- 2.1 satellite & woofer system
Covers an area up to 700 sq. ft. for comfortable listening. - 2-way 6-1/2″ satellite rock speakers
Along with 1″ tweeters for a complete range of sounds. - 10″ rock woofer
Delivers booming lows for an immersive soundscape. - Weather-resistant design
Enables worry-free installation outdoors. - 50Hz – 20kHz satellite frequency response, 35Hz – 150kHz woofer frequency response,
Ensures a wide range of accurately reproduced sound. - 89dB sensitivity
Ensures crisp, robust audio. - 8 ohms nominal impedance
Ensures efficient conduction of power through the speaker.
-68%
Sonance – MAGROCKS2.1 – Mag Series 2.1-Ch. Outdoor Rock Speaker System (Each) – Charcoal Gray Granite
$312.00 Save:$662.00(68%)
Available in stock
Description
Additional information
| Weight | 14 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14 × 11 × 10.5 in |
| Number Of Speakers | 3 |
| Product Depth | 14 inches |
| Number Of Tweeters Included | 2 |
| Color | Charcoal Gray Granite |
| Number Of Woofers Included | 1 |
| Sensitivity | 89 decibels |
| Tweeter Size | 1 inches |
| Wireless Multi-Room Audio | No |
| Enclosure Type | Sealed |
| Headphone Jack | No |
| Speaker Type | Landscape |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Labor | 1 year |
| Woofer Size | 10 inches |
| Maximum Frequency Response | 20 kilohertz |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Parts | 1 year |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Input(s) | Speaker |
| Product Weight | 14 pounds |
| Number of Drivers Included | 2 |
| Model Number | 93499 |
| Tweeter Material | Polyurethane |
| App Compatible | No |
| Minimum Frequency Response | 35 hertz |
| Driver Size | 6.5 inches |
| Speaker Wire Included | No |
| Driver Material | Polypropylene |
| Cable(s) Included | None |
| Speakerphone | No |
| Tweeter Type | Dome |
| Woofer Material | Polypropylene |
| Product Height | 10.5 inches |
| Indoor Or Outdoor Use | Outdoor |
| Wireless | No |
| ENERGY STAR Certified | No |
| Product Name | MAGROCKS2.1 – Mag Series 2.1-Ch. Outdoor Rock Speaker System (Each) |
| Peak Power Handling | 100 watts |
| Woofer Type | Cone |
| Brand | Sonance |
| Color Category | Gray |
| Product Width | 11 inches |
| UPC | 041093934995 |
Reviews (48)
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Grouticus –
In my opinion, the Sonance Mag Rock speaker package are designed for audiophiles, like myself, who appreciate music so much they must incorporate their obsession into the outdoors to enjoy premium sound. Right off the bat, let me say the box these came in is HUGE as it contained all three rock speakers and is not exactly lightweight. However, the weight of the speakers show Sonance did not skimp on the material used to build these speakers not including the time it took to design them and add the finishing paint touches to attempt to blend them in with the outdoor environment. One issue I did notice that I would like to mention is on the underneath of the rock speakers, they appeared to just use clear caulk to seal the speakers together as you will see in the pictures I provided, and it was applied in a not so discreet way. This was surprising to me considering the attention to detail in the rest of the speaker design and aesthetics.
The speakers are a simple plug-and-play set up however you will need a receiver/amplifier to power the speakers as they are not a standalone and need a power source. Simply put, you connect a left and right set of speaker wires from your power and sound source to the bottom of the larger passive 10” subwoofer rock. You will then use the included wire from each of the other left and right rock speakers to plug into the bottom of the subwoofer rock… and voilà, you are done.
