Bring Your Music Outside

Bring life to your patio or deck by installing outdoor speakers.

August 01, 2016

Want to spice up your summer? Here’s a step-by-step guide for installing outdoor speakers and bringing your music outside. (Skill Level: Intermediate.)

Before you start, make sure you have what you need:

Parts Checklist
Products
[1] 3000 Series Outdoor Speakers (Pair) (MS3523-WH)
[1] In-Wall Speaker Volume Control (AU0100-WHLA-V1)
[1] Universal Dual Speaker Strap (F9005-WH)
[2] Banana Plugs, Gold (Pair) (WP3483-01)
[2] 1-Gang Retrofit Low Voltage Bracket (AC1009-01)

Tools You'll Need
Drywall Saw
Electric Drill
Screwdriver
Wire Cutters
Tape Measure
Level
Fish Tape
Marker
Ladder
Stud Finder
Cable Stripper
Sealant
16/4 Speaker Cable

1. Determine locations for speakers and accessories.

Each evōQ 3000 Outdoor Speaker should be located in an area that is not directly subject to rain or snow, such as under a patio roof or house eave. Each volume control should be located at light switch height on an inside wall to avoid the insulation typically found in outside walls. The 4-Port Wall Plate typically would be located at outlet height on an inside wall behind or near your audio equipment. It should not be mounted in a firewall.

2. Drill access holes and cut mounting holes.

For each outside speaker, drill a ¼” speaker wire access hole through an outside wall at or near each location. Be careful not to drill through the inside wall. If mounting the speaker on the outside wall, secure the speaker bracket (either horizontally or vertically) over the access hole using hardware suitable for your wall material. For the volume control and the 4-Port Wall Plate, draw a rectangle (2 ¼” wide by 3 ¾” high) at your marked locations and cut the drywall. Insert an outlet bracket into each hole and use a screwdriver to secure the brackets with the flip out wings.

3. Run wires through the wall and ceiling.

Feed all wires down from the attic through holes drilled in the wall top studs to the volume control location and 4-Port Wall Plate location using the following configuration:

Run a single 16/4 speaker wire from the 4-Port Wall Plate location to the volume control location.
Next, run a single 16/2 speaker wire from the volume control location to each speaker location.
After feeding the 16/2 wire through the outside wall to the outside speaker location, apply a bead of sealant in the outside wall access hole.
Once run, cut all the wires to an estimated finish length.

4. Connect wires to speakers.

Strip approximately 3/8” of insulation from each speaker wire conductor.
Connect the 16/2 speaker wires to the black and red twist-style terminals on each speaker.
Mount the speakers on the brackets you previously installed. For maximum sound output, make sure you wire your speakers “in phase” by running the conductor from the “+” on the volume control to the red terminal on each speaker.

5. Connect wires to volume control.

Pull the 16/4 speaker wire from the 4-Port Wall Plate through the volume control bracket.
Strip approximately ¼” of insulation from each conductor and connect them to the appropriate input screw terminals on the back of the volume control. Keep conductors in phase.
Strip approximately ¼” of insulation from each conductor and connect them to the appropriate output screw terminals on the back of the volume control.
Mount the volume control in the bracket and attach the wall plate cover.

6. Connect wires to the wall plate and audio gear.

At the 4-Port Wall Plate location, pull the 16/4 wire from the volume control through the outlet bracket.
Strip approximately ¼” of insulation from each conductor and connect to the appropriate screw terminal on the back of the four speaker binding posts.
Insert the speaker binding posts in the 4-Port Wall Plate, mount in the outlet bracket and attach the wall plate cover.
Run 16/4 speaker wire from the left and right speaker connections on the back of your receiver/amplifier to the 4-Port Wall Plate.
Strip approximately ¼” of insulation from each conductor and insert into the screw terminals of the speaker wire plugs and then insert the speaker wire plugs into the front of the 4-Port Wall Plate.