Outdoor Audio Help

AVNoob

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Joined
Jan 31, 2025
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9
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.
 
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.
Sounds like a neat project, but if I’m understanding you correctly, you have to be careful when hooking up multiple speakers to a single pair of speaker outputs. That may present a dangerous load to the amp. Someone else might want to chime in here regarding a better way of doing that.
 
Welcome.

See this re. two sets of speakers.

As for whether it'll be loud enough, I'd have thought so, but i guess only trying it out will tell for sure.
tbh, I don't understand how adding something like the fosi bt20 after the wiim amp will work - you're in speaker cable by then.
 
@Mr Ee That's where I got the idea of using 4 of the 8-ohm speakers with the Atrium 5's running in parallel, thank you for providing the reference. The Wiim amp can output through USB A out to RCA in to the bt20a pro and then amplify it to the speakers since the bt20a pro has more power? Basically just using the fosi as the amplifier instead of the Wiim.
 
@Mr Ee That's where I got the idea of using 4 of the 8-ohm speakers with the Atrium 5's running in parallel, thank you for providing the reference. The Wiim amp can output through USB A out to RCA in to the bt20a pro and then amplify it to the speakers since the bt20a pro has more power? Basically just using the fosi as the amplifier instead of the Wiim.
The only way to convert from USB Audio Out to RCA In is by using an External DAC. If you wish to employ the FOSI, you'd be better off to use a WiiM Ultra (but then you lose AirPlay - would ChromeCast suffice?).
The relationship between Output Power and Volume is not Linear - twice the power does NOT mean twice the volume. It takes 10x the power to double the volume. So, while the Fosi will drive the Atriums louder than the WiiM Amp, it will only be about 50% louder not 5x.
However, you shouldn't need to worry - I've a pair of 15 year old DUAL LU47W (similar spec to the Atrium 5) on a 350sf Deck that can bring it to near Dance Party levels with about 10 watts.
 
The only way to convert from USB Audio Out to RCA In is by using an External DAC. If you wish to employ the FOSI, you'd be better off to use a WiiM Ultra (but then you lose AirPlay - would ChromeCast suffice?).
The relationship between Output Power and Volume is not Linear - twice the power does NOT mean twice the volume. It takes 10x the power to double the volume. So, while the Fosi will drive the Atriums louder than the WiiM Amp, it will only be about 50% louder not 5x.
However, you shouldn't need to worry - I've a pair of 15 year old DUAL LU47W (similar spec to the Atrium 5) on a 350sf Deck that can bring it to near Dance Party levels with about 10 watts.
So is it not possible to use a USB to RCA adapter? Since the Wiim amp has a built in DAC would this be converting the signal back to analog then? Or am I seeing this the wrong way? What amp are you using to run your speakers?
 
The "USB to RCA adapter" is the DAC (Digital to Analog Converter).

The built in DAC is providing the signal to the built in amplifier that will drive your speakers.
 
The "USB to RCA adapter" is the DAC (Digital to Analog Converter).

The built in DAC is providing the signal to the built in amplifier that will drive your speakers.
Ahh got it, so then theoretically you could use the wiim amp -> usb to rca -> fosi dt20a pro for a bit more power?
 
I was just thinking if the wiim amp wasn't powerful enough then I can send it to the fosi for the extra boost, unless this is bad practice?
Yes. Then you need a DAC plus the extra amplifier. That is possible but as already suggest before, then better to get a WiiM pro and add an amplifier to the RCA (line) output.
 
Yes. Then you need a DAC plus the extra amplifier. That is possible but as already suggest before, then better to get a WiiM pro and add an amplifier to the RCA (line) output.
I thought about that as well but I would be giving up airplay with the wiim pro vs the amp which is why I was considering the amp, if the pro had it then I'd probably pick that solution.
 
I thought about that as well but I would be giving up airplay with the wiim pro vs the amp which is why I was considering the amp, if the pro had it then I'd probably pick that solution.
Both the pro and pro plus have airplay.
for analog out, imo get the pro plus over the pro.
 
