Can I Set Up a TV & Speakers Outside?

Everything You Need to Know About Outdoor TVs & Speakers

Taking your entertainment outdoors is one of the best upgrades you can make to your home — but it's not as simple as carrying your living room TV onto the patio. Outdoor AV equipment needs to handle rain, humidity, temperature swings, UV exposure, and insects, all while delivering a picture you can actually see in daylight and sound that doesn't disappear into open air.

The biggest challenge with outdoor TVs is brightness. A standard indoor TV puts out 300–600 nits — fine for a dim living room, but nearly invisible in direct sunlight. Purpose-built outdoor TVs from brands like SunBrite, Samsung (The Terrace), and Furrion deliver 1,500 to 3,000+ nits, making them visible even in full sun. If your space is shaded or you only watch at night, you can save money with a regular TV in a weatherproof enclosure or an outdoor projector setup.

For outdoor audio, the key spec is IP rating — a measure of how well a speaker resists dust and water. IP65 means the speaker is fully dust-tight and can handle water jets, making it suitable for exposed areas and pool decks. Rock speakers and landscape speakers are designed to blend into your yard while delivering surprisingly good sound. For covered patios, pendant speakers or mounted box speakers work well.

Don't overlook the electrical side: every outdoor AV installation needs GFCI-protected outlets, weatherproof in-use covers, and outdoor-rated surge protection. If you're running new circuits, hire a licensed electrician — outdoor electrical work has strict code requirements for safety.