Definitive Technology AW5500 All-Weather Speakers (Pair)

Definitive Technology AW5500 All-Weather Speakers (Pair)

The Definitive Technology AW5500 is an all-weather loudspeaker designed to deliver indoor-quality sound in outdoor spaces such as patios, decks, gardens and pool areas. Inside its fully sealed PolyStone enclosure, a 5.25-inch BDSS (Balanced Double Surround System) cast-basket bass/midrange driver is pressure-coupled to a 5 x 8-inch racetrack-shaped planar low-bass radiator, giving a total bass radiating area greater than a conventional 8-inch woofer while keeping the cabinet air- and water-tight. A 1-inch pure aluminium dome tweeter handles the top end, for a specified frequency response of 45 Hz to 30 kHz, 91 dB sensitivity and recommended amplification of 10 to 175 watts per channel. This listing is for a pair.

Key features

• All-weather outdoor speaker, fully sealed air- and water-tight PolyStone enclosure
• 5.25-inch BDSS bass/midrange driver with cast basket
• 5 x 8-inch pressure-driven planar low-bass radiator for extended bass output
• 1-inch pure aluminium dome tweeter
• Frequency response 45 Hz – 30 kHz, sensitivity 91 dB
• Recommended amplification 10-175 watts per channel
• Integrated galvanised steel bracket with 360-degree rotation, vertical or horizontal mounting
• Gold-plated 5-way binding posts

Why a passive radiator, not a port

The passive radiator is the key to the AW5500 design. A ported outdoor speaker needs openings that let weather in; a passive radiator moves air like a port but keeps the enclosure completely sealed, so the speaker gains the bass output of a ported design without giving water and dust a way inside. Definitive Technology quotes the combined radiating area as greater than that of a typical 8-inch woofer, which is how a cabinet under 20cm wide reaches a genuine 45 Hz. Drainage channels around the terminals prevent water collecting at the gold-plated 5-way binding posts, and the non-resonant PolyStone enclosure is built to withstand rain, snow and temperature extremes that would destroy an indoor speaker.

Mounting and orientation

The integrated galvanised steel bracket rotates a full 360 degrees, so each speaker can be mounted vertically or horizontally under an eave, on a wall, or on a post, and aimed precisely at the listening area. Pointing the active driver baffle toward the listeners, with the low-bass radiator facing the wall or surface behind it, gives the best balance of clear midrange, extended highs and full bass, because the nearby surface reinforces the radiator output outdoors, where there are no room boundaries to help. Definitive Technology suggests a receiver crossover setting of Large (40 Hz) when the AW5500 is used with an AV receiver’s bass management.

Power and pairing

The AW5500 is compatible with 4 to 8 ohm amplifier outputs and rated for 10 to 175 watts per channel, so it runs comfortably from zone outputs, multiroom amplifiers and outdoor-rated AV receivers. Its 91 dB sensitivity produces useful outdoor volume without a large amplifier, which matters outside, where sound dissipates into open air instead of reflecting off walls and ceilings. Sold as a pair, it provides true stereo coverage for a seating area; larger spaces can use additional pairs on separate zones.

Where it fits

The AW5500 suits residential outdoor entertainment areas and commercial spaces such as restaurants, bars and cafés that need full-range music outdoors from a compact, weatherproof cabinet. Full specifications are listed in the Additional Information table on this page.