Receiver/Amp for outdoor sound?

I just bought some outdoor speakers at an estate sale. I'd like to get them hooked up to a receiver that I can keep outdoors (I'll likely get a box of some sort to keep it out of the rain). Really all that I need is a little amp with a bluetooth receiver and either a 3.5mm or RCA input. Prefer to keep this as inexpensive as possible. 

Anyone have something similar that they'd recommend? 

Have you browsed Parts Express?

Outdoors will likely mean, at times, very damp.  And spiders, ants, and earwigs.

Either something dirt cheap from a yard sale, or something rated for marine use.

Do you have an existing two zone receiver inside, that you could just run speaker wires to? 

That's my plan at some point when we get a pergola built on the patio. Just run speaker wire to the outdoor ones. 

I figured I'd piggyback on this thread, as I have the same question...

I just ordered a pair of Definitive Technology AW 6500 outdoor speakers:
Total Frequency Response40 Hz → 30,000 Hz
Nominal Impedance8 ohms
Sensitivity (1 watt @ 1 meter)92 dB
Now I need something to power them. The source will be a chromecast audio dongle (part of my whole home audio system), I need an amp with an auto-on feature to work well with the chromecast audio.

Looking at the Dayton Audio APA102 Class D amp for $100 USD from parts express, or potentially looking at a used Parasound zamp v.3 for about $180 USD.

I do like the tone controls on the Dayton if there is a need to tweak the sound at all. Both have the auto-on feature that I need, and both have a level control that will help to set a reasonable max level with the chromecast audio as the source.

Is it worth the extra money for the Parasound? I'm thinking likely yes? Even though the Parasound is rated as being less powerful, I would guess that it actually delivers more clean power (rated at 0.07% THD at full power for the Parasound vs <1.0% @ 1 kHz for the Dayton).

Anything else I should be checking out?

mtn said:

I just bought some outdoor speakers at an estate sale. I'd like to get them hooked up to a receiver that I can keep outdoors (I'll likely get a box of some sort to keep it out of the rain). Really all that I need is a little amp with a bluetooth receiver and either a 3.5mm or RCA input. Prefer to keep this as inexpensive as possible. 

Anyone have something similar that they'd recommend? 

Can you post specs on the speakers?  Big difference if they're 70v PA, 5w little things, or 100w monsters.

Or at least a brand and model number.

Cheap ones. I doubt they’re much good, but they looked brand new and were only $5. 

KLH 403a

Finish: Black 
WEATHERIZED FOR OUTDOOR USE 
4” Dynamic Woofer 
1-3/4” Polycarbonate Cone Midrange 
5/8” Mylar Piezo Dome Tweeter 
Suggested Amplifier Power: 5-40 Watts 
Impedance: 6-8 Ohms Average 
Frequency Response: 90 Hz - 20 kHz 
Sensitivity: 85 dB @ 1W-1M 
Includes Mounting Brackets and Hardware 
Warranty: 90 Days Limited Parts/Labor 
Weight: 6 Lbs. 
UPC No.: #048331-00045-0 
No. of Speakers: One Pair (2 Eaches) 
Dimensions: 8”H x 5-5/8”W x 5-1/4”D

speedyracer said:

I just ordered a pair of Definitive Technology AW 6500 outdoor speakers:

Just wanted to add that I have these same speakers and I like them a lot.  Driven by my receiver indoors hardwired trough the wall and ceiling because I'm old school.

Also, earwigs freak my wife out really badly.

wawazat said:

Also, earwigs freak my wife out really badly.

Ha!  Mine too!  Something about those ominous-looking pincers on their butts.  For such a relatively wimpy bug, they have a large "anxiety factor" for many.  My chickens however, are extremely fond of them.

What, this isn't the earwig thread?  My bad.

Here's a good place to start:

$25 Lepai

Then just add a bluetooth dongle to the input.

Just wanted to second the Parts Express recommendation.   I bought a 300 watt plate amp for my $5 Klipsch sub woofer from them for about a bill and the whole shopping experience was positive.  And, I can now shake the whole house.

In reply to Curtis :

They also have two models with bluetooth built in.

https://www.parts-express.com/lepai-lp-269fs-4x45w-mini-amplifier-with-remote-usb-mp3-media-card-fm-and-bluetooth-antenna--310-304

In the way of personal experience with the brand:  I wasn't expecting a lot, but I bought a Lepai amp from P-E back when I built the "Overnight Sensations" speakers for my older son.  He still listens to that system, and it still sounds sweet.  Gotta be five years old by now.  For a dirt cheap little amp, it has far exceeded my expectations.

I bought one of the Lepai amps for my soldering bench.  I repair all kinds of audio equipment so I need a test bench.  I haven't used it much, but it is a nice little workhorse.

Curtis said:

Here's a good place to start:

$25 Lepai

Then just add a bluetooth dongle to the input.

I was going to say the same. I use one of these in my  shop, and another in my office. I think mine came from Amazon. It  makes more than enough noise to piss off the neighbors.  The shop one is pushing a set of old Jensen 3 ways with 12" woofers. The office version is pushing a set of Acoustic Research bookshelf speakers. Both sound pretty decent. 

Do you have neighbors? Do you have a good relationship with them? Because that will probably end very soon.