Crutchfield - North America's electronics authority since 1974

1.888.955.6000
 
 
Free Shipping on Everything.  60-Day Money-Back Guarantee  |  Lifetime Tech Support
 

Definitive Technology AW 6500

Outdoor speaker

Zoom Definitive Technology AW 6500
White speaker shown here with grilles off and on (sold per speaker)
Video loading and will display in just a moment.
Photos
Definitive Technology AW 6500 Definitive Technology AW 6500
 
Videos
 

Item# 735AW6500W offer details

Item# 735AW6500W

Review Summary

 
In Stock
 
 
$249.50
Was:
 
-$50.00
 :
Sale
 
 
 
Free
 
Your price $199.50 Each
 
Available options:
 
 
Add to cart
 
 
 

By buying this product you'll earn up to 200 Rewards points.

When you sign up for a Crutchfield account, you’ll be enrolled in Crutchfield Rewards. You’ll earn one point for every dollar you spend on gear from us. You can turn your points into Rewards Cards that you can use toward future purchases. You can sign up for an account now, or after you complete your purchase (you’ll get credit for the points either way).

 
Definitive Technology

Our take on the Definitive Technology AW 6500

Bring the rich, dynamic sound of Definitive Technology speakers to the great outdoors. The AW 6500s feature the same high-quality components as one of Definitive's indoor speakers, but are ready to stand up to the hardships of outdoor living. Install a pair near the pool, on your deck, or even in a sauna — their all-weather enclosures are fully sealed. And the included brackets let you rotate the speaker up to 360° for maximum flexibility.

Crystal-clear highs, distinct mids, and deep bass
Definitive pairs a 1" tweeter with a 6-1/2" woofer for accurate reproduction of the voices and instrumentals in music. They supplement those drivers with a low-bass radiator that delivers bass equivalent to that of a 10" woofer. You'll get deep lows to round out the sound of your favorite tunes.

Got wire?
Most speakers don't include any. Learn more about in-wall wiring at the Crutchfield Learning Center.
Shop our selection of in-wall speaker wire.

Highlights:

  • 1" Pure Aluminum dome tweeter
  • 6-1/2" BDSS cast basket bass/mid driver
  • 5-1/2" x 10" racetrack-shaped Planar Low-Bass Radiator (produces bass equivalent to that of a 10" woofer)
  • frequency response 40-30,000 Hz (±3dB)
  • sensitivity 92 dB
  • handles up to 200 watts
  • 5-way binding posts
  • fully sealed, rugged PolyStone enclosure
  • aluminum speaker grilles
  • includes galvanized steel mounting brackets that allow 360° rotation for maximum placement flexibility
  • 8-7/8"W x 14-3/8"H x 9-3/16"D (including bracket)
  • weight: 10 lbs.
  • warranty: 5 years
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
Priced each
 

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
Enclosure
Loading...
Passive Radiator
Tweeter Type
Loading...
Dome
Midrange Size
Loading...
---
Woofer Size
Loading...
6-1/2
Woofer Composition
Loading...
Polymer
Woofer Surround
Loading...
Rubber
Power Range (watts)
Loading...
10-200
Sensitivity
Loading...
92 dB
Impedance (ohms)
Loading...
8
Frequency Response
Loading...
40-30k Hz
Connector Type
Loading...
5-way post
Height (inches)
Loading...
14-3/8
Width (inches)
Loading...
8-7/8
Depth (inches)
Loading...
9-3/16
Weight (pounds)
Loading...
10
Mounting Bracket Included
Loading...
Yes
Parts Warranty
Loading...
5 Years
Labor Warranty
Loading...
5 Years

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • White all-weather outdoor loudspeaker
  • Mounting bracket (installed)
  • Owner's Manual
  • Online Product Registration card

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Overview: The Definitive Technology AW series all-weather outdoor speaker allows you to enjoy your music outdoors in domestic or commercial applications. The AW series all-weather outdoor speaker utilizes specially developed materials and components to achieve a high level of durability, dependability, and sound quality.

Driver Technology
Enclosure Design
Connections
Mounting Options

Driver Technology

Pressure Coupled Radiator Design: The AW series outdoor speaker provides clear, high-definition sound by pressure-coupling a BDSS technology driver to a racetrack-shaped mid/bass radiator cleverly placed on the opposite side of the enclosure. This technique offers a total bass radiating area greater than an 8-inch woofer to belt out powerful bass that fills outdoor areas.