After I set up the speakers where I decided would be the best option in our yard which is where we would usually congregate when entertaining company or relaxing on our own, I tested a few genres of music. The speakers can handle a relatively good amount of power. I am using Zone 3 off my main entertainment center receiver, rated at 105 watts per channel, to power them. The right and left speakers were relatively crisp with a good balance of mid and high range sounds with no distortion. One drawback to sound I immediately noticed, and was aware of prior to acquiring the set, is the 10” subwoofer rock is not powered which means you are not going to get that dedicated power you might expect from a powered sub with an amplifier and crossover built in. One benefit to this in an outdoor set up is you do not need a power source in that area but, as an audiophile, you do sacrifice sound. The built-in crossover located in the subwoofer rock still allowed for some highs to pass through the subwoofer. This was not too much of a distraction since, with my set up, the right and left speaker were not too far away. However, music may sound odd if you extend the included six feet of cable for each speaker to further than that as one area of your yard will have no mid or high range sound while the other two area will have no low-end bass.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality build of the rock speakers except for the caulking on the bottoms which you cannot see when they are in place. However, keep in mind, a lot of what you will hear really depends on the power you are providing to the speakers and quality of the receiver/amplifier you are using.
explore42 –
My previous outdoor speakers were mounted on my deck and provided good sound quality but most of it went to the neighbors due to where I had to mount them. These Sonance Magrocks allow me to place the speakers lower and closer to where we want the music to be heard. The addition of the woofer definitely is an improvement in the sound quality.
Pros: Good Build Quality, Visually Appealing, Overall Good Sound Quality
Cons: Spring Loaded Connector!
Build Quality: These speakers are solid and definitely carry some weight. The overall rock appearance helps the speakers become less noticeable in the yard. The bottom of the speaker where they are sealed was heavily caulked and because it is on the bottom none of it shows. They used clear caulk which I think will be easy to monitor and replace should it ever fail. The satellite speakers have a 1” tweeter and a 6 ½ “ mid-range/woofer. The woofer has a 10” woofer and utilizes a 150 hz low pass filter to derive its sound. Combined the speakers provide a 35 to 20khz response. The satellite speakers have a 6 foot wire permanently attached and these connect to the woofer. The woofer then attaches to your amplifier and uses high pass filters to supply the music to the satellites. The connector panel on the bottom of the woofer uses spring loaded connectors! I would have thought that speakers this expensive would have had banana connectors / 5 way binding post . I am not a fan of spring loaded connectors and would replace them if I could.
Setup: Because these speakers require a separate amplifier there is no requirement for electric near the speakers which is a plus if you are installing them around a pool like I am. There are three speakers, two satellites providing the left and right channels and a single woofer that sits in the center. You need to purchase and run outdoor speaker wire from your amplifier to the woofer. Then you connect the wiring that is already attached to each satellite to the woofer. There is a plate that covers the wiring connector underneath the woofer to keep things somewhat sealed from the outside.
Performance: I hooked the speakers up to a Yamaha receiver that provides 140 watts of power. The satellite speakers provide good mids and highs with clarity. I tried various favorite songs and they performed well without showing any distortion even at the higher volume levels. Because the Woofer plays the bass for both the left and right speaker it needs to be located in the center and not too far from either satellite. I noticed that when you move the satellites too far away from the woofer you start to notice the sound originating from the woofer which is not what you want to hear. When they are properly spaced per the installation specs, 6 to 12 feet apart the woofer seems to disappear and the sounds all seem to originate out of the satellites. I would highly recommend considering this when figuring out where to place the speakers. Originally I wanted to put the satellites at the ends of our wall with the woofer in the center but the sound quality suffered so I opted to move the speakers closer to the woofer. Second choice was in the small flower garden that is waiting for spring as shown in the photos.
LSNerd –
When the weather is nice, being on the patio or deck is more normal than being inside. With that we like to have music. I am not a snob when it comes to sound but want something that has a good range and doesn’t sound like you’re listening to it through a tin can. The Sonance Magrocks deliver! They produce very crisp and clear sound with nice upper range and good low range. It is important to note that you will hear the lows but unlike indoor speakers you probably won’t feel them like you would in a home theater setup. The caveat to that is that if you do turn it up you will but neighbors may not be happy. Once you get speaker wires run, depending on how far you’re running the wires I would recommend 16/4 or 14/4 since both channels will connect to the sub and the left and right channel speakers connect to the sub and are prewired. The only complaint, which is minor, is that the cables wired into the left and right speakers is only about 6 feet. I have mine sitting in the landscaping at the middle my patio and remarkably, no matter where I am on the patio, it still sounds great. The patio is 40 feet across and the sound is excellent even at the end to the patio. Overall, I couldn’t be more pleased with these speakers.
