Electronics Products Review

Tired of leaving the door open to hear your music on the deck? It's time for a pair of high-quality outdoor speakers like the Atrium 45 from Polk Audio. The speakers each feature all-stainless-steel and brass hardware for years of rustproof reliability and a rustproof aluminum bracket that permits multiple mounting options and full 90 degree rotation: you can aim them to deliver the best possible sound in a variety of positions.


The Atrium 45 speakers have a wide dispersion pattern, and they're very efficient, operating on as little as 10 watts per channel. They're designed to deliver good sound quality across a large listening area, but Polk recommends multiple-pair setups if you want high sound levels in an outdoor setting, as sound tends to dissipate more quickly outdoors than in.

The speakers' white finish is paintable to match your decor or trim color--you can even paint them green to blend with foliage. Their sculpted front baffle and rounded enclosures minimize diffraction (sound reflecting off of hard edges) for more open and lifelike imaging, and their rustproof aluminum grilles offer 55 percent open area for better high-frequency response than speakers with denser grilles.

Sealed-enclosure (acoustic suspension) cabinets result in taut bass, and the speakers' 2-way design incorporates a 4.5-inch long-throw polymer cone driver with butyl-rubber suspension and a .75-inch dome tweeter with a neodymium magnet to broadly distribute high frequencies. Gold-plated, 5-way binding post terminals will never corrode. The plugs also allow hookups in a range of methods, including convenient banana-plug-terminated speaker cable.

The Atrium 45 meets or exceeds ASTM D5894-UV Salt Fog, Mil standard 810 Immersion and Mil standard 883 Method 1009 8 for salt and corrosion tests.


What's in the Box
Two speakers (each with detachable metal grille and built-in mounting bracket) a user's manual, and warranty information.


Product Description
frequency response 75-20,000 Hz (-3dB) * sensitivity 89 dB * 8-ohm impedance * handles up to 80 watts * gold-plated 5-way binding posts * all hardware is rust-proof brass or stainless steel * speaker grille and mounting brackets are rust-proof aluminum * mounting brackets included * 9-1/2"H x 6-1/4"W x 7-3/4"D (with bracket) * warranty: 2 years



Helpful Reviews


Very impressive sound, March 24, 2008
By Jeff Chambers (Pleasanton, CA USA)

For the price, this is an excellent sounding set of exterior speakers. I replaced two older sony speakers with these and the sound quality is much better. Installation is easy and packaging and instructions are well put together.



These Little speakers ROCK !, November 14, 2007
By M. Mcgough (Fort Worth, Texas)

I was hesitant to purchase but these Rock. They sound the best when listening to classical. Nice crisp sound. The bracket is somewhat integrated into the speaker which hides it alittle to make a nice install. You should never have to remove the grills but you will need a screwdriver or something 'cause the grills are on tight. That's not big enough for a negative. Just mount and wire & so sweet sounding.



Excellent Speakers for Price, July 9, 2008
By T Akin (Florida)

We have a good size lanai/pool area and installed these speakers to replace older speakers. The sound quality is excellent and clear. We have found that we do not have to turn up the volume as much becasue the sound is very clear and strong at a lower setting. But when we do turn up the volume - the sound quality stays the same and does not distort. Excellent speakers for the money!




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