Outdoor audio isn't a thing we cover often here at Home Theater Review, but it's a category whose popularity has positively exploded in the past few years, as more and more people seek to make their backyards an extension of their homes. The problem with outdoor audio solutions--and the reason you'll rarely see them covered on these pages--is that many of them leave a lot to be desired in terms of audio quality. Attaining the same smooth, seamless performance you might be accustomed to with your indoor distributed audio system isn't quite so easy outdoors. Coverage tends to be spotty--way too loud in spots and far too quiet in others. And if you do manage to fill your yard with decent sound, chances are good that it's going to drive your neighbors bananas.

All of these problems are ones that Triad Speakers and Control4 sought to combat with their first joint release since the latter acquired the former earlier this year. The new Triad Garden Array system is comprised of two components: the $300 GA4 SAT speaker, which features a 4.5-inch Ultra-Broad Dispersion driver and a surprising 150 degrees of even dispersion; and the $1,000 GA10 SUB subwoofer, which is designed to be used above-ground (via its optional $40 foot kit) or buried below ground (when combined with the optional $300 underground kit).

One of the neat benefits of the GA4 SAT is that it can be switched between 70v/100v operation, for series wiring in jobs that require a good number speakers, and eight-ohm operation, for smaller yards or for outdoor home theater applications where you might just want to power the speakers with a standard amp or AV receiver.

For more details, check out the full press release below.

From Control4
Control4 Corporation announces the availability of the new Triad Garden Array outdoor speakers, a family of all-weather, landscape speakers that include a best-in-class satellite speaker (GA4 SAT) and subwoofer (GA10 SUB) designed to be placed throughout flower beds or around the yard to blanket outdoor spaces with rich, beautiful audio.

Today, homeowners want the same entertainment experience for their outdoor living space that they're accustomed to inside of the home. With Control4 and the new Triad Garden Array, homeowners can listen to and control their favorite game, toggle to their favorite playlist, and pump up the volume or quickly mute the audio, all from the backyard. The outdoor entertainment experience becomes as simple, seamless and rich as it is indoors.

Each of the GA4 SAT speakers includes a Triad-exclusive 4.5-inch Ultra-Broad Dispersion (UBD) driver. This broad sound coverage is rare in today's landscape speakers and increases flexibility in speaker placement and greatly improves the listening experience. Through a 150-degree field of coverage, the GA4 SAT delivers a more even sound, minimizing areas where the music is too soft or too loud as the listener moves between speakers.

"Traditional outdoor speakers are often mounted on the eaves of the house to direct music into the yard, patio, deck or pool," said Paul Williams, VP of Product Management for Control4. "To fill the space with music you have to turn it up, making the music too loud for those near the speakers (and even for the neighbors). The Triad Garden Array speakers are designed to be spread throughout the yard and enjoyed without needing to crank them up."

Purposefully built for the great outdoors, Garden Array speakers feature a durable all-weather exterior to withstand hot or cold, rain and snow, dry or humid conditions; the sealed enclosure resists dust, bugs, and critters. With a high-end, low-profile design, the GA4 SAT is shaped to resemble landscape lighting and blend into flower beds and gardens.

"The Garden Array was thoughtfully designed to complement discerning architectural landscapes without compromising sound quality," said Williams. "Meeting the growing appetite for audio entertainment among homeowners, the Garden Array expands the Triad family from home theater, family room, and multi-room solutions to outdoor spaces with an innovative product family that brings the high-performance audio heritage of Triad throughout the property."

The Triad GA10 Subwoofer is engineered to produce full, dynamic bass that reaches deep, precise notes and can be installed freestanding or concealed underground. The sub has been uniquely designed to be buried in the yard using Triad's optional underground kit, which only shows its discrete, acoustically ideal small mushroom port above ground, or it can be installed on a porch or deck as a free-standing, down-firing subwoofer using the optional foot kit. Powered by the Triad RackAmp 300 dedicated amplifier, the GA10's high-performance 10-inch driver provides full, deep bass exactly where you want it.

Scalable, Flexible, and Wildly Simple
The Garden Array is scalable for every outdoor space. By including additional satellite speakers and subwoofers, a single system can size for a small patio or an estate garden. Incredibly versatile, the GA4 SAT can be staked into the lawn or garden, mounted on walls or trees, or installed on decks or eaves. Attached to the mounting post via a sophisticated spherical knuckle, the GA4 SAT can maintain a full range of motion for those less-than-optimal but real-world locations. The GA4 SAT comes with 18-inch mounting posts, ground stakes, and silicone wire nuts, while a standard 3/4-inch conduit makes installation and maintenance simple and convenient with a variety of off-the-shelf landscape components. The GA4 SAT is compatible with 8-ohm, 70-volt or 100-volt systems.

Available Now
The Triad Garden Array series is available now in both the U.S. and internationally through Control4 and Triad dealers worldwide. The GA4 SAT is available for $300 US MSRP each. The GA4 SAT is also packaged as a set of 8 for easy ordering. The GA10 Sub is available for $1,000 US MSRP each. The GA10 Sub Underground Kit is $300 US MSRP, while the GA10 Sub Foot Kit is $40 US MSRP. The system comes with a 3-year warranty.

Additional Resources
• Visit the Control4 website for more information.
• Control4 Purchases Triad Speakers at HomeTheaterReview.com.