SoundTouch & SoundLink compatibility

[jimjohnmarks]

We started with a SoundTouch 300 as the audio solution in our TV room (which is too small for proper 5.1 or 7.1) and love it. We expanded to a pair of SoundTouch10, one in the bedroom, one in the living room and love filling the whole house with sound. 

We'd love to carry this joy outdoors, but there doesn't seem to be an outdoor SoundTouch product?  Looking at the SoundLink Revolve but it seems to utilize a distinct phone app from the SoundTouch app. Anyone know if you have to have separate apps (and thus probably can't stream the same audio indoors and out at the same time) just because of the slightly different product lines? Or can we run both SoundLink and SoundTouch from the "Bose Connect" app or can we run SoundLink products on the "SoundTouch" app? 

Or is there some other, preferable, solution we're not seeing for how to integrate SoundTouch to an outdoor audio slution?

[Morlock · Accepted solution]

It's less about the apps and more about the wireless technology.  SoundTouch speakers are primarily Wifi because it is more stable for multiple products and has a longer range and works better through obsticles such as walls.  BT is limited in range, so multi-room becomes a problem.

So the SoundLinks run off BT only (and if it had Wifi, you would probably have a poor battery life) and while speakers like the revolve can link to a second SoundLink device it is about getting more sound in the one room.

There are a couple of options for SoundTouch outdoors.  The more permanent solution is using the SA-5 amplifier with outdoor speakers (like the 251s) that are permanently set up outside.

The other option depends on having power where you want it.  A SoundTouch 20 is generally small enough to move outdoors and indoors when necessary, but you still need a power cable where you want it.

You could also use the SoundTouch Wireless adaptor connected to portable speaerks, but you still need power for that anyway.

[jimjohnmarks]

Comprehensive response much appreciated.

Power isn’t the issue, the patio isn’t very big and it has a convenient outlet. WiFi signal reaches out there just fine, too

Just don’t want to run audio wires, want everything running the same signal at the same time inside and out and would prefer not to permanently mount anything if at all avoidable.

Sounds like the best option is more ST10’s we just have to remember to bring in out of the weather when they aren’t in use.