NAMO –
UNBOXING and INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Magrocks arrive in an extremely large shipping box weighing almost 80 pounds. My initial thoughts were there had to be a ton of padding and fluff to protect the speakers. Not so. While neatly packaged, the shipping weight is really from the speakers and not a ton of packing material. So far so good. Heavily weighted speakers are a must for outdoor use to keep planted during wind and storms.
The product itself has an attractive design with a pleasing gray color. Sonance took a great deal of effort in designing the overall shape, texture, and coloring of their product and it shows. Like other reviewers have stated, the only area that visually falls short of a quality product is the application of the clear silicone on the underside. While it is great to have them sealed on the bottom from the elements, the random application of silicone is less than pleasing aesthetically and does detract from an overall well designed and executed appearance.
Installation is quite simple. These are “unpowered” speakers, in that they rely solely on the power supplied to them from your source component. Sonance included a recommended wiring gauge chart in the instructions to help you pick the proper size wire for optimal performance. Like always, bigger is better, and I chose to use 14awg, 4 conductor wiring to power the speaker set. This single 4 conductor wire goes directly to the main 10” subwoofer. Inside the subwoofer is a high pass filter, fixed at 150Hz. Frequencies below 150Hz get routed to the sub, frequencies above get routed to the satellite speakers. Each satellite speaker includes approximately 6 feet of speaker wire and those wires go back and also hook up to the subwoofer.
That completes all the steps necessary for installation, aside from hooking your speaker wires to a source component. In my case, it was a spare home theater receiver that I was not using. Power ratings for the amps in the receiver are 120W x7 @ 20Hz to 20kHz, all channels driven. Those specs are important as my experience with the speakers is detailed below.
USE
After programming the receiver to power only the 2 stereo speakers and setting the speaker size to large, I was ready for some outdoor tunes!!!! I turned the volume way down and fired up my source components. I could not hear much. So, I slowly turned the receiver louder and louder, much louder than I usually need to operate it at and I finally got decent volume. Bass response was meh, at best and not worth writing home about. Hmmm, something seemed amiss.
Thinking my selection of wire size was limiting current flow, I pulled the speakers back in the house and tried a different set of speaker wires. This time, I used two 30-inch pieces of 12awg speaker wire. The results were the same. Bass response was blah and the speakers sounded harsh and unappealing.
Thankfully, I was able to mess with the Treble and Bass controls and it improved the sound considerably. Lowering the Treble setting down from 0 to negative 2, improved the high frequency response from the speakers. It eliminated the overly bright, harsh, and tinny sound from the speakers. With a little more time committed to EQ adjustments, the speakers now sound quite nice. The mid and high frequency drivers complement each other well. Sonance has nailed the crossover network inside the small speakers and transition between the drivers is smooth without feeling shallow or hollow. Excellent work.
One thing I was never able improve upon is the poor bass performance and overall lack of sensitivity of the entire system. The system is rated at an overall sensitivity of 89dB, which usually isn’t too horrible, but it kills this system. The system’s efficiency is not high enough to effectively utilize the power being supplied to it. After trying a couple different options, the best performance I got out of the system was with my older home theater receiver. It has 7 individual, Monoblock, high current amps, and a huge toroidal transformer. Even with all that power in reserve it does not provide enough current to wake up the subwoofer. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe the subwoofer just doesn’t have enough excursion to produce deep bass. I don’t know. But, what I do know, is this system leaves me wanting for more low end.
CONCLUSIONS
The product is attractively made and decorated. The speakers have a nice heft that will surely keep them planted during the roughest of days and weather. While someone seems to get paid by the amount of silicone they apply to the bottoms of the speakers, it does not detract from the overall aesthetics of the speakers, as the goop is hidden on the bottom.
With a little time and effort, I was able to coax a very pleasing sound from the smaller satellites. The satellite speakers have good clarity and offer a smooth transition between the drivers. Sonance did an excellent job on the satellite speaker array.
I wish the same could be said for the subwoofer. It just is not efficient enough to offer any real improvement to the overall package. Maybe I was just hoping for a fuller lower frequency sound stage and I set my initial expectations too high. That could very well be. I find the low frequency lacking and not nearly sufficient to do the satellite speakers justice, as they are the stars of this show.
