Hey all. A client wants me to put ceiling speakers in the soffit of his covered porch. I’m in Ontario so summers are hot with high humidity and winters are down right offensive.

I’m using Beale Street Audio inside. These have enclosures (ported), aluminium tweeters, poly or carbon woofers and rubber surrounds. All elements we see in “outdoor” speakers. I see in the descriptions of other speakers of similar construction that they are perfect for high humidity environments like bathrooms and covered porches.

So my question is, am I inviting disaster by using these out in his covered porch? Should I seek an actual outdoor ceiling speaker?

What have you done?

Thanks.

Craig.

I guess one question that needs to be asked is: "Will they be used during Winter?". Some handle it, some don't but the spec sheet should show the acceptable operating temperature range or maybe a call to tech support is needed. Butyl rubber surrounds definitely handle more abuse and last longer than foam, so that would be the first thing I look for. If they won't be in direct sunlight, I'm not sure the temperature will be an issue and if they will be, make sure to manage the clients' expectations for lifespan.

I try to avoid exposure to direct sunlight except in early Spring or late Fall and if it's unavoidable, I try to avoid exposing the face with the drivers to sunlight. For the rest of the year, they're left in place- I don't remember seeing any instructions to remove these during the worst weather.

Just wanted to mention that the grill is important as well. Most indoor speakers grills will rust over time if left in an environment with humidity. Do you know what the Beale street grills are made of?

[Link: sonance.com]

Thanks for that. I’ll look into those.

I’ll have to ask if they will be used in the winter but I doubt it. The surrounds are Butyl rubber. They will not be exposed to direct sun or weather. Nothing in the specs about an operating temperature range. I’ll look into getting more info from the manufacturer.

Thanks for your reply.

Indeed, I’m a big fan of aluminum grills for bathrooms and such. These speakers have magnetic grills and the specs don’t mention the material but I’m guessing it’s ferrous so rust could be an issue. My plan was to clear coat them with Plastikote after painting. I have a steel grilled speaker in my en-suite that I did this to and it’s been fine for years.

[Link: plastikote.ca]

Thanks for your reply.

We are in eastern Ontario. Use monitor audio in-ceilings. Never a problem outdoors during the winter or summer. Any model

Anything about them that makes them a specific outdoor speaker or just the usual types of robust materials?

FWIW, I try not to use any products outside of their specified use unless a product engineer (not sales person) at the manufacturer says it’s OK and explains why. You just don’t know what you don’t know. Heck, there could be a glue used on the crossover circuit that won’t fare well in cold/damp environments.

I’ve broken from this practice a few times. Sometimes I’ve gotten away with it and other times I haven’t. Indeed, I’ve run into rusting on magnetic grills.

The one thing I know for certain is that I sleep better when I adhere to the practice than when I don’t.

Did anyone get a chuckle when he said “summers are hot and humid” you’re in Canada bud! 😋

Winters just seem awful.

Origin sucks, but you can order an outdoor grill for their ceiling speakers, otherwise they are all “weather resistant”

Hey for the record I grew up outside of Vancouver. No humidity. 23c in the summer. The odd bit of snowfall in the Winter. Mountain biking at the bottom of the mountain in the morning. Skiing at the top in the afternoon.

It’s when I moved to Toronto that I learned about 40c with 95% humidity and being able to chew the summer air, and Winter where you face just hurts and you don’t see your neighbour for 5 months, and when you finally do their kids have grown! The first winter I was here the military had to come help with the snow!

The 4 weeks in October and June are nice.
Why did I move here?

Also Toronto is farther south than like 30% of the US so certainly everyone in Montana the Dakotas, Minnesota and Michigan etc feel like I do.

Probably not a bad policy, haha.

But you have so many Curling clubs!

Ahhhhh yes well there is that. Would you believe that I’ve never curled? I know I’m a bad Canadian. I did get drunk and slip on curling ice once. I think that counts. After all that’s pretty much what curling is, except that while you are drunk and slipping you push a stone.