The sound of Bose

The big question, of course, was: how did they sound? Was it worth the investment in time and money to install the Free Space® 51 environmental speakers? As you might expect, the answer was a resounding yes. The first thing I noticed was that the sound had real presence and spaciousness. The highs coming through the domed grilles were surprisingly clear, and I could actually hear some sonic detail I could never get outdoors before.

While the best place to listen was an equal distance between the two speakers, the sound didn't significantly suffer as I moved about the yard. Walking around the edge of our property, I did notice a balance change when one speaker was significantly farther from me than the other. Unlike with my stereo speakers, though, one channel may have been more prominent at times, but I could always hear both channels no matter where I was.

Music for all seasons

Because we host different kinds of outdoor parties (as well as just wanting some music when we work in the yard), I tried a variety of music to test the Free Space® 51 environmental speakers' performance. The speakers handled all the radio stations from my tuner well, as I expected. The compressed sound of most radio stations works well in an outdoor environment. The same was true with the various pop CDs I tried. The Donnas' Spend the Night sounded appropriately crunchy. The downward-firing drivers give bass-heavy songs weight without overpowering the highs.

My photographer's assistant shows how compact an Free Space® 51 environmental speaker really is.

As Heard on Radio Soulwax, Pt. 2 by 2 Many DJs features a dizzying array of dance remixes and mashups that completely change about every minute or so. The speakers handled the changes with ease, and this disc, too, sounded vivid in both highs and lows.

I then trotted out one of my favorite test discs: Vaughan Williams' "Sea Symphony" (10 Great Classical Discs). They did an excellent job reproducing the sound of the large orchestra and chorus this work opens up with. The music was convincingly massive, with enough detail to make out individual instruments from the ensemble.

I tried some acoustic selections that were a little more intimate in nature, beginning with Murray Perahia's Chopin recital disc. Overall it was a very natural pianistic sound, although the highs sounded a little dull. I clearly heard every note, and while some of the details I could hear on headphones weren't readily apparent, it was still a marked improvement over what my indoor speakers could do outside.

I then sampled some of jazz singer Rene Marie's How Can I Keep from Singing? and a few cuts from Bebel Gilberto's new self-titled bossa-nova album. Both CDs sounded better outdoors than they did on my previous "outdoor" setups, with a spacious acoustic feel appropriate for the music.

The speaker's casing complements most outdoor settings.

Accompaniment alfresco

With my old setups, it was always a challenge to find that point where the sound was loud enough to hear, but not so loud as to overdrive the speakers (or shred their cones). It was a challenge I often failed. With the Bose Free Space® 51 environmental speakers, no matter what volume level I set, I still heard the separation and detail that made the music come alive.

Yes, that meant I could turn it up as loud as I wanted (or rather, as loud as the neighbors would allow). Most importantly, it also meant I could turn the music way down without sacrificing sound quality. At last I could entertain and have background music that would complement conversation rather than overpower it.

Of course, if you live in a townhouse, want to get music just on your screened-in porch, or otherwise want outdoor music only in a specific area, these speakers may not be the best choice. Small directional outdoor speakers mounted in the eaves of your house work better for those situations. In my case, though, I needed omnidirectional speakers to effectively cover my backyard, so they were a perfect solution.

The Free Space® 51 environmental speakers are another example of what Bose does best. While they're masters of applied acoustical science, Bose applies equal consideration to how people use their products in the real world. Whether you entertain a lot, or just occasionally want some pleasant music to garden by, the Free Space® 51 environmental speakers can deliver the sound, and do so in two small, unobtrusive packages. After giving them a try, I'm ready to put the "good old days" behind me!