Getting the best outdoor sound requires a lot of time and effort on your behalf. We decided to make this guide to save time and make your life easier.
We’ll also teach you certain aspects you need to consider when shopping around for a speaker. Here are the three best Yamaha outdoor speakers that are currently available.
What to Look for in the Best [Yamaha Outdoor Speaker]
Sound Quality
When looking for speakers, experiment with different models with music you listen to. Bring your favorite music through your phone, flash drive, or CD when shopping so you can find what speakers appeal to you.
Listening to music is a good way to gauge the sound quality of your speakers. The music needs to sound natural when listening to it, be able to listen for long periods of time, and have a good tone quality.
Tip: Take your time! Sometimes you’ll have to listen to different music, testing the speakers multiple times, before you make a final decision. Doing this will allow you to find the best speaker that works for your audio preferences.
Room Dimensions and Acoustics
Not every speaker will work in all environments. Put simply, smaller speakers will work well for a bedroom but may sound pale or weak when in a living room. Larger speakers tend to overwhelm smaller spaces.
To solve this, measure the dimensions of your room and check for materials that can interfere with the audio. Sound can come from large furniture, exposed walls, even cushions can absorb sound.
Narrow spaces create an intimate feel, while vaulted ones create an open atmosphere.
Single-wired or Bi-wired?
Bi-wiring is when sound speakers have four terminals to connect your speaker cables. With a single set of cables, the frequencies will be propelled to the speaker.
If you bi-wire a set of cables, the amp will use the low/middle-frequency signals; your audio will have superior precision and purer sound.
If you want to connect your speaker with a single wire, they have a conductive link between the binding posts, so the music reaches each driver. In the future, a speaker with two connectors will remove the bi-wiring option.
When you’re entertaining at home, you’ll need speakers to utilize the space. The Yamaha NS-AW150W is an all-weather solution speaker that’s designed to stand up to the elements. Both speakers contain feet, which allows you to place them on a shelf or a table.
The speakers feature a wall-mount bracket that allows for vertical or horizontal placement. Each speaker consists of a 1/2″ dome tweeter and a 5” woofer, allowing you to fully experience your music from crystal-clear high notes to thumping bass.
Specifically, the 5” woofers are made of mica-filled polypropylene. They are used to handle the midbass and midrange frequencies, giving the sound more resonance. The PEI dome tweeters provide excellent frequency response, resulting in better outdoor sounds.
In comparison to competing speakers, the NS-AW150Ws have brackets that go across the width instead of the height. While it does not make a difference if you’re mounting them “sideways” or not, outdoor speakers should move laterally. This helps, so you point them to the optimal center of the listening area.
The NS-AW150Ws are lightweight and compact, weighing in at 3.7 lbs. Based on the dimensions, each speaker is 5-3/16″W x 10″H x 6″D. Since they are under a foot tall, these portable speakers can be used in any sound setup.
With a 35-watt power rating, these speakers will be loud enough for medium-sized outdoor areas. It has a good frequency response of 55-40k Hz. This creates a clear sound without hearing any flat frequencies out of the speaker.
Additionally, it consists of a wide dispersion pattern. This means that you’ll have good sound quality in listening areas up to 400 feet. Place the speakers between 6-10 feet apart to be heard throughout the outdoor environment.
It includes 5-Way binding posts that connect to the speaker wire. The terminals are compatible with banana plugs (dual or single), pin-connectors, bare wire (12 AWG max), and spade-connectors. So, you’ll have no difficulty plugging the speaker into the required sound system.
For added protection, the Yamaha NS-AW150 features a weather-resistant enclosure. This keeps the speaker protected from outdoor elements when mounted on your patio, deck, or porch. It also includes an aluminum grille and weatherproof binding-post speaker terminals to keep the device safe while outdoors. Overall, this set of Yamaha outdoor speakers will fit great for your next outdoor event!
The Yamaha NS-AW150BL has the same features as the NS-AW150W but with a black speaker design. They offer more power than competing brands, with a 150-watt max power capability. This is impressive because it gives you excellent quality as you increase the volume levels.
They are another pair of 2-way speakers that are built to withstand the weather. It features a magnetic shield and water resistance to prevent rain from interfering with the sound. This increases the longevity of the speakers and protects them from water damage.
Additionally, it does a good job with its enclosures. Through acoustic suspension cabinets, the speakers are weatherproof and can withstand dirt and dust. This can be difficult for other speakers, such as when dirt or dust gets inside and reduces the sound quality by coating or covering the speaker cone.
It has the ability to cover a wide frequency spectrum ranging from 80 – 40,000 Hz. This means the music will have a balanced sound while not missing out on the highs and lows. Some speakers don’t have a cable to cover such a broad range, so it gives the AW150BL an advantage in comparison to bookshelf speakers.
While the Yamaha NS-AW150BL aren’t the heaviest speakers around, they can be mounted with ease. That means you won’t have to worry about the speakers falling and becoming damaged. You can carry it outside with no problem due to its lightweight size.
