need help with outdoor system

I have only seen these in the store, but they are an interesting option. We have stereo speakers by out hot tube, run from the main system indoors. But we actually run a mono signal to them because it is hard to get them to "image" correctly for everyone in the hot tube. This Brookstone unit is omni directional which is nice outdoors. It is not sophisticated sound, but seems like an interesting option. Just plug in your iPad to its dock and go. It can run on AC power or batteries. And it is very portable, so you move it to the deck when not in the hot tube or wherever else you might want to use it. It is wireless which is good, but also means you may get occasional static, but it seems like a very simple and versatile solution.

Brookstone Wireless Speaker and Dock

First, where is the hot tube? Is it just on the deck attached to the house or is it separated from the house? How easy would it be to get wires to it?

Sounds like you just want a pair of speakers by the hot tube with Jremote to control the source. That is pretty straightforward. The most reliable way to do that, imho, is the old fashion way - run wires from zone 2 of your receiver or from a separate amp. There are plenty of outdoor speakers that will work in that setup and you can just use your iPad as a remote to your existing system.

If that is out because you do not want to run wires, then you need a wireless speaker setup, which also means you probably want AC power available to drive the speakers. Battery powered speakers in the snow in winter is probably not a good idea. Your choices of wireless speakers is also more limited.

If you can narrow it down to wired or wireless that will help the decision.

A wired solution will let you easily change speakers over time. The wireless system typically requires you to replace everything if you want to change the system.

I have had an inexpensive pair of outdoor speakers (Cambridge Soundworks) by my hot tube for over ten years with no problem. Def tech or even Bose will stand up pretty well over time. Mine are out all year round in Massachusetts and the only problem I have is if they fill up with snow. I have to take the grill off and remove the snow, otherwise the sound is not all that good :) I use an outdoor volume control, since they went in before wireless control was available. I also have speakers on my deck, so we can listen to the same thing on the deck and at the hot tube, which is pretty well separated from the deck, back in the woods. Honestly, I think that is the simplest long term solution. The wiring is a bit of a pain, but once done, you should never have to worry about it. I ran 12 gauge in ground low voltage wire in PVC out to the hot tube. Depending on where the hot tube is, you can even just mount the speakers on the house and aim them at the hot tube. Yes, you have to punch a hole in the house somewhere, but that is usually not a big deal depending on construction of the house. The bigger problem may be getting the wires from the receiver to the outside wall, again depending on construction. Obviously, I would suggest a wired system.

So, first I think you need to decide if a wired system is possible or not. If so, I think it will be the most reliable. If not, then just say so and see what you get for recommendations on wireless outdoor speakers, driven from your existing inside system.

If you want to go wireless, do you have a weather tight structure nearby with power to house a wireless receiver or is the setup fully exposed? If the weather is cold in the winter, I am not sure you want any significant wireless electronics, like Sonus, in an unheated structure.

Just some things to think about.

Here is another somewhat different solution. Bluetooth speakers have become pretty popular and can be pretty decent these days. You can use Jremote to access your files from inside to play on the iPad, hopefully using your wifi connection, or you can use files stored on the iPad, and send the audio to a bluetooth speaker. That means you have to carry the bluetooth speaker outdoors with you when you go to the hottube, but it really is pretty easy. We use one, for example, with our phone when in the car on long trips, since our phone does not easily connect to our car audio. And it works great in hotel rooms. You can get both battery powered or AC powered speakers.

I am surprised how often I go to people's homes and they have bluetooth speakers and I can just pair my phone to it and play the music on my phone. You can even put a bluetooth USB option on your PC and beam it to your outdoor speaker, depending on distance.

Hey, I am an old guy and even us old folks are doing this :)

Just another option.

Is the Denon a DLNA device? If so, it may be possible to connect your JRiver system to it and control it with JRmmote. I would have to think about how to to do that, but it may be possible with Jriver.

Now about a simple PC laptop hooked to the Denon running JRiver and controlled by Jremote. The PC does not need to be fancy, just a simple laptop. You could have it directly access your files or run in client/server (TRemote) to your main JRIver system. You can use the headphone out or get a simple USB converter to to feed the Denon.

It may take a little thought, but I think there are several solutions, especially if the wife insists on it.

You can use 12 gauge wire to run 50 feet, no problem. I am running 100 feet to my hot tube. My wife insisted, and we made it work :)

Good luck. It is very doable.

DLNA is a protocol that lets one media system talk to another wirelessly. Many receivers have it, . JRiver can connect to a DLNA server. However, I am not sure that a DLNA server on your receiver (if it has that capbility) can then deliver the audio to zone 2, which usually requires an analog input. Check the specs ouf

You can get a separate USB DAC to connect a laptop to the Denon. Something like the HRT Streamer II is less than $200, assuming you have a laptop to run Jriver in the same area as the Denon. You could either load you music files onto the laptop or have JRiver access them wirelessly from their current location. You can run JRiver on multiple PCs with the same license. You can set up JRemote to access either PC using the network access keys of JRiver. I only suggest extending you JRiver system because you already have it installed and working and because it works well for me on multiple systems.

Can you run speaker wires from you existing JRIver setup? It might be just as easy to add a small amp to that setup to drive the outdoor speakers?

You can also use an outdoor volume control. Not as sexy as doing it on you iPad, but easy to do.