I'm not really sure what my options are so I wanted to throw this out and see if I could get some suggestions.

We are installing a screen porch on the house, and I wanted to have some type of sound system in the back. Just something simple, like some in ceiling bluetooth/wireless speakers (if that's a thing).

In trying to research it online, I'm finding a lot of things that require receivers and/or amps, and it's just not what I was looking for. I don't have a receiver setup right now in my house at all, I was hoping just to have something that I could either pair my phone to both speakers or some type of set top box I could put out there to stream pandora or something along those lines.

What is an easy speaker solution for a screened porch without having a receiver inside? I'd prefer in ceiling if possible, but would be OK with the "wall speaker" type just mounted on the ceiling.

Also, not sure how much ceiling access I'm going to have after they finish.

[Edited on June 26, 2017 at 10:51 PM. Reason : .]

6/26/2017 10:47:37 PM

Thinking I may end up going with a Sonos system. After really thinking about it, it may be easier to go and and just put two speakers up there, and then wire them back to a Sonos Connect:AMP indoors. It sounds like we could do everything we want on the app, and while it's more work (and a lot more money) than I originally wanted, it will probably be better in the long run.

6/27/2017 1:23:59 AM

They make bluetooth speakers built into lights like below have a friend who uses these on their outside patio work fairly well sometimes connection issues but i think that is due the ceiling on their patio is 15+ feet high.

https://www.amazon.com/Sengled-Dimmable-Wireless-Bluetooth-Satellite/dp/B00JCE14AU

6/27/2017 12:45:26 PM

Quote :

"Thinking I may end up going with a Sonos system. After really thinking about it, it may be easier to go and and just put two speakers up there, and then wire them back to a Sonos Connect:AMP indoors. "

You can. I have done this exact setup for two friends. I run a complete Sonos system at home as well. It's expensive but absolutely fantastic.

6/27/2017 2:05:15 PM

^ Do you have the Sonos Play speakers or just normal speakers? I'm still learning the Sonos system so I didn't realize you could just have a sonos speaker and still have similar functionality without the connect. I would need to worry about that power cord though...

6/27/2017 5:02:26 PM

Has anyone tried the speaker lightbulbs? I'd have to imagine the sound quality would be pretty bad.

6/27/2017 6:15:35 PM

I don't know how much you care about sound quality, but I'd suggest just putting up normal in-wall/ceiling speakers and running wires to a central box where you can plugin a receiver and then put a chromecast in the receiver.

Bluetooth sound quality is pretty terrible

the this thing about this is it's easy for anyone to play music if they're on your wifi and if you want to listen to radio, bring a tv outside for the game, etc etc, you have an audio setup as well

6/28/2017 10:27:00 AM

Quote :

"Bluetooth sound quality is pretty terrible"

No it's not. With BT 4.0+ / APTX / etc / etc it's indistinguishable from wired unless you've got expensive equipment. Assuming your speakers are quality and driven by a quality amp having a BT source is fine.

6/28/2017 8:40:01 PM

how many mainstream devices support all that? BT4.0 is common phones, but what about speakers? aptx, ogg, hell even mp3 are optional codecs not defined in the BT spec, so you aren't even guaranteed them with newer hardware. there's also the nature of BT as a protocol where packets are dropped pretty regularly above 10ft or without a lot of walls to bounce off of.

6/29/2017 8:55:47 PM

you can even get cheap chinese speakers that support BT4.0, it's not 5 years ago

6/30/2017 11:43:30 AM

https://gracedigital.com/shop/bluetooth-amplifier-100

Don't have this, but heard good things.

6/30/2017 6:59:43 PM

^ they're trying to ape "Grace design" trademark.

That's a generic design based on the TPA3116 board, you can find essentially the same product for a lot cheaper.

Here's just the board if you want to mount it in a case, this same company sells it in a case too:
https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound®-TPA3116-Bluetooth-Receiver-amplifier/dp/B00WSK86U6

7/1/2017 1:41:57 AM

Quote :

"^ Do you have the Sonos Play speakers or just normal speakers? I'm still learning the Sonos system so I didn't realize you could just have a sonos speaker and still have similar functionality without the connect. I would need to worry about that power cord though..."

I have almost everything they make.

[Edited on July 11, 2017 at 1:21 PM. Reason : .]

7/11/2017 1:20:47 PM