I would look to a system that utilizes more efficient drivers or offers some sort of powered subwoofer option over this product. While the inclusion of a subwoofer sounds like a great idea, I do not feel it offers enough benefit to the overall package. It reminds me of the old saying: “It looks good on paper.”
callmeageeth –
I have a decent size backyard and am always dragging a bluetooth speaker out there whenever friends come over, or whenever I’m out doing yardwork. The Sonance outdoor speakers are a great addition to my yard as they sound terrific. They are borderline too loud. At full volume with the right receiver they can rock your neighbors. The main consideration when looking to purchase these is placement and how to power them. These aren’t “smart” speakers, so on the one hand, they don’t require an AC outlet (they’re powered by speaker wires), but that can complicate the installation depending on your setup. Luckily for me, someone who lived in my house before me installed speaker posts outside, so other than extending the speaker wires, I was all set. If that type of install is outside your wheelhouse, I do have some suggestions.
IN THE BOX
The box is gigantic and heavy. This is a testament to the quality and durability of the speakers. What’s inside are the two satellite speakers, the subwoofer, instruction manual and a plate that you screw onto the bottom of the subwoofer after you install the speaker wires to provide more protection from the environment.
THE LOOK AND BUILD QUALITY
These rock speakers look pretty good. I don’t think they’re going to fool anyone into thinking they’re actually rocks, but in terms of outdoor aesthetic, they can easily blend into your yard.
I haven’t had them long enough to go through a major rain or snow/ice storm, but they seem like they’ll hold up. The material is extremely durable and at virtually every seam where water might get in, Sonance has a thick layer of clear adhesive that acts as a sealant. So I can say for certain how well they’ll hold up, they look pretty promising based on looks/weight, etc. alone.
SETUP
Just speaking generally, the set up is easy. There are speaker wires coming out of each of the satellite speakers. They plug into the bottom of the sub (similar to plugging speaker wires into a receiver) in the output (either speaker can be the L or R channel). From there, you plug in the corresponding speaker wire from your receiver into the input channels underneath the sub.
What gets complicated, as I alluded to earlier, is the running wires from your receiver or other powered amp to the location of your speakers in your yard. You also have to keep in mind the length of speaker wires coming from each satellite speaker. My big knock on these speakers is that I think the speaker wires built into the satellite speakers aren’t long enough, essentially forcing you to keep the satellites close to the sub. Now, you can easily extend the length of the wires by buying outdoor rated speaker wires and splicing them together, but it would have been nice if the wires were longer out of the box.
So to have the cleanest look possible, you either need to have a covered porch with a receiver protected from the elements, or install what I have, and that is speaker binding posts on the outside wall. So I have a receiver in my living room and there are speaker binding posts on the wall. That binding post connects to the binding posts that is outside, installed in the outside wall of my house. I then have wires running from the receiver to the speaker binding posts on the inside of my house, and then have wires running from the outside posts to the Sonance subwoofer (and the speaker wires from the satellite speakers plug into the sub).
Obviously, if the speakers are further away from your house, and say, directing sound towards your house, you will need to make some modifications like using more outdoor speaker wires to get to the satellite speakers from your sub. If you have enough space in your yard to keep the satellite speakers and sub relatively close together, it’s not a problem.
SUGGESTED SETUP
One thing I came up with while first testing these speakers was using a smaller amp. You can see it in one of my pictures. If I kept this setup, I would still have to bring the amp in and out from the house when I wanted to use my speakers. I would simply plug the little amp into the outside power outlet, connect the speaker wires, and then plug in my input (I use Google Chromecast to cast music, and this plugs directly into my little amp). It’s not ideal, as you still have to carry something in and out of the house like I did with my bluetooth speaker, but the rock speakers stay stationary and the sound quality is much better (i.e. louder) than the bluetooth speaker). But you could also get a waterproof housing for the little amp and attach it to the exterior wall or hide it in a bush. Just a suggestion.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Whether you take the mini amp approach or connect it to a receiver inside your house or in a covered porch, you still have to think about how you play music. The easiest way to get started, is the old fashioned, plug an audio source into the receiver and then when you want to change the song or adjust the volume, walk up to the receiver and make the changes. This for me wasn’t ideal. I have Google Chromecasts and Nest speakers throughout my house, so I wanted to incorporate multi-room audio with the rock speakers. As I said earlier, these aren’t smart speakers so you cannot simply connect your phone to them. What I recommend is plugging in some sort of smart device into your receiver (i.e. Chromecast, Fire TV, etc) and then set the receiver to that input, make sure the receiver is outputting to the correct speakers (my receiver has Zones, so Zone 1 is the indoor speakers for TV watching, Zone 2 are the outdoor speakers) and then I case to the Chromecast which outputs music through the receiver to my outdoor speakers.
