Hey Everyone

It's been a while. I need advice on new outdoor speakers. I currently have 2 Bose Freestanding speakers by the patio around the pool. However, I need two more on the other side of the pool. I am looking for quality rock speakers, as I need something on the ground to match my 2 existing speakers. The speakers are being driven by a Denon AVR-2802 (my Outlaw stuff is inside). I have found SEVERAL types of rock speakers on the internet, but I can't hear them. What specs can help tell me the quality of the speaker (freq response)? And does anyone have first hand knowledge of certain speakers? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

A friend of mine has two pairs of Niles Audio RS6's in Sandstone and they sound great.

He's powering them from zone 2 of a Denon DRA-697 Stereo receiver and a Parasound HCA 855A power amp (85 WPC into 8 Ohms). The 2802 is 90W into 8 Ohms and so performance should be similar.

They're reasonably sensitive at 89dB and are 8 Ohm speakers (probably your best bet if you're using the receiver's internal amp).

I have had a pair of Niles OS-25's for more than five years that still sound great.

Best of luck.

The only outdoor speaker I've seen lately is the Algonquin by Axiom Audio. The Algonquin is based on their M3 bookshelf speaker. Fairly inexpensive for what you get.

Axiom Outdoor

I have a pair. Great sound!

I could be wrong but I think the OP is asking about rock-SHAPED outdoor speakers...

Paradigm has some rock-shaped speakers , but I can't speak for what they sound like or even what they cost...

Niles also now makes an outdoor speaker that serves as a large flowerpot (no kidding!). They are stereo-image speakers, which means they have one dual VC low frequency driver and two high frequency drivers. You can use just one, or wire the inputs in parallel and use two. (8 ohm or 4 ohm).

Boston Acoustics makes a Voyager line in different "rock" finishes. They sound pretty good too.

All I would add that is: depending on your placement, I would definately condider getting something that can play both right and left channels from each speaker such as KSCHARF suggested. Many other MFRs also offer speakers like this.

Stereo image speakers are good for more applications than just outdoor speakers. Niles makes them in indoor/outdoor bracket mount types as well as ceiling mount units. A ceiling mount stereo image speaker is a good choice for zones in a whole house audio system that would be a tough setup for two speakers....such as hallways and bathrooms.

Niles also makes ceiling mount bipole/dipole speakers for tough placements in surround sound applications. If I can snake a wire through the ceiling below the flat roof of my family room (yuck), this would solve a problem with placement of the left side surround since that wall is too far from the seating position to use a wall mount side surround speaker, and a speaker on a stand won't work either. That's why the room is currently only 5.1 setup with the surrounds on the rear wall. BTW they sound better up firing with a bounce off the ceiling.