A backyard sound system livens up your outdoor space

Want to jazz up your outdoor living area and tune into extra comfort and entertainment? Implement an outdoor-rated sound system.

“Music is one of the most overlooked features of an outdoor living space,” says Joe Raboine with Belgard. “The simplest way to add music is to use a portable, water-resistant Bluetooth speaker.”

The JBL Charge 3, Ultimate Ears Wonderboom, Sony SRS-XB41, Bose SoundLink Color II and Fugoo Style are all highly rated and relatively affordable devices that fit these criteria.

Paired with your smartphone, tablet or laptop, these small but powerful speakers can keep your party, pool bash or private soiree grooving.

But if you're creating a large outdoor living space, seeking better quality sound and have the budget, consider permanently installed weatherproof speakers that can be placed underneath eaves, on your home's exterior, into seat walls or in the ground among your landscaping. With this approach, you'll get better quality and louder music, possibly with separate volume controls for different zones.

Permanently installed speakers are typically powered by a dedicated receiver or amplifier that can be placed near your outdoor living area. You can choose a system where the speakers and receiver amplifier are either connected by wires, Bluetooth or via Wi-Fi, as is possible with Bose's SoundTouch or Sonos' “Connect:Amp” outdoor wireless systems.

Wired speakers generate the best sound but require careful planning and concealment of the wires. Wi-Fi speakers offer better range than Bluetooth speakers but can be costlier.