Backyard speakers: how an outdoor audio system is planned, installed and priced
Outdoor audio is quoted on estimate, because zones, speakers and wire runs change every job. Here is how we plan one.
Short answer: outdoor audio is quoted on estimate at Atlanta Irrigation Company. We do not publish a flat price because the number depends on how many zones you want, how many speakers each needs, the wire distance and the equipment you choose. What we can tell you is how the job is planned, why it often costs less when it shares a dig with irrigation or lighting, and what to expect on the visit.
Why there is no price list for audio
Every other job we do has a starting price. Audio does not, and we would rather say so plainly than invent a number. A patio with two speakers and a pool deck with four zones are not the same project. Even two patios can differ if one has a power outlet and a shelf for equipment and the other needs everything run from the garage.
So we quote after walking the yard. If someone gives you a firm price over the phone without seeing it, ask what they are assuming.
How an outdoor system is planned
- Decide where people actually sit. The patio, the grill area, the fire pit, the pool deck. Those become zones.
- Pick the sound you want in each zone. Background music for a dinner is different from music for a party.
- Choose hidden speakers. We use speakers that blend into planters, beds and eaves rather than sitting on poles.
- Plan the wire path. Speaker wire shares the ground with irrigation and lighting runs, so one dig can serve all three.
- Set up control. Zones are app-controlled, so you can turn the patio up and the side yard down from your phone.
Why combining jobs saves digging
If you are already installing irrigation or lighting, speaker wire can go into the same trench. One dig, one restoration, one cleanup. That does not cut the cost of the speakers, but it can save on labor and on the number of times we disturb your lawn. It is also a good reason to think about audio before the beds are finished, not after.
On an existing property, we look for where wire can be tucked along an existing route. It is not always possible, and we will say so.
What affects the quote
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Number of zones | Each zone needs its own speakers and wire run. |
| Speaker count and type | More or larger speakers cost more. |
| Wire distance | Long runs add labor. |
| Where equipment lives | Garage, closet or covered shelf. |
| Control | App control and zoning options. |
| Soil and obstacles | Clay, roots, concrete, hardscape. |
Georgia conditions
Heat, humidity and summer storms are hard on outdoor electronics. Speakers made for outdoors, with sealed housings, matter more here than in a dry climate. We also keep wire buried and connections protected, because Georgia clay holds water and a splice in a wet trench is a fault waiting to happen. Many of our yards in Buckhead, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody are shaded and sloped, which changes where sound carries. Neighbors matter too, so we aim sound at the seating area and not across the fence.
Do it yourself, or hire it out?
A single pair of plug-in speakers on a patio is a fine DIY job. Buried wire and multiple zones are where a crew pays for itself, because mistakes in a trench are expensive to fix later. If you want hidden speakers and zones, ask for a plan.
When to call us
Call when you are planning a patio, pool deck or outdoor kitchen, or when a lighting or irrigation job is already on the schedule and you want audio added to the same dig. We are licensed and insured, and our own crew does the work. Read about the service on the irrigation page or request a quote. We will give you a number after we see the yard, and we stop and tell you before doing anything we could not see.
FAQ
How much does outdoor audio cost? It is quoted on estimate. The price depends on zones, speakers, wire distance and equipment, so we quote after seeing the yard.
Can speaker wire go in the same trench as irrigation or lighting? Yes. Speaker wire shares the ground with irrigation and lighting runs, so one dig can serve all three.
Are the speakers hidden? We use hidden speakers, zoned and app-controlled, so the music is there and the hardware is not.
Should I plan audio before landscaping? Yes, if you can. It is easiest to run wire before beds, sod and hardscape are finished.
No audio prices are published because outdoor audio is quoted on estimate. Updated November 2026.