Both the pro and pro plus have airplay.
for analog out, imo get the pro plus over the pro.
Ok so with that said would this option be a viable solution:

TV -> Wiim Pro Plus (via SPDIF In) -> Line Out (Left goes to Fosi V3 Mono & Right goes to Fosi V3 Mono) w/ pro plus output set in mono mode? In this case I think I'd need to find a switch with volume control.

As an aside, would it also be possible to run 2 speakers (e.g. Atrium 5's) off one V3 mono by wiring in parallel?
 
pro plus output set in mono mode
You could, but why? Do you specifically want each speaker to play both left and right audio?

In this case I think I'd need to find a switch with volume control.
Not sure I understand this. You could use the remote that comes with the pro plus, or phone / tablet.

would it also be possible to run 2 speakers (e.g. Atrium 5's) off one V3 mono by wiring in parallel?
I'd be surprised if the wiim amp can do this but the fosis can't, however probably best to get an official response from fosi?
 
You could, but why? Do you specifically want each speaker to play both left and right audio?


Not sure I understand this. You could use the remote that comes with the pro plus, or phone / tablet.


I'd be surprised if the wiim amp can do this but the fosis can't, however probably best to get an official response from fosi?

Sorry I should have prefaced it with why I was thinking mono mode. I was thinking mono would be a better solution to each speaker instead of having a surround sound effect or stereo. Regarding the switch, if I was to take the pro plus and output the left channel to mono and the right to mono, then there's no way to control the volume to each separately (as far as I know), so I would add a switch with volume control to be able to do that. If the wiim can run 4 speakers at 8 ohms in parallel for each channel, then the fosi with more power should be able to run 2 speakers at 8 ohms I would think?
 
Regarding the switch, if I was to take the pro plus and output the left channel to mono and the right to mono, then there's no way to control the volume to each separately (as far as I know), so I would add a switch with volume control to be able to do that.
So, you want to be able to play both mono channels at different volume? The balance control of the WiiM Pro Plus should still do exactly that, even if each channel delivers a monophonic signal.

the wiim can run 4 speakers at 8 ohms in parallel for each channel, then the fosi with more power should be able to run 2 speakers at 8 ohms I would think?
More power says nothing about how well an amplifier can drive low impedance loads.

Don't be fooled by speakers sold as being "nominally 8 ohm". Unfortunately, most of them dip a lot deeper at least in certain frequency regions. A speaker's impedance unfortunately isn't constant in real live. And it's also not like a resistor, it will act more like a capacitor or a coil depending on frequency and that makes an amplifier's life much harder.

The V3 Mono is reasonably stable into 2 ohms, including reactive loads, as confirmed by ASR:

There might be other amps to consider. The V3 Mono are running relatively hot, especially in idle mode.
 
So, you want to be able to play both mono channels at different volume? The balance control of the WiiM Pro Plus should still do exactly that, even if each channel delivers a monophonic signal.


More power says nothing about how well an amplifier can drive low impedance loads.

Don't be fooled by speakers sold as being "nominally 8 ohm". Unfortunately, most of them dip a lot deeper at least in certain frequency regions. A speaker's impedance unfortunately isn't constant in real live. And it's also not like a resistor, it will act more like a capacitor or a coil depending on frequency and that makes an amplifier's life much harder.

The V3 Mono is reasonably stable into 2 ohms, including reactive loads, as confirmed by ASR:

There might be other amps to consider. The V3 Mono are running relatively hot, especially in idle mode.

Thank you! I didn't realize you could still adjust the mono channels separately for different volumes. I really appreciate all the input!
 
Thank you! I didn't realize you could still adjust the mono channels separately for different volumes. I really appreciate all the input!
Well, as I said you will have to use the "Volume Balance" slider in Audio Settings. It still works as before even with the WiiM device playing in Mono mode.

WiiM Balance Slider.jpg
 
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