“Find the speakers,” I dare West Coast editor David Birch-Jones as he enters my backyard for a break from evaluating TVs. Despite his decades of experience with audio/video gear of all forms, he is stymied. Finally, I point out one of the James Landscape Speakers to him—but still, he does not see it. “It’s right there, that green thing,” I point out. “That’s a lighting fix ...” he replies, but before he can finish his sentence he realizes that the bulb-shaped device attached to my fence is indeed an outdoor speaker.

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The spike mount allows the speakers to be placed at ground level, although they cannot be pointed up. Even though there are drain holes around the speaker, pointing it up at too high an angle will allow water to collect in the speaker cone. (Click image to enlarge)

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Position the Landscape Speakers carefully, and I doubt anyone will realize they are there until you turn on the sound. In the same way that a Malibu lighting system softly illuminates an entire yard by using multiple low-power light fixtures, the James Landscape Speakers provide a consistent sound level through the use of eight small satellite speakers and a subwoofer concealed in a planter or a faux rock. And those tiny satellites can be easily camouflaged.

With a pair or two of conventional outdoor speakers, you will likely have to crank up the volume so that the sound can be heard all over the yard. Not only can this make the sound uncomfortably loud near the speakers, it also makes it more likely your neighbors will complain. By spreading the sound among eight smaller speakers, the James system allows you to run the volume lower, so the sound is more consistent and you stay on good terms with the folks on the other side of the fence. As I wander my backyard with a sound-pressure level meter, I am delighted to find that the volume varies by only plus or minus 2 decibels, except when I come within a few feet of the subwoofer.

James provides a screw-mount and a spike for each satellite, so you can mount them right above the ground, on a fence, in trees, along eaves, or practically anywhere you want sound. The satellites are available in six attractive finishes: pewter, flat gold, copper, black, faux sandstone, and green faux flora.

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A junction box contains transformers that convert the 70-volt signal to a conventional audio signal to feed the subwoofer (pictured) and the 8-ohm satellite speakers. (Click image to enlarge)

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The Landscape Speakers are a 70-volt system, like the paging systems in airports and hospitals. The advantages of a 70-volt system are: It allows a single amplifier to power many speakers; it can drive extraordinarily long speaker cables (James says the Landscape Speaker system can be as far as 1,000 feet from its amplifier); and it allows “daisy-chaining” of speakers, instead of demanding a separate cable for each speaker. A waterproof junction box contains the transformers required for 70-volt operation.

The disadvantage of a 70-volt system is that because of the transformers used, it typically does not offer extended treble response. Thanks, though, to James’ use of a high-quality 70-volt amp made by QSC, my lab measurements show that the Landscape Speaker system’s response drops by only about 3 decibels in the top octave of treble, above 10 kilohertz. (And part of that drop may be attributable to the fact that the system does not have a real tweeter.) It’s a noticeable flaw, but not bothersome in a backyard environment.

I must confess that my first listening experience with the Landscape Speaker system proves frustrating. I toss a favorite lawn chair into the middle of the yard and listen for a minute, but find the bass overwhelming and the midrange muddled. I begin to curse James for not offering some way to adjust the subwoofer level. But I soon realize that my backyard offers countless places to put the subwoofer—far more options than I would have in my listening room. I move the sub a few feet farther away from my seat, and suddenly the balance is perfect.

It then dawns on me that with so many satellite speakers at my disposal, I can create a few optimum stereo listening zones within my yard: one on the patio, one under a shade tree, and one right in the middle of the yard for sunbathing. I simply aim one left and one right speaker straight at each position, and the sound snaps into focus. Of course, with eight speakers sounding out (wired alternately for the left and right channels), the stereo imaging is rather amorphous, more like what you would hear in a car. But it’s an immensely entertaining sound. The rock subwoofer’s 10-inch driver pumps out enough deep bass to satisfy listeners within about 20 feet. Toward the edge of my yard, the bass starts to thin out. For the sake of my neighbors, though, this is a welcome characteristic.

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James supplies a QSC CX302V 70-volt amplifier to power the Landscape Speaker system. (Click image to enlarge)

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If you crave backyard sound of the highest fidelity, you need a pair of top conventional outdoor speakers, perfectly positioned for optimum sound in your favorite lawn chair. But I know no one who listens to music outdoors that way. Usually when we listen to music outdoors, we’re playing with the kids, mingling with guests at a barbecue, or fussing in the garden. For these real-world situations, the James Landscape Speaker system is the best-sounding, most attractive solution I have found for outdoor sound.

DESCRIPTION

Outdoor 70-volt speaker system comprising eight satellite speakers, rock-shaped subwoofer, junction/transformer box, and 250-watt-per-channel stereo amplifier

COMPONENTS

Satellite speakers: 3-inch aluminum-cone midrange/tweeter
Subwoofer: 10-inch polypropylene-cone woofer in bandpass enclosure

CONNECTIONS

Satellite speakers: hard-wired with outdoor 16-gauge speaker cable, connect with waterproof wire nuts or crimps
Subwoofer: same as above but with four-conductor cable
Junction box: screw terminals for eight satellite speakers, subwoofer, and input from amplifier
Amplifier: screw terminals for unbalanced line-level input, XLR connectors for balanced line input, screw terminals for speaker output

DIMENSIONS

Satellite speakers: 5.9 inches by 3.6 inches diameter
Subwoofer: 16.8 x 17 x 20.3 inches (hwd)
Junction box: 5.2 x 12.3 x 11.1 inches (hwd)
Amplifier: 3.5 x 17.2 x 14.2 inches (hwd)

PRICE/CONTACT

PRICE: $5,995
CONTACT: jamesloudspeaker.com, 707.449.0880