When we work with a great client, we usually know it right away. This project in Tampa started about two years ago with a simple request: install a great living room entertainment system.

We installed a new TV and a full 5.2 surround sound system with dual subwoofers. Clean install, immersive sound, and everything tucked away like it should be. Our client loved the sound and the experience… So much so, that a little while later, he called us back.

This time? He wanted the same level of sound outside.

Bringing the Inside Out

Outdoor audio has its own challenges, but experience pays off and we love surprising our clients with what we can do. For this project, we installed a Samsung Terrace TV, a pair of outdoor speakers- SpeakerCraft Outdoor Elements OE8.3, and my favorite subterranean subwoofer— the SpeakerCraft BoomTomb burial subwoofer, SC-BT-12, which brings the low-end punch you’d never expect in an open-air setup.

We used a Crown CDI 2/600 amplifier with DSP (Digital Sound Processing). Clean power, reliable performance, adjustable sound processing and it is great for outdoor entertainment systems.

Now, one thing which made this install a little different: we used wiremold to conceal the wiring.

Let’s Talk Wire Mold

Normally, I avoid wiremold whenever possible. I like to keep things clean—run wires through attics, inside walls, under trenches—whatever it takes. But every so often, it’s just not an option. This was one of those jobs.

Here’s the deal with outdoor wiremold:

Why I don’t like it:

• It’s visible (and I usually prefer invisible).
• It’s only as good as its install—if it’s not anchored well, it won’t hold.
• If you just stick it to a wall, especially outside, it will come off eventually.
  
  

Why it worked here:

• When done right, it can blend in and look like trim.
• It helped us route speaker/subwoofer wiring exactly where we needed it.
• It’s a cost-effective solution when other options aren’t possible.
• When properly anchored to a suitable substrate, it will stay where it is intended.
  
  

In this case, the aesthetics turned out great. We color-matched, blended it in with the structure, and it looked more like exterior trim than a wire channel. If we’re going to use wiremold, this is how we feel it should be done.

Poolside Sound

As time went by, this client called again—this time with a pool project in full swing. The patio subwoofer needed to move, and we needed to extend the sound out to the landscaping area.

So once construction wrapped up, we relocated the sub from the patio area to the far side of the pool, added two more outdoor speakers, and trenched the cabling to make it all disappear underground. Now he’s got full coverage from the terrace to the pool deck—and one killer outdoor system which blends clean design with amazing sound.

Equipment List

Living Room System (First Project):

• TV
  
• 5.2 Surround Sound System- Yamaha RX-A6 surround sound receiver
  
• Dual Subwoofers- SpeakerCraft HRSi10’s
  
  

Outdoor Terrace (Second Project):

• Samsung Terrace TV
  
• SpeakerCraft BoomTomb 12” Burial Subwoofer
  
• Pair of SpeakerCraft Outdoor Element OE8.3 Outdoor Speakers
  
• Crown CDI 2/600 2 channel Amplifier with DSP (Digital Sound Processing) to tailor the sound correctly
  
• Wire Mold to conceal the speaker wires
  
  

Pool Expansion (Third Project):

• Subwoofer Relocation
  
• Two Additional SpeakerCraft SC-OG-6 6” Outdoor Landscape-style Speakers
• Trenched Audio Wiring along with rocks below the subwoofer to aid in drainage
• Important- Gel-filled wire nuts to prevent corrosion on the wire connections from the elements

This is the kind of relationship I love—helping someone build their entertainment system piece by piece, knowing each phase gets better than the last.

Need help bringing your backyard to life with sound? Let’s talk.