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Staycationers Transform Backyards with Outdoor Home Theaters Provided By: GREGORY|FCA  |
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In this second summer of recession, the staycation trend soldiers on. As an alternative to expensive travel, Americans are finding ways to enhance home base in ways that will help them enjoy their lifestyle like they never have before. One popular solution is to take home entertainment systems outdoors. Advancements in weatherproof technology can make the backyard movie theater a reality.
“We first saw outdoor home theaters experience a strong resurgence in 2008,” says David Berman, director of training for HTSA, the nation’s largest association of high-end home technology integrators and retailers. “It was a bright spot in an otherwise down market for high-end electronics and custom installations. In the past year we’ve seen manufacturers step up the quality and availability of their all-weather products and this summer homeowners will be firing up their outdoor projectors, weatherproofed flat panel TVs, and audio/video distribution and control systems that were installed over the winter.”
“The simplest way to add electronics to the backyard or patio is to install weatherproof speakers that are designed to blend into the landscape,” says Berman. “B&W, SpeakerCraft, and Klipsch offer speakers that sound a lot better than the ‘boom box’ alternative. Some outdoor speakers disguised as rocks, others double as planters, and some will mount under your eaves.”
To take it up a degree in luxury, add the video component. “Outfit an outdoor cabana or bar area with weatherproofed flat panel TVs,” says Berman. “Or you can install a large projector screen that rises out of the deck or a poolside bench when you want to show a movie under the stars.” Berman recommends Stewart Filmscreen when you want to do theater outdoors with no compromise. These options will really transform your outdoor space while doubling the ways you can enjoy it.
A technologically enhanced backyard doesn’t have to be exclusively for the affluent. For the do-it-yourselfers, there are ways to get that outdoor theater experience on a budget. It’s all about choosing the right mix of products and making sure they work as a system, not as individual components. Some off-the-shelf audio/video equipment from major manufacturers is well-suited for outdoor use right out of the box. Others will provide a less-than-ideal experience, or shorter lifespan, when operated outdoors. Here are some of the components HTSA members select when designing top-of-the-line outdoor cinemas.
· Outdoor Video Displays: Pantel has weatherproof LCD TVS from 20” to 65” diagonal. Stewart Filmscreen offers outdoor screen solutions from the conventional movie screen to StarGlas, a technology that encases a projection screen in glass and can replace windows.
· Weatherproof Audio: B&W, SpeakerCraft, and Klipsch all make great quality outdoor speakers.
· Weatherproof Control Devices: Control 4 and Universal Remote Control offer great options for outdoor control of audio, video, lighting, etc.
“Outdoor-ready entertainment systems are certainly one of the fastest growing sectors in the consumer electronics industry” says Berman, “and with prices falling, there’s no better time to invest in systems you’ll enjoy for years. Enlist the help of a specialist to make the best choices on products and systems for your budget and needs.” For more information about outdoor home electronics and to find an HTSA expert in your area, please visit www.htsa.com.
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