SOUND QUALITY
Sound quality is arguably the reason to get these speakers. They sound phenomenal. They can get extremely loud, but no matter the volume, I found the music to be balanced with enough bass and lots of clarity. I’m no audiophile, but they really do just sound good. Like virtually all Sonance products. They are also great for watching movies. We sometimes watch movies outdoors (I run a long HDMI cable through a window from my receiver to the projector) and use the rock speakers for my 2.1 sound. Again, the sound is terrific. It was nice setting up an outdoor movie night and having one less thing to worry about: the sound.
CONCLUSION
I’m not a whiz in the outdoor speaker market, and I’m sure there are smart outdoor speakers that could make for a more simplified setup, but I’m guessing they’re even more expensive than the Sonance rocks. And remember, with any smart speakers, they generally need to all be plugged into an AC outlet which can cause it’s own setup issues. It very much depends on your outdoor space, but if you have a place where you can “hide” some rock speakers and are willing to go through the setup (you only have to set it up once) you won’t be disappointed.
tmcgo510 –
No backyard party is complete without great music. Even better than great music, no party is complete without great SOUNDING music! That is where the Sonance Magrock speaker system comes in! Speakers that not only blend into your landscape but put out robust, full sound. This system comes in a 2.1 setup. One subwoofer and a left and right channel speaker. Be prepared to use your muscles, because this speaker set is HEAVY. The box they came in was listed over 70lbs by the shipping company! To me, that means they are well built. These speakers are built to stand up to the elements, as they will be outside year round. Initially, I thought I would need a separate amplifier to control the subwoofer. This is NOT the case. As long as you have an amplifier that will run a left and right channel speaker, the subwoofer will be included in that. The subwoofer includes left and right input and output hook ups. From your amplifier or AV receiver, you run cable for a left and right channel directly to the subwoofer, and from the subwoofer, you connect the left and right channel speakers to the output. You DO NOT need an additional amplifier for the subwoofer, as your existing amplifier powers all three speakers. Instead of purchasing direct burial cable, I opted to bury conduit around my pool deck and run the speaker wire through the conduit, up the side of my house, and then through the attic. I had a 500ft box of 14 awg speaker wire laying around, so conduit was cheaper than more cable. I spliced the wires I ran and connected them to two of my existing Sonance speakers that connect to my Sonos Connect Amp. The amp runs my 4.1 setup flawlessly! Now, I have sound from all areas of my back yard space! The audio is crisp and clear. The subwoofer is adequate for the environment, but I would definitely like the subwoofer to be driven separately by it’s own amplifier. After connecting all the wiring into the base of the subwoofer, the connections can be covered by an included cover. Be careful when attaching it using the included screws. I damaged the cover on two sides from over tightening it. After I put the cover on, I used some caulk to seal up the edges. All in all, it is hard to beat Sonance speakers. They sound amazing, are relatively easy to install, and they look great too! You can’t go wrong with this setup! Put in the work to install them, you will be glad you did!
Txstatesal –
I’ll kick this off with the con which was wiring stuff from the three rocks to the house. That’s because you want to have a fool proof plan on how to control this from inside the home with comfort. I paired it with an amplifier I really love that base Bluetooth!
So, make sure you’re ready for altering the exterior of your home.
The best parts are: the rocks blend so well in the back ground, the sound envelopes you in everything (especially concert/live tracks).
We have a huge backyard near a popular road that is high trafficked. We were working on the yard the other day, played some Elvis and it was so much fun blowing leaves in the yard.
The construction of the main rock seems pretty weather proof. It hasn’t rained yet but I am confident that the cover for the wires is sturdy and will prevent damage.
