Summer may be winding down, but there's still plenty of time to enjoy outdoor activities with friends and family. One of the greatest summertime pleasures is setting up an outdoor home theater system in the backyard to watch your favorite flicks. Even with the temperature cooling down, there’s no reason you can’t extend your outdoor viewing into the fall.
To master an outdoor home theater, you need the right equipment matched with the right setup. Here's everything you need to know to bring the movies to your backyard.
Find the projector and screen that works for your budget
For obvious reasons, you can't just drag your 60” high-definition television out into your backyard. To host an outdoor movie marathon or binge-watching session, you’ll need a projector and screen. For visual quality on par with what you’d expect from your HD TV, pick a projector with at least 720p resolution.1080p is even better, if you can swing it.
Depending on your needs, you’ll have to choose between a front or rear projector. Front projectors are better suited for temporary setups, whereas rear projectors make more sense if you'll be watching movies in your backyard all year round.
There are a lot of available options when it comes to screens, ranging from curtains and bed sheets to blackout cloth and even dedicated projection screen paint. Higher-quality materials will yield better results, but you don't need to break the bank to enjoy a clear picture and crisp visuals. For the first time out, it may be better to forgo the pricey projection screens and set a baseline performance level to build upon.
Complete your outdoor home theater with wireless speakers
Picture quality is imperative, but don't overlook the impact of sound, particularly in an outdoor environment. Whether you're watching an adrenaline-pumping action movie or a rom-com full of witticisms, you want to be able to pick up every little detail in the soundtrack.
If you don't already have a permanent outdoor home theater setup, consider using wireless speakers to provide high-quality audio. The HEOS 1 portable wireless speaker is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, letting you enjoy superior audio fidelity wherever you go. It also includes humidity resistance features to prevent internal components from being damaged by the elements. With advanced Digital Signal Processing, custom EQ sound tailoring and Class D digital audio amplification, the HEOS 1 packs a lot of audio muscle into a relatively small package. And with the HEOS app, you can control playback without having to get up or wrestle with a remote in the dark.
To complete your outdoor home theater, remember to run each component through an AV receiver that supports the latest audio and visual formats.
Autumn will be here before you know it—so cozy up under a blanket and watch your favorite films under the stars. For the best wireless speakers available, check out the full line of HEOS equipment.
