Sorry for the long-winded post but after hours of research I thought I’d just ask. I’m completely new to audio systems but have learned a bit and just wanted to get some expert opinions. I’m having a free-standing aluminum covered pergola built that will have wifi and power that is right next to a pool. I don’t want to run underground conduit so this will be a standalone system built for outdoors (for the most part). I’ll have a tv outside and some speakers (I’m looking at 2 or 4 of the Atrium 5’s. Possibly 2 Atrium 5’s pointing towards the pool and 2 under the pergola, OR 2 of the 5’s and an Atrium 8 under the pergola running off the same system, if that’s possible?) I also want to add a speaker switch so that I can have the “front speakers” (aimed at the pool) separate from the “back speakers” aimed towards the center of the pergola. I don’t want anything loud as we aren’t throwing loud parties but something that is comfortable for people under the pergola, as well as out in the pool. (Thinking of having football games on while people are hanging out in the pool and the tv audio playing through the speakers, but also the functionality of friends connecting via Bluetooth to play music through the speakers). I also want to be able to disconnect the amp to bring indoors if needed but was going to use a waterproof box to house the equipment when it’s in use). Budget is less than or around 1k, based on what I’m thinking with the following components.
After research, I’m thinking of utilizing a Wiim Amp (for the airplay functionality, in case friends want to connect to the system and play music). So I’d have the tv with ARC HDMI cable connected to the Wiim Amp and then either 4 Atrium 5’s connected to it in parallel (so a pair is facing the pool, and the other pair is inside the pergola) or 2 Atrium 5’s and 1 Atrium 8 (the 5’s would face towards the pool, and the 8 would be in the back center of the pergola). The switch would either play the 5’s in front or the 5’s in back, or both (or the 5’s in front, or 8 in back, or both). The reason I want the switch is to be able to kind of stay quiet under the pergola if its just a few people, or if I want to play the 5’s out towards the pool).
If this isn’t enough power for an outdoor system then I was thinking of adding the Fosi bt20a pro with 48v 5a supply after the Wiim Amp to boost it (would this even provide more power?) and running whatever speaker combination I lised above in parallel. Another option is adding the Fosi HT4S instead of the BT20A pro but seems like it would be less power? Finally, could I run the Atrium 5’s in the front and an 8 in the back utilizing this method? Are there better alternatives to this setup? It doesn’t need to the be nicest sounding system, but something that’s functional for my case.
After research, I’m thinking of utilizing a Wiim Amp (for the airplay functionality, in case friends want to connect to the system and play music). So I’d have the tv with ARC HDMI cable connected to the Wiim Amp and then either 4 Atrium 5’s connected to it in parallel (so a pair is facing the pool, and the other pair is inside the pergola) or 2 Atrium 5’s and 1 Atrium 8 (the 5’s would face towards the pool, and the 8 would be in the back center of the pergola). The switch would either play the 5’s in front or the 5’s in back, or both (or the 5’s in front, or 8 in back, or both). The reason I want the switch is to be able to kind of stay quiet under the pergola if its just a few people, or if I want to play the 5’s out towards the pool).
If this isn’t enough power for an outdoor system then I was thinking of adding the Fosi bt20a pro with 48v 5a supply after the Wiim Amp to boost it (would this even provide more power?) and running whatever speaker combination I lised above in parallel. Another option is adding the Fosi HT4S instead of the BT20A pro but seems like it would be less power? Finally, could I run the Atrium 5’s in the front and an 8 in the back utilizing this method? Are there better alternatives to this setup? It doesn’t need to the be nicest sounding system, but something that’s functional for my case.