This set of speakers is 100% an investment but so worth how crisp and crisp the sound is outside!
Bappy –
Having moved into a new house with a small backyard, I was looking for outdoor, weatherproof speakers which could blend into the landscape. Having an unused Sonos Connect:Amp I decided to look to Sonos for an outdoor speaker solution. I never really took to the outdoor speakers which were bundled with my Connect:Amp since they were better suited for high mounting and perhaps put out a bit too much sound (if that is a thing). In my newer closely spaced neighborhood, they would not have been a good fit. So, in comes the Sonance – MAGROCKS2.1 – 2.1 Outdoor Rock Speaker System, which are charcoal grey colored, well-built and seem well suited to be able to handle the elements of just about any outdoor environment. I decided to place them in a semi-interior space (screened in 15’ x 20’ patio) due the level of effort (running two speaker wires of sufficient length to the subwoofer to support a truly yard like installation). Now I know this is not the typical use case for these types of speakers, but found that floor level placement was more suitable and I could hide satellite speakers in the corner without having to worry about mounting them.
The system arrives in a large box and with a large passive subwoofer and two satellite speakers which attach to the subwoofer via wires of fixed length. You run speaker wires (not supplied, since use cases may vary and you may need wiring which is rated for burial) from your amplifier or receiver to the passive/unpowered subwoofer. Unlike active subwoofers which often have a built-in amp, the passive version included in this setup does not. Unless you are going to splice additional wire to lengthen the distance of each speaker from the subwoofer, you are limited to the distance each of the satellite speakers can be separated from subwoofer. All the speaker connections are clip style, and you need connect wires from your amp into inputs on the bottom of the subwoofer and then attach the two satellites to the output connections also on the bottom of the subwoofer. I did not particularly care for the clip style connectors, but once you attach a supplied plate to cover the area where the wires connect, you should not have an issue with them falling out, besides the speakers are meant to be installed permanently in fixed locations.
How do these speakers sound is the main question, and for the most part I would say excellent. They output sound which is rich and clear, separation of the speakers from the subwoofer using the fixed leads from each of the satellite speakers yield a pretty good sound field. I have heard others not as pleased if they lengthened the distance between the satellite speakers by splicing additional wire to the existing leads (the speaker leads from each of the satellite speakers are hardwired internally so you cannot just replace the speaker wires with longer length versions). Again, the whole system yielded an “atmospheric”, pleasing sound field. However, if you are accustomed to booming bass from your subwoofer you may be disappointed with this setup, as it does not produce “booming” lows. I was able to compensate a bit for that by enabling the “loudness” setting in the Sonos App. You can do the same in just about any music app by accessing either the sound profiles or EQ and choosing ones which boosts low end.
Overall I am pleased with the system, although I installed it a bit differently than I originally intended taking an easier less permanent path. They sound great and as with any setup require a little tweaking to meet your individual sound preferences. I would say in typical outdoor use cases (a large yard, patio or pool area) you may have issues with the inherit limitations out of the box regarding placement of each of the components. This does not take away from the core strengths of this setup which are quality speakers, weatherproofed with the ability to camouflage themselves into just about any outdoor environment.
Pros:
– Good sounding, fidelity speaker setup
– Aesthetically pleasing
– Built to withstand the elements.
Cons:
– Potential placement limitations
– Subwoofer sound production may be less then expected for those with “booming” expectations.
– Need decent power from your receiver or amp to “drive” this system.
VADarkstar –
These speakers are incredible outdoor speakers with a couple caveats. It is difficult to review them straightforwardly, so I will separate my observations.
(1) Physicality.
These are bulky and heavy. The three pieces weigh nearly 60 lbs – 30 lbs. for the huge woofer and about 13 lbs. each for the satellite speakers. But the weight here contributes to some amazing sound production.
And, just to be clear, these speakers are not “rock-like” and do not “resemble large rocks.” They look like large gray volcanic rocks built from paper mâché.
The exteriors are durable and surely weather-resistant beyond most sensible expectations. Speaker cone compositions are of polypropylene and polyurethane. Satellite speakers are intended to be connected to the central woofer by six foot speaker wire that extends from the satellites shrouded in silicone caulk (in fact, the attached backing plate and the attaching screws are all covered in silicone – see photo).