BDSS Technology: Definitive Technology's Balanced Double Surround System (BDSS) driver offers a wide-bandwidth accurate frequency response, broad dispersion, low distortion, and detail retrieval; so you hear more the music with greater accuracy and enjoyment. BDSS drivers incorporate the following design features.

  • Balanced Double Surrounds: The speaker's balanced double surrounds support the cone at two points to provide better mechanical stability for longer, more linear excursion, and improved damping to suppress parasitic cone resonance.
  • Mineral-Filled Polymer Cone: The speaker features a deeply drawn mineral-filled polymer cone engineered using sophisticated 3D modeling techniques for wide range performance.
  • Waveguide: The cone's integrated waveguide smoothes off-axis response for broad, even dispersion and better imaging.
  • High Temperature Voice Coil: The driver's high temperature, oversized, lightweight vented voice coil offers improved power handling and quick transient response. The voice coil is also lengthened to increase linearity and lower distortion.
  • Magnet Structure: The driver's magnetic system is optimized by finite element analysis to maximize magnetic flux in the gap for high efficiency and linear excursion.
  • Die-Cast Alloy Basket: The die-cast alloy basket minimizes ringing and vibration while the open area minimizes back wave reflection.

Drivers: The Definitive Technology AW6500 features a 6-1/2" BDSS driver coupled to a 5-1/2" x 10" (racetrack) pressure-driven low-bass radiator, and a 1" pure aluminum dome tweeter.

Break-In Period: The AW series outdoor loudspeakers will sound good right out of the box; however, an extended break-in period of 20-40 hours or more of playing is required to reach full performance capability. The break-in period allows the suspensions to work in and results in full bass, a more open midrange, and smoother high frequency reproduction.

Enclosure Design

Polystone Non-Resonant All-Weather Enclosure: The Definitive Technology AW6500 features a fully sealed (air and water tight) design, aluminum grilles, and rugged PolyStone enclosure, which allow it to be fully exposed to the elements and still reliably deliver their indoor speaker sound quality for years of outdoor listening enjoyment.

Note: The AW series speakers utilize special components and material for outdoor use. However, you will achieve the longest life of the speaker by positioning it to minimize direct exposure to the elements as much as possible.

Available Colors: The Definitive Technology AW6500 comes in either a Black or White (paintable) finish.

Connections

Binding Posts: The AW6500 is equipped with a pair of gold-plated, 5-way binding posts to attach your receiver's speaker wire.

Mounting Options

Mounting Bracket: The AW6500 outdoor speaker features an integrated galvanized steel mounting bracket and unique enclosure shape which allow a full 360-degrees of rotation for maximum placement flexibility. The AW outdoor speaker, using the integrated mounting bracket, can be oriented horizontally or vertically. The mounting bracket allows you to mount the speaker to an outdoor wall or under the eve of your home. The integrated mounting bracket can also be used as horizontal stand, if you want to simply place the speaker on a table or shelf. The mounting bracket is also removable, if you one to place the outdoor speaker in a vertical position on a shelf or table.

Note: The AW speaker can be mounted vertically or horizontally, but remember to always point the speaker in such a way as to allow water to roll off the driver cone and/or low bass radiator.

Placement: Position the AW series loudspeaker as close as possible to the area where you will be listening to it. Pointing the active driver baffle towards the listener while the low-bass radiator side faces the wall or ground gives you the ideal balance of clear mids, extended highs, and low-end bass even in the tough acoustic conditions of the outdoors. The AW speaker has a very wide dispersion patter; however, if you are trying to cover a very large area, you will be better off using multiple pairs of AW speakers in order to achieve and even distribution of sound. With multiple pairs you will avoid having areas where the sound is tool loud and others where the sound is not loud enough. One pair of AW series loudspeakers will cover approximately 200-400 square feet of listening area at moderately loud levels. Try to point the speaker directly at the listening area.

 

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)
Video: Definitive Technology Outdoor Speakers

Video: Definitive Technology Outdoor Speakers

Tara W.
2/22/2010
based on 5 ratings
 

Definitive's AW 5500 and AW 6500 outdoor speakers provide dynamic, full-bodied sound. Their ultra-rugged build means they can be fully exposed to the elements.

