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R&D Audio Video

Service areas

Based in Hillsboro. Working across the metro.

We design and install systems for homes and businesses throughout the Portland metro, with projects across Oregon.

All service areas

Outdoor Audio/Video

Outdoor Speaker & TV Installation in Portland & Hillsboro

Sound and picture for the patio, the deck, the outdoor kitchen and the pool. We plan outdoor speakers so the music is even across the whole yard, hide a subwoofer in the ground, hang a TV where the game needs to be, and tie it all into the system inside.

5.0 from 19 Google reviews20 years installing in the Portland metroOregon CCB# 201122

What we do

Outdoor sound systems and TVs, built for the whole backyard

A backyard that's ready for people is part patio, part outdoor kitchen, maybe a pool or a fire pit, and the soundtrack that ties it together. Getting the sound right outside is different from getting it right in a living room, because there are no walls to help.

We design outdoor speaker systems for coverage, not just volume: speakers placed so the music is even from the patio to the edge of the lawn, a buried subwoofer for the low end, and weather-rated gear wired so it lasts through Oregon winters. Add a TV for the patio or outdoor kitchen and it's ready for game day too.

Outdoor zones usually join a whole-home audio system, so the yard can play along with the house or do its own thing. Start with a free quote, or meet us first.

  • A coverage plan for the yard

    Speaker placement so it isn't loud by the house and silent by the lawn.

  • Landscape speakers

    Small satellite speakers tucked into garden beds around the yard.

  • In-ground subwoofer

    Bass that comes up out of the lawn, with no box to look at.

  • Patio and deck speakers

    Weather-rated speakers mounted under eaves and covers.

  • Outdoor TVs

    Mounted on the patio, in the outdoor kitchen or under a cover, with the cables run clean.

  • The yard as its own zone

    Part of your multi-room audio, at its own volume.

  • Control by the back door

    A wall keypad, a remote or your phone.

  • Wi-Fi that reaches outside

    Streaming outdoors needs a signal. See network installation, and put the patio lights on Lutron while you're at it.

Three ways to build it

Covered patio, deck and lawn, or an outdoor TV

Most backyards start with one of these. Plenty end up with all three.

Weather-ready surface-mount speaker installed under the cover of a restaurant patio in Beaverton
808 Grinds back patio, mid-install

Speakers under a covered patio

Under a roof, surface-mount speakers can hang right from the structure. At 808 Grinds in Beaverton, the back patio got weather-ready speakers on their own zone, so outdoor diners hear the same music as inside.

Speakers
Weather-ready surface-mount
Amp
Episode 4-zone 70V, patio on its own zone
Control
Sonos, iPad on a wall station
Read the 808 Grinds case study

Why placement matters

How an outdoor speaker system covers the yard

Two speakers on the house

The usual setup: a pair of speakers under the eaves. Loud on the patio, barely there by the lawn, so everyone near the house talks over the music.

Smaller landscape speakers spread around the yard each play quieter, so the sound is even from the patio to the far corner, and less of it carries next door.

With no walls outside, bass fades fast. A subwoofer buried in a garden bed fills in the low end without a box in sight.

The patio and the lawn can run at different volumes, so the people eating can talk while the music carries out by the pool.

Sound where the guest is standingJust right

Drag the guest anywhere in the yard.

Our process

How outdoor speaker installation works with R&D

  1. Walk the yard

    We look at where people sit, where the beds and paths are, and how close the neighbors are.

  2. Coverage plan

    Speaker spots, a place for the sub, the TV location, and options at a few price points.

  3. Run the wire

    Direct-burial speaker cable through the beds and out from the house, planned around your landscaping.

  4. Install and tune

    Speakers placed and aimed, levels set zone by zone, and the TV mounted and connected.

  5. Follow-up

    A few weeks later we check in, and adjust anything once you've had people over.

Savant smart home media room with glass doors opening onto a backyard with a landscape audio system
The yard is right outside the theater doors.
Savant touch panel controlling the backyard audio zone
The backyard on the touch panel.
Equipment rack powering the landscape audio system and in-ground subwoofer
The amps live inside, in the rack.

Featured project

Landscape audio from the patio to the edge of the lawn

For this Savant home near Portland we installed a full landscape audio system: eight satellite speakers placed around the yard and an in-ground subwoofer driven by 1,300 watts. The backyard gets even sound with no speakers on display, and summer parties have music all the way out. It runs on the same system as the 7.2 theater and the eight indoor zones.

Speakers
8 landscape satellites
Bass
In-ground subwoofer, 1,300 W
Control
Savant touch panels, remote and app
Also
8 indoor zones, a 7.2 theater, a DJ booth
Read the full case study

Gear

Outdoor audio and video brands we install

We pick weather-rated gear that fits your yard and budget, whatever the brand. See every brand we carry.

Reviews

What clients say about working with R&D

★★★★★
I had a great experience working with Dan. He installed my entire Sonos audio system, including soundbars in the living room and bedroom, in-ceiling speakers in the living room, and speakers on my patio and deck. He also supplied and installed my new Samsung TV. The installation was clean, professional, and everything sounds and works exactly as it should.
Dino R, Google review
★★★★★
Dan and Nate did an outstanding job setting up our home av system. Thoughtful cost effective solutions that look and sound great. Can't see a wire or box anywhere. Follow up and communication were excellent. Very highly recommended!
S George, Google review
★★★★★
Dan Donovan and his crew were awesome. On time, great communication and competitive pricing. They took the extra time to do an amazing job for me. They get my highest recommendation!
Todd Beck, Google review
★★★★★
Had a great experience very timely and reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend.
Wayde Elliott, Google review
5.0from 19 Google reviewsRead them all on Google

FAQ

Outdoor audio and TV questions

Don't see yours? Call 503-888-4313 and ask Dan directly.

Will outdoor speakers hold up to Oregon rain?

Yes, when they're built for it. We install weather-rated outdoor speakers, mount patio speakers under eaves and covers where we can, and run the wiring so water stays out of the connections.

What's the difference between landscape speakers and patio speakers?

Patio speakers mount on the house or under a cover, which is great for a deck or covered patio. Landscape speakers are small satellites placed in garden beds around the yard, so the sound is even across the whole space instead of loud near the house.

Do I need a subwoofer outside?

Usually, if you want the music to sound full. Outdoors there are no walls to reinforce the bass, so a buried in-ground subwoofer fills in the low end without a box in sight. One of our systems uses a 1,300-watt in-ground sub.

Can you install a TV outside?

Yes. We install TVs on patios, in outdoor kitchens and in covered areas, using screens and mounts that suit the spot, with the power and cables run cleanly.

Will my neighbors hear it?

Less than with a couple of loud speakers on the house. Spreading several smaller speakers around the yard lets each one play quieter, closer to where people sit.

Can the backyard be its own zone?

Yes. Outdoor speakers join your whole-home audio system, so the patio can play along with the kitchen or play something else at its own volume.

How much does outdoor audio cost?

It depends on the size of the yard, how many speakers, whether you want a subwoofer or a TV, and how far the wiring has to run. We work with every budget, and quotes are free.

What areas do you serve?

We're based in Hillsboro and install outdoor audio and video in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland and across the Portland metro.

Free quote

Get a free outdoor audio quote

Tell us about the yard and how you use it. We'll come walk it with you and give you a straight answer on what it takes.

Get a Free Quote 503-888-4313

Outdoor speaker and TV installation in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland and the greater Portland metro.