The satellite speakers extend from the woofer – your receiver output is connected directly to the woofer with the sound distribution (crossover) handled there. Speaker wire to connect your receiver output to the woofer is not included.
All three speakers are designed so that they face out to their audience.
(2) Setup and Driving.
Setup could not be any simpler. Connect your amplifier/receiver to the central woofer (using your own wiring), and connect the satellite speakers back to the woofer. None of these are powered speakers, so they do not require any external power.
Driving the speakers might be complicated, but I don’t think any of that is attributable to the speakers.
I began testing my speakers inside and attached to my primary receiver. But my receiver is designed to attach to my powered subwoofer and it sends out signals to my speakers that are equalized accordingly. So, right from the start I wasn’t hearing great sound.
But I knew that was going to be a problem upfront.
Sonance addresses that problem by recommending their Sonamp SR 2-125 Amplifier – with all kinds of equalization presets – and, of course, they say it happens to be a perfect driver for this speaker system. I’ll address it more simply by suggesting that an older amp or receiver with simple bass and treble controls might be the best companion for these speakers (and a midrange control would be even better).
(3) Sound.
Directly out of their packaging and connected to my receiver, these speakers sounded very good indoors – and I was fully aware that they were designed to project sound outdoors. I made some basic adjustments on my receiver and then took them outdoors (within IR range of my receiver).
I need to repeat here that my receiver was not set up to drive a speaker configuration like this – so I had to scroll through quite a few options to change the way it processed music to my speakers.
I scrolled through eight or ten music samples as I scrolled through settings on my receiver. And then I hit that magic setting where it felt like music suddenly flew out of my yard to visit my whole neighborhood.
Inside and outside, there was never a question that the satellite speakers project a clear and strong spectrum of sound (1″ dome tweeter with a 6.5″ cone midrange-woofer). And there was never a question that the woofer (a 10″ cone) could push-out clean low notes. My problem was getting a sound balance for these speakers from my specific receiver.
But once I got that balance, I felt like I could light my whole neighborhood up with my music (but I’m not that guy – their loss).
I wanted to go into all this detail to make a point. In my case, and with my equipment, it took me a while to drive these speakers effectively. Oddly enough, I think that simpler receivers/amplifiers might be way easier to use with this speaker system. But once I got everything dialed-in, these speakers produced music outside that I didn’t think was possible.
The best indicator of a great indoor sound system is found in its ability to reproduce clear and balanced bass, midrange, and treble sounds at all volumes – but ESPECIALLY at low volumes. This is the only outdoor system that I have ever heard that approaches that. The bass here is incredibly clean and clear without any of that distorted thumping sound of a cheap car subwoofer.
(4) Summary.
Heavy and don’t really look like rocks.
Literally plug and play. But you need your own wire out to the speakers.
Consider what you’re planning to drive these with – but the speakers, themselves, are capable of amazing feats of music reproduction.
Wichawd –
I set these up, powering with an old 5.1 home theater receiver, using the built in crossover and 12-4 outdoor wire. We’ve got a cheapo projector and collapsing screen that we’ve used for outdoor movies on occasion, but the sound was always difficult to hear, especially if our guests are spaced out on blankets. This was totally different. We were able to blast a Disney movie the other night and the sound was comparable to my $2K indoor sound system, minus the rear speakers. They’re solid, handle power well, and replicate the sound to a reasonably accurate degree for outdoor speakers. Honestly, I think the rock aspect is a little gimmicky, and they still stick out like speakers. I’m going to do some re-scaping around them to try to hide or blend them in a little better.
nice –
Sounds good. Sub is substantial.
The blend in pretty well
REBel –
If it wasn’t for the water proof Inclosure and the subwoofer, I would have picky something else. Average sound to me? Woks for the backyard.
Adam –
The real test will be time but the quality of sound is great!
Wilog –
Big sound speakers at an amazing price. Sonance have always been excellent speakers and this system is no different and also very clever.
John –
Sounds better than I was expecting. It was easy to install and looks great in our yard.
SwtbrzGR –
These speakers and subwoofer provide awesome sound around my pool and patio area. Price was very reasonable and installation was easy.