 

Product Reviews

Review Summary

Average Customer Review:

16 people say:
(13)
(3)
(0)
(0)
(0)
 

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences about this product. Please be sure to focus your comments on the product itself. Read our Review Guidelines for more information.

Review title
* Email
Your email won't be visible. Please use the email address that is associated with your order.
Display name
(e.g., JohnD) Your review will be signed using the display name and location
* Your location
(e.g., Charlottesville, VA)
* Your rating
Click on a star to rate the overall product on a scale of 1-5
1500 characters left * Your review
Attach a YouTube Review
Crutchfield Video Review Guidelines
  • Only submit videos that you made or are authorized to use.
  • Do not submit videos that contain music, video or visuals that are copyrighted and belong to someone else.
  • Please see our Review Guidelines for more information.
Submit the URL of your YouTube™ video review or product demonstration. e.g., http://www.youtube.com/v/o79TWHh598U
500 characters left Pros
500 characters left Cons
* Agree to Terms
By checking this box you agree your review becomes the property of Crutchfield, that you are over 18 years of age, that you own or have owned this product, and that you are located within the United States or its territories. Please see our Review Guidelines for more information. We reserve the right (but are not obligated to) review all submissions and edit or remove any review in any manner which we deem necessary. Your review should be posted within seven days.
1-10 of 16 items >> Sort Results By: Date Reviewed | Rating | Helpfulness
 
5 out of 5

Curtis Tanberg

Written By Curtis, Tavernier, Florida on Saturday, July 30, 2011
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
Great product. Connected four AW 6500s to my sound system, and the sound is excellent.
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Happy after break-in period

Written By Jon, Wichita, KS on Monday, November 07, 2011
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
I conducted exhaustive research and there simply is not an outdoor speaker with better "specs" than these for their size. After hooking them up (75 watt per channel Onkyo) I quickly assessed that they were worth about $350, not $500 a pair. After a decent break-in period (recommended by Def. Tech.) they loosened up and improved greatly...and now are well worth the $500. They will solidly hit the advertised 40 hz on the low end. I think the only better setup would be a separate subwoofer, which I considered building. They also seem to handle the power so well I plan on upgrading my amp as they seem to just begin hitting their sweet spot about the time my Onkyo is running out of head room. I mounted them on the house wall about 1 foot below the ceiling of my covered deck.
Pros:
Best frequency range for size.
Cons:
stickers a pain to remove (frustrating)
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Definitive 6500w speakers

Written By Dustin Q., Joplin, MO on Monday, April 09, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
Great Speakers!!!!!!! I was really on the fence about what to get, I splurged on these, and have been extremely happy with them. I though they were a little pricey, but went for them anyway based upon the reviews and purchased 2 of them to put out by my pool. I am happy, and they were well worth the money. I have them hooked up to my sonos system. They just earned a repeat customer!!! Thanks Crutchfield!
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Sound great!

Written By AnthonyM, Howell, NJ on Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
Just finished wiring the AW6500s to a Sonos Zoneplayer 120 and couldn't be more pleased. They sound very good. Crisp, clear, and the bass was surprisingly satisfying. They just fit under my eaves, so they will be somewhat protected. I used banana clips to connect them, looks professional and easier to remove than twisting the bindings. The ZP120 has a perfect amount of power to drive them and I have turned the bass up to my liking. Only thing I wish was better was the mounting bracket. It's fine to mount the speaker, but only allows the speaker to be tilted up or down. It would be great if you could turn left or right. I would definitely recommend these speakers to others!
2 out of 4 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Great Full Sound

Written By Cory D, Georgetown, TX on Monday, November 15, 2010
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
I am using these speakers for my backyard oaisis. I have almost 1 acre of land and with these speakers turned only 1/2 way up can hear them all the way back with perfect clarity. I'm using a Sonos Z100 to power them and there is more than enough sound/power to spare. I was somewhat dissapointed that the speakers were "lighter" than I thought they would be and that they didn't come with the mounting hardware (screws and such, just the bracket) for the cost I thought they would be a little more solid feeling and would come equiped with all the mounting hardware needed.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Great quality speaker

Written By AlexM, ROSWELL, GA on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
It is difficult to pick outdoor speakers partly because there are very few reviews on them. Having Definitive speakers for my living room and after speaking to DefTech support for suggestions, I decided to purchase those 6500 and I would definitely recommend them to anyone.

