How to Put Together an Outdoor Home Theater

OK, we’re only joking here; we are nowhere near 77 articles on the subject of outdoor home theaters. However, it is a subject we love to write about, as few things bring as much pleasure as watching a good flick under the stars on a warm evening.

In this installment, we will show you how to put together a budget-friendly system for relatively impromptu home theater sessions on the patio. Unlike other options we've discussed in the past, it's not a permanent setup, but one that can be put up and put away reasonably quickly. What's more, this setup's components can also pull double duty indoors, like in a kids-oriented game room. 

Intrigued by this idea for your Roswell, GA home? Let's dive into what you'll need.

SEE ALSO: Miss the Drive-In? Build an Outdoor Home Theater!

The Projector

There are several projectors you could use outdoors that are not necessarily designed for outdoor use, as long as it's temporary, and you are prudent about not watching movies in the rain. For high-performance indoor media and home theater rooms, we are partial to Sony. But for this application, a great choice would be the Epson LS-100 short throw projector. This short-throw model can be set up right next to a large screen outdoors on just about any table that will hold it stable. The LS-100 features 1080P resolution, a laser light source for long life, and outstanding brightness and contrast. With 3 HDMI ports, you can plug in your favorite streaming device (like a Roku) and have a full-fledged entertainment setup.

The Screen

Screen Innovations is a company that is true to its name, with some of the most innovative screens on the planet. Solo Pro 2 is a perfect example. These screens are available in up to 160-inch diagonal sizes and fit into their own motorized, rechargeable cassette. They fit virtually anywhere and can be hung off of two simple brackets. You can use this portable wonder inside the game room and take it outside for an outdoor movie night. A push on a remote control lowers the screen into place for instant theater. Screen Innovations, a leader in advanced screen materials, offers screens designed explicitly for short-throw projectors in the Solo Pro 2.

The Sound

What’s a movie without great sound? We’re going to keep it simple and relatively portable with this recommendation. The Sonos Five is the largest powered speaker in the Sonos lineup and has surprising loudness, bass, and clarity for its size. With its analog input, you can take the Epson projector's audio output and plug it into the Sonos line-in jack for loud, clear sound. It’s not surround sound, but it’s easy to set up and operate. And when the movie is over, the Sonos can play your favorite music superbly. While it’s not an outdoor speaker to be left outside, it is humidity resistant and is fine for temporary use in a covered area.

Now that we've covered all this, we have a much simpler way for you to set up your outdoor home theater. Just call GHT Group, Atlanta’s home theater company for over 30 years. Our Marietta showroom also displays a variety of outdoor AV options that will serve you in all seasons. Contact us here, or click below to quickly connect with one of our audio-video experts. We look forward to working with you!