Audio & Headphones · Head-to-head
Klipsch AW-650 All-Weather Outdoor Speaker (Pair) vs Polk Audio Atrium 8 Outdoor Speaker (Pair)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Outdoor Speakers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Klipsch AW-650 is the all-around winner: a ready-to-mount pair with the clearest sound of the group and durability owners trust across seasons. The Polk Atrium 8 is the value runner-up, giving up a little top-end detail for bigger sound and the easiest install here.
Klipsch AW-650 All-Weather Outdoor Speaker (Pair)
Buy itThe crisp, detailed patio-mount pair that most people should just buy and forget about.
- Titanium dome tweeter on a Tractrix horn gives vocals and acoustic detail unusual clarity outdoors, where sound normally goes muddy
- Sold as a ready-to-mount pair with an included bracket, in black or white to blend into a wall or eave
- Reviewers and owners consistently rate its weather sealing and multi-season durability as a strength
- At 6.5 inches it needs a subwoofer or a second pair for big, party-level low end across a large yard
- The bright Klipsch voicing can sound a touch forward to listeners who prefer a warmer, laid-back tone
Polk Audio Atrium 8 Outdoor Speaker (Pair)
Buy itThe value pick that trades a little finesse for bigger, fuller sound and the easiest mounting here.
- PowerPort bass venting and a larger cabinet give it noticeably fuller low end than most speakers its size
- The tool-friendly Speed-Lock mounting bracket makes install the simplest of the group, per owner reports
- Polk says the Atrium line exceeds industrial and military specs for UV, salt fog, immersion, and corrosion, so it suits coastal and sun-baked spots
- Highs are a bit softer and less detailed than the Klipsch, so it rewards volume over critical listening
- The chunky enclosure is more visible on a wall than slimmer architectural designs
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Klipsch AW-650 All-Weather Outdoor Speaker (Pair) Our pick | Polk Audio Atrium 8 Outdoor Speaker (Pair) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Most patios and decks that want clear, articulate sound from a fuss-free wall-mount pair. | Budget-conscious buyers who want room-filling volume and a painless install over last-word detail. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Sound clarity & detail | Excellent - crisp horn-loaded highs | Good - fuller but softer highs |
| Bass & low-end output | Moderate (6.5") | Strong for its size (PowerPort) |
| Weatherproofing & durability | Strong, multi-season | Strong, rated for UV, salt fog & immersion |
| Install & mounting ease | Easy - bracket included | Easiest - Speed-Lock bracket |
| Visual discretion | Visible wall box | Bulkier wall box |
| What you get | Sold as a pair | Polk sells it individually; one SDI unit can play stereo |
| Needs a separate amp | Yes | Yes |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Klipsch AW-650 All-Weather Outdoor Speaker (Pair) if
most patios and decks that want clear, articulate sound from a fuss-free wall-mount pair.
Know before buying: at 6.5 inches it needs a subwoofer or a second pair for big, party-level low end across a large yard.
Pick the Polk Audio Atrium 8 Outdoor Speaker (Pair) if
budget-conscious buyers who want room-filling volume and a painless install over last-word detail.
Know before buying: highs are a bit softer and less detailed than the Klipsch, so it rewards volume over critical listening.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Klipsch AW-650 All-Weather Outdoor Speaker (Pair) - The crisp, detailed patio-mount pair that most people should just buy and forget about. Choose the Polk Audio Atrium 8 Outdoor Speaker (Pair) instead if budget-conscious buyers who want room-filling volume and a painless install over last-word detail.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Outdoor Speakers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).