Smart Home Lifestyle

April 28, 2007

Liven up your backyard barbecues by adding hot outdoor electronics

You know spring has finally sprung when half-price chocolate bunnies line grocery store shelves, Claratin sales climb through the roof and pork and beans suddenly sounds appealing.  With summer right around the corner, there’s no better time to start thinking about which hi-tech toys will help make outdoor grilling much more sizzling.

Backyard “drive-in”

Want to watch your favorite stars under the stars?  Check out Frontgate’s (www.frontgate.com) outdoor home theater kit.  This all-in-one kit has a front projector, DVD player, speakers and a blow-up screen for ultimate portability.  Simply inflate the screen with the high-speed air pump, and in about five minutes, you’re ready to go.

The white vinyl 8’ or 12’ screens are both 5’ deep and offer a 16x9 widescreen for your favorite high definition movies.  The projector is an Epson Movie Mate, and the speakers come with 30’ audio cables for maneuverability.  And for those windy nights, the kit includes a ground sheet, stabilizing nylon rope tie downs and ground stakes. 

What about drawbacks?  Like any front projector, the darker the space, the better the picture.  So, plan on making it a movie night, not a movie day. 

Kits range from $2499 to $2999 depending on screen size.

Rain or Shine

Prefer a TV that’s a fixed feature in your backyard?  SunBrite makes an all-weather outdoor LCD that won’t have to be brought in out of the cold.

“SunBriteTV has terrific outdoor applications,” said Tom Weaver, engineer and founder of SunBriteTV.  “Our users can enjoy their favorite programs or videos while sitting in the spa, they can watch sporting events while barbecuing, and its ideal for entertaining guests.”

SunBriteTV is designed for permanent outdoor use, and withstands extreme temperatures, rain, insects and dust.  Its conformal coating on the internal electronics gives extra protection against humidity-related corrosion damage.

SunBriteTV offers two versions, a 23” costing $2295 and a 32” at $3695.  Both TVs are HDTV-compatible with an HDMI interface. 

Both units are protected from rain, dirt, and debris by a low-glare, impact- and scratch-resistant window built into the enclosure.  The remote controls are also sealed against rain and moisture.

Heard not seen

Thanks to abundant outdoor speaker choices, great sound no longer has to overcome the great look of your landscape.  Do you own a colonial by the lake?  A clean crisp white blends right in.  How about a rustic log cabin?  Black’s your best bet.  By coordinating speaker colors to trim work and home styles, the music is noticed- not the speakers.

For a simple solution, Niles and Jamo both offer outdoor rectangular speakers that mount under rooflines.  For this option, expect to pay at least $240 a pair for an entry-level speaker that provides entry-level sound quality.

For a formal look, check out Madison Fielding’s bench or pedestal speakers.  These neoclassical styles fit nicely in the most elegant gardens while offering the functionality of hidden speakers.  The flagstone subwoofer pedestal speaker runs around $800 and the bench around $1000.

Madison Fielding also offers creative solutions with waterproof iron and terra cotta planter speakers.  Ranging between $500 and $1200 a pair, these speakers let you plant real or artificial plants in the pots- a perfect solution to dress up any deck. 

And, for a natural look, rock speakers disappear into the scenery. Niles rock speakers range from about $210 to $460 each and come in granite, coral or sandstone finishes to compliment ponds or walkways.

Author: Diana Kostigen, Marketing/Public Relations Director, Comtec