ability to run three pairs of speakers.
You could get a speaker box that will let you hook up multiple speakers to one set of outputs from a receiver or amp.  Check Rat Shack or the brand name "Niles."  Crutchfield.com may also cary these.

For source and power I'd recommend a receiver and a carosuel cee-dee player.

Where is this rig going?

[satfrat]

Thank you for looking at my post.

I just bought some outdoor speakers that look like rocks. I have 3 pairs. But, I just realized that I need a signal and some power. What would you guys recommend? Basically, I am not brand conscious. I just need to know what all would go into this set-up. Thanks a bunch.

            I got a nice Yamaha 6.1 receiver that would fit the bill for $450. All you`d need is a BIG boulder for a subwoofer and your lawn can be an outdoor home theater! Seriously. Regards, Robin

[lonewolfny42]

Thank you for looking at my post.

I just bought some outdoor speakers that look like rocks. I have 3 pairs. But, I just realized that I need a signal and some power. What would you guys recommend? Basically, I am not brand conscious. I just need to know what all would go into this set-up. Thanks a bunch.

   You  didn't by chance, get these speakers from a guy in a white van did ya ?  

[Pez]

If it's just outdoor speakers and nothing else (like surround sound for other rooms in the house) just go to Circuit city and buy a Sherwood RX-4103 stereo receiver.  It cost $100.00 and does the job no frills, that is unless you consider a remote control a frill.  rated (probably not very accurately) at 100 watts per channel, multiple inputs for sources, built-in AM/FM,  A/B speaker select capability and it shouldn't go gaga if you connect all the speakers to one set of speaker outputs.  And for $100.00 if it breaks, buy a new one.

[sponger]

Thanks for the replies.

LOL I bought them at Costco. Funny you should mention that, though. A couple of guys in a van pulled up to me in front of auto zone the other day and asked me if I wanted a free pair of speaker towers. I said no thanks.

How about this? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051384838207&skuId=4384614&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03031

I don't know if home amps work the same as car amps, but if I connect more than one speaker to a channel, isn't  that the same as wiring them in parallel and thus dropping the ohm load? If I hooked up six 8 ohm speakers to a 2 channel receiver, wouldn't that be a 2 ohm load for each channel?

Right now, I have a Lynksis windows media adapter feeding an MP3 signal to my living room mini-system. I was thinking of just unplugging that every now and then and hooking it up to the receiver for the outdoor speakers. Then, I guess I wouldn't need a CD carousel or anything. Thanks again for the input.

I guess I'll eventually get a subwoofer amp from parsexpress.com and hook it up to an adire shiva. I suppose I would need to have a subwoofer pre-out on the receiver.



One more question, though.

I was thinking of just taking back one of the pairs, using 4 of the 5 channels to power the speakers, and then using the fifth channel for a subwoofer. What should I use to low-pass that channel for the sub? Just find some passive xover on the net somewhere? Thanks.

[sponger]

How about getting the sherwood 2 channel from circuit city and using an impedence matching speaker selector?

[John Casler]

Since this isn't going to be used as an audiophile system, I would suggest a placement tip.

The speakers generally have a bunch of holes to form the "grill" where the sound comes out.  

This totally spoils the effect of having a rock that give music because it is clearly a speaker in a mock rock.

If at all possible, place them 1-3 feet away from a solid wall or object. and "bounce the sound" on to the wall first.  The holes will then be facing away from you and the sound will be bouncing off the wall.

This way you get the "BOSE" effect of indirect sound and it is dispersed much better than having the holes in front facing you.

If possible dial up the treble and you may have to turn up the volume a bit more, but the spatial effect of sonic immersion is very cool and all your guests will hear the music, but not be able to pinpoint the source.

Just a suggestion.