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Outdoor television technology has come a long way in the past decade. Today’s outdoor TVs deliver high quality picture, streaming capabilities, and greater durability than ever before. In this article, we’ll help you learn more about the outdoor TV market and what you can expect from the top outdoor TV brands we sell at The Sound Room.  

What You Can Expect from All Outdoor TVs 

Weather Resistance: This is especially important in a climate like St. Louis’. The humidity is high. The temperatures can range from extremely cold to extremely hot. Outdoor TVs are built to stay outside and plugged in year-round. They have heating and cooling features that protect them from the elements and only work if the product is plugged in. You can even rinse them off with a hose and will experience no performance issues.   

Tailored Sound Solutions: Many outdoor TVs don’t come with an internal speaker. Why? Because broadcasting sound in an outdoor environment with a built-in television speaker is a tall task. Instead, outdoor TVs utilize sound solutions tailored to the environment they’re being used in. Many customers use a sound bar to project the sound directly to viewers. Others opt to use outdoor speakers mounted to their home or deck, or even hidden in their landscaping. You can direct your music as well as your TV sounds through the same speakers, depending on what media you’re using in a given situation.   

Protection from Pests: Customers are often surprised to learn bugs are the leading cause of failure for indoor TVs used outside. TVs make an attractive home for bugs. This can cause electrical shorts and even turn your television into a fire hazard. All outdoor TVs are built specifically to keep bugs out.  

Durability: You might think that any TV used outdoors, even if they’re built for it, can only last so long. But in all our years of installing outdoor TVs in the St. Louis area, we have only sold a select few that have needed to be replaced. These units have a reputation to holding up in even the harshest conditions.  

As the weather begins to warm up each year, we see a growing number of customers looking into outdoor entertainment components. The television is often the centerpiece of any outdoor entertainment space, and customers have many questions about using TVs outside. In this article, we break down the most frequent questions we get from customers about outdoor TVs and provide clear answers to help you make well-informed product decisions.

Can a regular TV be used for outdoors?

Short term? Yes. Long term? No. Temporarily, an indoor TV will function outdoors. So if it’s a one-time situation in mild temperature and weather conditions and you want to have a TV outdoors for an afternoon, you could technically use any TV. But if you plan to watch television outdoors more frequently or you plan to keep the TV outside full time, you should not use a regular indoor TV. It is not designed to stand up to outdoor conditions and will fail much sooner.

Are outdoor TVs waterproof or just water resistant?

You’ll need to do some research. Some outdoor TVs are designed to be completely waterproof. They could withstand a direct downpour of rain and still function normally. Others are water resistant. They will stand up to wet weather better than your indoor TV, but are not made to withstand constant direct precipitation. Water resistant TVs will work fine under a covered porch, but if your TV will not be covered and protected from rain, you should go with a waterproof model. 

Are outdoor TVs more expensive than indoor TVs?

Typically, outdoor TV models will be more expensive than comparable indoor TVs. Why? It comes down to features. Outdoor TVs feature specialized design and weather-resistance that creates additional expense. But they will also last much longer than a regular indoor TV in an outdoor environment.  

Do I need a special mounting bracket for an outdoor TV?

Yes. Most TV mounts are made of metal. So it’s important to select a TV mount that is rated to stand up to weather, or you will deal with rust and corrosion that will deteriorate the materials and require you to replace the mount. If you’re investing in an outdoor TV, it’s also smart to invest in a mount made for outdoor use.  

Enjoy the Best Sports Time of the Year with an Outdoor Entertainment Area 

If you've got any sports fans in the family, you know fall is the best time of the year. It's when many leagues converge, keeping you close to all your favorite teams. Start the week watching the Chiefs on Monday night football, catch some midweek Champions League and Cardinals action, and see if St. Louis SC will win their first MLS title during the weekend. 

The only problem is this sports extravaganza often means staying cooped up inside to keep up with the games. But it doesn't have to be that way! With outdoor TVs, you simultaneously enjoy the fun and crisp Missouri fall weather. And you don't have to step too far from the grill if you host some friends for a pre-game tailgate. 

Below, we'll cover the best outdoor TV options for sports fans and the ideal setup for easy access to all your favorite leagues and tournaments.