Installing outdoor speakers on vinyl siding can be a little challenging. You see, you want to mount your outdoor speakers on a wall or other structure, but you need to consider some factors.
Having speakers will allow you to enjoy your outdoor space by listing to or dancing to your favorite music. Aside from entertainment, music can be refreshing and relaxing, making it essential in life.
With some planning and know-how, you can install outdoor speakers on vinyl siding. Use this guide to learn how to install outdoor speakers on vinyl siding in your home or office.
Follow these steps to install outdoor speakers on your home’s vinyl siding.
- Drill a pilot hole.
- Run Wire.
- Screw the mounting bracket.
- Attach the speaker.
- Connect speakers to wires.
How to Install Outdoor Speakers on Vinyl Siding
Drill a pilot hole.
The first step to installing outdoor speakers on vinyl siding is to drill a pilot hole. This is because the speaker wire needs to be fed through the existing holes in the siding.
Use a drill bit slightly larger than the diameter of the wire you want to feed through your vinyl siding. If a hole isn’t large enough, you’ll need to enlarge it with a larger bit.
When drilling, remember not to twist or bend the wire as you insert it into your vinyl siding. This can damage the wire and your siding and make it look unsightly.
Run Wire.
The next step is to run a wire from the speaker to the amplifier through the pilot hole. To do this, you’ll need a drill and wire stripper.
Use the wire stripper to remove about 1/8 inch of insulation from both ends of each length of speaker wire. This will make it easier for you to connect with them later.
Screw the mounting bracket.
First, fix the mounting bracket to the wall. If you have a stud or joist, you can use a drilling template and a stud finder to mark where your speaker will be securely mounted. Then measure from the center of each end of your speaker to the center of your bracket, and make sure it’s a snug fit.
The mounting bracket is screwed to the wall. Your speakers will sit on top of this bracket and be held in place by the screws.
Next, remove the protective film from your speaker. This is to ensure you don’t damage your speaker by scratching it with sharp bits of plastic.
Attach the speaker.
Now you’re ready to attach your speaker. Start at one corner and line up one side of the screw with the screw hole in your wall; then align with another side, and line up with another hole on your bracket.
Once you’ve done this on both sides, start tightening screws until they’re fastened securely.
If you are mounting the speaker close to a window, make sure that there is at least an inch between the bottom of the speaker and the window frame so that no sound will be blocked. Use screws that are appropriate for your siding material and drill pilot holes before screwing in.
Connect speakers to wires.
Connect the speakers to their respective input jacks on each side of your vinyl siding using an electrical cord (provided with your kit).
There will be two jacks on each side: one marked “L” for the left-hand channel and one marked “R” for the right-hand channel. The label varies on various speakers.
If you are unsure which channel corresponds to which speaker, refer to your instruction manual.
Run the speaker wire from the speaker’s input terminal to the amplifier. On most amplifiers, there will be a small rectangular hole in the back of the amplifier used for this connection.
The other end of the wire should connect to an input terminal on your receiver or sound system. You may need a screw to do this, depending on the outdoor speaker you want to install.
How to Properly Position the Speakers
Properly positioning outdoor speakers can make all the difference. Your speakers’ sound quality and performance will depend on their location, so it’s important to take care in choosing the right spot. If you’re installing new speakers, here are some guidelines for where to put them:
- In front of windows and doors: Speakers placed behind windows and doors will not have a high enough bass response (which is why they’re usually recessed). If you’re installing new speakers, make sure they’re in front of any windows or doors to get the best possible response.
- On the side of your home: If you have large windows on either side, positioning the speakers on those sides will give you better results than placing them directly behind a window or door.
- On an exterior wall: This is especially important if your home has an exposed brick or stone wall that would be difficult to mount a speaker into without damaging it (or if it’s just hard to find space for mounting).
- Away from obstruction: You will want to ensure that the speakers are not too close to a tree or other object that could block their sound. You also need to check for any obstructions on the other side of the speakers, such as fences or walls. If there are any obstructions, you will need to place a barrier between your speakers and those objects so they can still project sound properly.
Shelter your Speakers from the Elements
When installing an outdoor speaker, protecting your speakers from the elements is important. The weather can change at any time of year, and you don’t want your speakers damaged or ruined by moisture. Here are some tips for protecting your speakers from the elements:
Ensure that the area where your speaker will be installed is well-ventilated. You may also want to consider installing a rain hood over your speaker if it is outdoors. This will help keep water out of the box and prevent damage to your listening devices.
Next, install a ground mesh between your speaker and the ground so that moisture can drain off the surface instead of collecting inside it.
If there are nearby trees or other objects that could cause damage to your device, consider placing protective enclosures around them so that they won’t impact sound quality when they’re being used next door.
Other tips include
- Use weatherproof cabling. This will help keep moisture out of the cabling and prevent rusting if exposed to water.
- If you’re using a metal enclosure, paint it with flame retardant paint before installing your speakers, so it doesn’t rust.
- Install your speakers on a concrete surface where they won’t be exposed to any dirt or debris, like rocks or other debris that could scratch them up or damage their finishings.
Conclusion
In order to install outdoor speakers on vinyl siding, you will first need to take into account several factors. This will help you avoid rushing through the process, which can often result in damage and costly repairs.
If you follow this simple guide, you should be fine. Be sure not to rush the process, though. It’s better to take your time and do things correctly than rush and make a mistake that causes even more damage than it would if you had done it properly in the first place.