The sound is very clear, separation is excellent, and bass is good too (for outdoors). I have placed the speaker's "baffle" facing the wall to improve bass which worked the best for my setting.

Few suggestions:
- Even if those speakers are relatively efficient they definitely like a relatively powerful high quality amplifier (I have Harman Kardon and a Marantz amps for my system)
- if you are looking for tons of bass you might want to consider pairing them with a sub-woofer
- Play around with positioning to get the best sound

Overall I am very happy with this product and the service received by Crutchfield, all their videos made my choice and installation easier too.

Thank you!
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Definitive Technology AW 6500

Written By Paul, Pasadena, MD on Friday, June 03, 2011
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
After much research I settled on purchasing a pair of these for the new outside patio. They arrived as promised and I couldn't wait to hook them up. I couldn't have asked for more. I am powering them with a Sony STR-DN1010. The sound is rich, loud and full ranging. Even in a large open area, the bass comes through and the highs are crisp and clean. These are well worth the money and completely outperformed a pair of Bose 251's in every way. You will not be disappointed!
7 out of 8 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Like being inside

Written By John, Charleston, SC on Friday, August 27, 2010
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
Got tired of the muffeled sound I was getting out of my polk's. These speakers are about twice the size and deliver outstanding sound - the bass is just like being inside - lots of good sound no matter what the volume level is set at. Makes it fun to sit outside and listen to again while enjoying the heat and humidity.
7 out of 7 people found this helpful
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Blows Bose Away

Written By Tom M, Clinton, PA on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Crutchfield Customer Review

The reviewer purchased this item from us, verified by the email address on the order.

 
I have Bose 251's on my house over the patio...I had an 2nd set of off brand speakers for the other side of the patio....after replacing the 2nd set with these speakers...they just blew my mind. They are incredibly clear. The Bose are going to be taken off the house and will now be the 2nd set of speakers...the bass is 3x's better than the Bose. Don't waste your money on the 251's..these are clearly the better speaker. The only thing to remember is, these speakers are pretty big.
Pros:
Nice clear music, excellent bass.
Cons:
Wish they added more holes for hanging them on my house for they are too spread apart for my application.
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
5 out of 5

Enjoy the outdoors!

Written By J. D III, Covington, La. on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
 
We wanted sound on our patio for a graduation party for our niece and our son. I picked through the prices and the reviews and settled in on the AW 6500. Tested them indoors and they seemed ok. Then mounted them outdoors... They keep our pool party rocking! Great overall performance for an outdoor environment. Plan on another set for the covered patio.

Pros:
Bass response is impressive
Cons:
Not built in the USA, would pay more if it was.....
Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
 
1-10 of 16 items >>

Learn more about Outdoor Speakers

Learn more about Outdoor Speakers

Video: Planning Your Outdoor Speaker System

Video: Planning Your Outdoor Speaker System

Tara W.
3/12/2010
based on 63 ratings
 

Get tips on planning your outdoor speaker system, including where to place your speakers and the other items you'll need to complete your setup.

 
Video: Installing Outdoor Speakers

Video: Installing Outdoor Speakers

Tara W.
3/12/2010
based on 32 ratings (5 comments)
 

See the basic steps involved in installing outdoor speakers in a typical installation, from running the wire to mounting your speakers.

 
Video: Choosing Outdoor Speakers

Video: Choosing Outdoor Speakers

Tara W.
3/13/2010
based on 8 ratings (1 comment)
 

Learn about what to look for when choosing outdoor speakers, including weather-readiness and the speaker designs best-suited for different setups.

 
Outdoor Speakers: Choosing and Installing

Outdoor Speakers: Choosing and Installing

Amanda P.
4/2/2012
based on 236 ratings (2 comments)
 

Your back yard is a different listening environment than your typical room. Outside, there are no walls to reinforce bass response and reflect and contain sound, and there's usually much more...

 
Move Your Groove Outdoors

Move Your Groove Outdoors

Marshall Chase
4/27/2012
 

Liven up a cookout or pool party with some outdoor tunes. We'll show you how in this brief article.