The PEI Dome tweeter and the microphone woofers have an acoustic suspension design for evenly dispersed audio and bass enhancement. With a sound sensitivity of 80 dB, you’ll need a 35W-120W amplifier to use them. You’ll find the best sound watts between the 80-100W range.
Additionally, there is a wall mounting bracket that comes with this device. It lets you mount it vertically or horizontally, giving you more options to get the most out of your speaker. That way, you’ll have optimal sound results once the music is played.
Overall, the Yamaha NS-AW150BL is an excellent pair of outdoor speakers. It can produce high-quality sound based on its size. Since they are easy to mount, these speakers can be used in any environment, making them a great choice for music aficionados.
The Yamaha NS-AW350W is a larger version than its AW150W counterparts. Each speaker has a 1″ polyetherimide dome tweeter and a 6.5″ woofer to create full-range audio. This is an excellent choice if you want a larger speaker that’s effective outside.
It includes a wall bracket that can be mounted to a wall or ceiling or placed on a bookshelf or tabletop, either outdoors or indoors. You can place the speakers horizontally or vertically, giving you multiple options to create an audio environment.
The difference between the Yamaha NS-AW350W and the AW150 model is its size. The NS-AW350W comes in a larger size weighing in at 6.4 pounds. It also has 7.1 x 13.5 x 8.2 dimensions, which means it is portable but not too flimsy.
The weatherproof design is what makes this speaker stand apart. The Yamaha NS-AW350W has a soundproofing and waterproofing feature that allows the speakers to work in all elements. Get this pair of Yamaha outdoor speakers if you’re willing to kick your outdoor entertainment up a notch.
Additionally, there is a 55 Hz to 440 kHz frequency response. This helps remove the flat frequencies that will damage the sound result. With its magnetic shielding, you can place the speakers near TVs, radios, and other equipment.
There is a 130 maximum watt input, giving the NS-AW350W more power than other brands. This gives it the ability to be played in higher volumes, resulting in better sound performance. Get this speaker if you want to enhance the sound in your indoor or outdoor environment.
With an 87 dB sensitivity, you can ensure that this speaker will be heard. With its 2-way speaker configuration, you’ll have multiple speakers to play your favorite shows and music. Thus, making it a great speaker if soundness and utility are what you’re looking for.
This Yamaha outdoor speaker has 6 ohms of impedance. Because of this, the speakers will extract more power than 8-ohm speakers. With its 5-way binding post pair, you’ll have multiple ways to connect your speaker to its appropriate sound source.
FAQs About Yamaha Outdoor Speaker
What Power is Necessary?
It’s important to know what power your speaker will generate. That way, you can tune it to fit the audio environment you’re trying to create.
Recorded Music – Reggae or drum and bass will need 2,000 watts for each 1,000 top/mid are good for 1,000 people in a room. However, you’ll need twice the power outside since there are no walls to reflect the sound.
Live band – For live events, you’ll need approximately 1,500 watts of power. For folk music, the speaker power can be as low as 60 watts. A jazz or pop group will need around 250-750 watts.
How Many Speakers Should I Use?
This depends on the speaker impedance and the amplifiers. When pairing your speakers, make sure you match the ohm rating. Depending on if you wire multiple speakers in parallel or series affects these requirements.
Wiring a system series will increase the impedance by combining the ohms to create more resistance. For example, adding two 8 ohm speakers will have a total power of 16 ohms. If identical speakers have an impedance too low for the amp, you can use a series circuit to manage the impedance.
Wiring a parallel system will decrease the amount of resistance (ohms). A standard two-way speaker is measured at 8 ohms.
When two speakers are wired parallel, they will have a 4-ohm impedance, four will have 2 ohms, and three will have 2.67 ohms. While a smaller impedance rating means better electrical flow, some amps can’t use a 2-ohm load.
Active, Passive, or Powered?
The majority of speakers are passive. The amplifier generates the power to make it work, while the speakers direct the signal to separate drivers through a crossover.
These speakers give you more control over the tone through the top/midrange and the sub-bass independently. Passive speakers are more reliable and allow for multiple speakers to be added to its system.
Powered speakers have the signal amplified within the speaker cabinet, meaning that the speaker needs a separate main feed.
What is the difference between an ‘active’ and ‘powered’ speaker? Active speakers have each driver fed by an amplifier. Powered speakers have their amplifiers built-in. Active speakers are a good idea if you don’t have enough room to carry an amplifier.
Adding the amplifier might not please everyone and is a compromise, but they come loaded with great features like Bluetooth connectivity.
No matter the budget, these Yamaha outdoor speakers will make a huge difference in your audio quality. Try the Yamaha NS-AW150W or the Yamaha NS-AW150BL if you need a smaller yet practical pair of speakers.
Meanwhile, the Yamaha NS-AW350W is suited for people who want more power out of their speakers.
Is a musician and journalist with over 13 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands. Ray loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware.