Matt –
Awesome sound great, look great, easy to set up. Really am happy with these. Set up with Sonos amp per magnolias recommendation. Perfect. Thanks
Cstcappella –
Great speakers to put near pool area and fire pit, I connected a Sonos Amp and was good to go
Doug –
These rock speakers sound great paired with a Sonos Amp. It took a few hours to install as I needed to bury the speaker wire, drill into my home, and seal the bushing with silicone. YouTube is your friend if you don’t want to hire a contractor.
Monkeyman –
This stereo sounds pretty incredible when paired with a Sonos amp. We really enjoy it and use it all the time outside.
Karla –
Excellent product, great sound, and easily blends with outdoor setting.
Nick –
Bad speaker connections (flimsey). Otherwise speaker sounds good for what they are.
Knockout –
Great sound quality, robust construction. Just make sure you use a quality amp and appropriate speaker cables. If there is one thing to critique it is the cable connectors underneath the sub, I wish they were more robust and attaches the cables more securely. Otherwise it is recommended
Musicrocks –
Beautiful sound, in which I love. They go well with my decor on my patio.
skidaddy –
This system sounds great. I am using a 5.1 channel receiver so I can adjust two channels feeding the woofer with more output. When wiring in two channel mode and using the input and output on the woofer, the volume is too low on the woofer.
Happycustomer –
These speakers were a great addition to my backyard
Jason –
This things sound amazing! Easy to install and super crystal clear sound!
Dave –
This is my first venture into buying a high quality speaker and I definitely picked the right solution for my back yard speaker system. These Sonance speakers are the clearest sound I have ever heard. It fills up my back yard with sound that seems to be coming from a live band.
Willytoo –
Nice solid construction (esoecially at 80% off). These are HEAVY as a set. Still trying to figure amp to sub and satellites setup
Tony –
Great sound and much louder than I imagined… love these
Enfbrd –
Good sound for the price point, sub has good bass, not the sound quality of my Niles but overall pleased. My only complaint was one of the spring wire clips came broken out of the box. It was too much trouble to repack so i dealt with it
Sobain –
Awesome speakers with a great bass sound for outdoors
JenLy –
Built very rugged, heavy, and aesthetically pleasing. I would recommend buying these over the Sonance MAG 6.1 series streaming sound system. These have a much higher max audio and the sub is a higher quality. To make these connect to your existing systems, I would recommend pairing with a Sonos amp.
We did notice they sound a little tinny compared to other products on the market and to be fair, the sub wasn’t the best we bought / tried.
TDolan –
Solid deal and really great sound. Quality product overall
Daniel –
Easy set up. Sound is awesome. Bass is not that strong but other that great.
EdwardP –
These rock speakers were such a great way to incorporate great sound with out the poor quality of bluetooth stereo speaker can have. And they blend into my backyard waterfall and pond.
Curt –
Sonos is the greatest equipment bought it twice Better get it.
RyanM –
Best in outdoor sound!! Would HIGGLY recommend buying!
Pyramid3 –
Amazing…. hooked it up to a Sonos AMP!! Highly recommend!!!!
AlexJ –
These rocks are great! Install was pretty easy and they sound fantastic. They look pretty good too (especially on the outsides). Definitely worth it for the sale price.
DennisC –
It works great, and I love the fact that it complements my system
CraigM –
I bought 2 sets and they sound great. Would definitely recommend
EricY –
Good sounds, looks good, holding up to the weather so far.
elburnsatty –
Speakers look nice and construction appears to be solid they just do not have to full range sound and deepness that I was expecting from speakers costing $1300.00 and having a subwoofer.
Eric –
Bought these on sale and I’m glad I did!! They sound awesome and look great in my yard !
KevinjV –
This is our second set of these speakers. I was skeptical at first but once they were hooked up to our Sonos amp I knew I wanted more. The sound is excellent and the Sub makes it that much better. 3 friends that have been over have now ordered the same speakers.
Gigi –
Love it on my backyard, easy to connect to my Sonos system.
RobertP –
My outdoor rock speaker system, I have been using it for a Christmas Light Show and they have performed amazingly. No issues, awesome sounds!