 

Accessories

Things you'll need

In-Wall Speaker Wire
UL-listed speaker wire is designed to be run through walls and is building code compliant.
AudioQuest FLX-16/2 16-Gauge 2-Conductor In-Wall Speaker Cable
$89.99
In Stock
 
 
AudioQuest FLX-14/2 14-Gauge 2-Conductor In-Wall Speaker Cable
$99.99
In Stock
 
 
AudioQuest FLX-16/4 16-Gauge 4-Conductor In-Wall Speaker Cable
$129.99
In Stock
 
 
AudioQuest FLX-14/4 14-Gauge 4-Conductor In-Wall Speaker Cable
$149.99
In Stock
 
 
Show more items

Accessories we recommend

In-Wall Volume Control
Set the volume level in your remote location without going back and forth from indoors to outdoors.
Russound WALTX-2
Weatherproof stereo volume control with impedance magnification
$134.99
In Stock
 
 
Niles WVC100E
Weatherproof stereo volume control with impedance magnification

Also available in:
Open Box: $89.99
Scratch & Dent: $84.99
$99.99
In Stock
 
 
Power Protection
Add power protection to your outdoor speakers and volume controls.
Panamax MOD-SPKP
Add-on protection module for outdoor speakers and control lines

Also available in:
Open Box: $52.24
$54.99
In Stock
 
 
 
Add selected to cart
 

For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Definitive Technology AW 6500, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/ISEO-rccbcspd/p_735AW6500W/Definitive-Technology-AW-6500-White.html ).

Recommended Accessories See more accessories

Your featured item

Definitive Technology AW 6500
Definitive Technology AW 6500
Outdoor speaker
$199.50
In Stock
 
After $50.00 Sale
 

In-Wall Speaker Wire

AudioQuest FLX-16/2 16-Gauge 2-Conductor In-Wall Speaker Cable
$89.99
In Stock
 
 

In-Wall Volume Control

Russound WALTX-2
Weatherproof stereo volume control with impedance magnification
$134.99
In Stock
 
 

Power Protection

Panamax MOD-SPKP
Add-on protection module for outdoor speakers and control lines
 

Also available in:
Open Box: $52.24
$54.99
In Stock
 
 
 
Add selected to cart
 
Find the gear that's right for you
 
Ask an expert
Your Crutchfield Advisor knows the gear inside and out.
Call 1-888-955-6000
 Chat
Ask an expert

Compare with other Definitive Technology models

  • Definitive Technology AW 6500
  • Get fuller sound with deeper bass
  • 5 out of 5: IN STOCK
  • The Definitive Technology AW 6500 offers:
    • a 6-1/2" driver
    • a 5-1/2" x 10" low-bass radiator for bass down to 40 Hz
    • 92 dB sensitivity
    • up to 200 watts power handling
  • Add To Cart
    $199.50
    After $50.00 Sale
  • Definitive Technology AW 5500
  • Outdoor Speaker White
  • 5 out of 5: IN STOCK
    • The Definitive Technology AW 5500 offers:
      • fully sealed PolyStone enclosure for indoor or outdoor use
      • frequency response 45-30,000 Hz
      • 1" tweeter, 5-1/4" woofer, and 5" x 8" low-bass radiator
  • Add To Cart
    $159.50
    After $40.00 Sale
  • Definitive Technology AW 6500
  • Outdoor Speaker White
  • 5 out of 5: IN STOCK
    • The Definitive Technology AW 6500 offers:
      • frequency response 40-30,000 Hz (±3dB)
      • 1" tweeter, 6-1/2" driver,
      • and 5-1/2" x 10" low-bass radiator
  • Add To Cart
    $199.50
    After $50.00 Sale
  • Definitive Technology AW 5500
  • Definitive Technology AW 5500
  • Compare with
  • $159.50
  • After $40.00 Sale
  • Add To Cart
You are here
  • Definitive Technology AW 6500
  • Definitive Technology AW 6500
  • Get details
  • $199.50
  • After $50.00 Sale
  • Add To Cart
 
 
 
close X
Can we help you find something
or answer a question?
Chat with a Crutchfield advisor or call 1-800-320-6609. Chat
Definitive Technology AW 6500