If you are wanting one or more of your listening zones to be located outside on the patio, or hidden in the landscaping of the yard or garden, you need to purchase and install all-weather speakers that can resist the harsh elements found outdoors. Any keypads that are installed outside should be weatherproof, and you should use direct burial speaker wire for any cables run underground.

Today's all-weather speaker choices go way beyond your conventional pair of outdoor speakers. You can buy weather-resistant speakers that look like water fountains, planters and pots, rocks and stones, and even dogs and frogs!

If you want to experience the fullest possible range of sound outside, you may also want to consider adding a separate subwoofer, as even outdoor speakers with large woofers have a difficult time reproducing deep bass in the great outdoors.

Another thing to consider is whether certain areas you want sound in have enough space to justify two separate stereo speakers, or if you would be better off with a single speaker with a stereo input. The versatile single-input/dual-input Polk Atrium8 SDI outdoor speaker pictured to the right can be set up either way.