Sonance Mariner 52 Speakers

Sonance Outdoor Speakers Can Bring The Noise, Taunt The Elements

Some outdoor speakers almost taunt bad weather, and the Mariner 52's watertight design could make it a worthy scuba-diving buddy. The speaker wires feed through a sealed rear entry port to covered terminals up front, where there's a polypropylene enclosure and perforated aluminum grill. It's basically a small speaker with an understated design, but the Mariner has impressive dynamics and sound quality, strong on vocals, and sounds smoother than Nutella in the midrange. Although they're best heard from 5-10 feet away, I could stand at the back of my yard, about 30 feet from the speakers and still hear nice detail in the music.

WIRED Flexible mounting options (horizontal, or on poles), and brackets that can be adjusted 180-degrees. Lifetime-warranty covers almost any weather-related damages. Small size and design make it easy to tuck away under eaves, or on a patio.

TIRED Design is subtle but dry-toast bland. The bass is tight, but thin, so hip hop and other heavy music can overwhelm.

• Home Audio Components: Speakers
• Manufacturer: Sonance
• Price: $275