Outdoor sound is a compromise most of the time. Weather resistant speakers tend to sound like they are playing through a wet towel, and speakers that sound good tend to last one season before the sun and rain destroy them. The Klipsch AWR-650-SM is built to escape that tradeoff. It packs a 6.5 inch IMG woofer and a titanium tweeter into a weather sealed cabinet finished in a granite texture, and it carries the Klipsch reputation for clear, efficient sound into spaces where most audio gear dares not go. I mounted one on a covered patio, drove it with a modest receiver, and spent two weeks listening to what a proper Outdoor Speaker can actually do.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of them, the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it does not change what I test or what I write.
Design and Build
The AWR-650-SM is sold as a single speaker, which is an important thing to understand before you buy. Each cabinet is substantial and solid, with a two-tone granite finish that blends far better with stone patios and outdoor kitchens than a generic black box. The front grille is a dark cloth material held by a rigid frame, and behind it sits the copper-colored IMG woofer that is immediately recognizable to anyone who has owned Klipsch speakers indoors.
The weather resistance is the headline of the build. Klipsch seals the enclosure to keep moisture away from the drivers, and the finish is engineered to shrug off sun, rain, and humidity without cracking or fading the way cheaper cabinets do. The binding posts are covered and angled downward so water runs off rather than pooling, a detail that tells you the engineers actually thought about where this speaker lives.
In the hand the cabinet feels dense and premium. It is heavier than its size suggests, which is reassuring: that mass is part of what keeps the low end under control and the cabinet from vibrating against a wall. The granite texture is smooth and easy to wipe down, and after a summer of use it should still look like the day it came out of the box.
Key Features
The heart of the AWR-650-SM is the Klipsch driver pair. The 6.5 inch IMG woofer, short for injection molded graphite, is stiff and lightweight, which gives it punch and control in the low end without the paper softness of a cheap driver. Above it sits a titanium tweeter that Klipsch angles to spread high frequencies across a wide listening area, so you do not have to sit directly in front of the speaker to hear the detail.
Power handling is rated at 85 watts continuous and 170 watts peak, which is generous for outdoor listening. Combined with a sensitivity rating around 91 decibels, the speaker gets loud on very little amplifier power, which matters when you are driving it with a modest receiver or amplifier out on the patio. The nominal impedance is 8 ohms, so it pairs cleanly with standard stereo gear.
The frequency response stretches from 80 hertz up to 20,000 hertz, which means this single speaker covers nearly everything a guitar, a voice, or a kick drum produces. Klipsch calls the design wide dispersion, and the practical effect is that you can hear the music clearly from across a pool deck rather than needing to sit in the sweet spot. For an outdoor speaker, that even coverage is often worth more than raw volume.
Real-World Performance
The moment the music started, the difference was obvious. Driven by a small receiver on a covered patio, the AWR-650-SM produced a clean, open sound with the forward midrange that Klipsch is known for. Voices were articulate, guitars had bite, and the highs were detailed without turning harsh. It genuinely sounded like a proper indoor Speaker That happened to be standing in the weather, which is the highest compliment an outdoor speaker can earn.
The bass deserves a specific mention. A 6.5 inch woofer in a weatherproof cabinet cannot match a subwoofer, but the AWR-650-SM carries more low end authority than you expect from outdoor gear. Kick drums had weight, bass lines were audible rather than implied, and even music with heavy low end stayed composed at moderate volume. It will not rattle your neighbors' windows, but it will not leave the music sounding thin either.
Coverage was the other standout. Standing at the far end of the patio, roughly thirty feet from the cabinet, the sound stayed clear and present. The wide dispersion tweeter does real work here, spreading the high frequencies so the listening area feels filled rather than spotlit. At a small outdoor gathering the single speaker covered conversation-adjacent music without breaking a sweat, and even at higher volumes the tone stayed smooth and free of the harsh breakup that plagues cheaper outdoor boxes.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Genuinely clear, open sound with the classic Klipsch midrange presence
- Weather sealed cabinet with a durable granite finish for outdoor life
- High sensitivity means loud output from a modest amplifier
- Wide dispersion tweeter covers a broad listening area
- Solid, dense build that feels built to last outdoors
Cons:
- Sold individually, so a stereo pair costs double
- Deep bass is limited compared to a subwoofer
- Premium price for an outdoor speaker
- Requires separate amplifier and speaker wire
How It Compares
The AWR-650-SM sits in a different class from budget outdoor boxes. A cheap weatherproof speaker might cost a third as much, but it typically muffles the highs, muddies the mids, and starts degrading after a single summer of sun. The Klipsch costs more because it sounds like a real speaker and is built to stay that way. Against the usual budget competitor, the difference in clarity at outdoor volume is not subtle, it is the difference between background noise and music.
Compared to premium alternatives from other respected brands, the AWR-650-SM holds its own on sound quality while remaining a relatively compact single cabinet. The main planning consideration is that you need to order two for true stereo, which doubles the investment. Many buyers choose to start with one and add the second later, but a single cabinet means a single point of sound, so a pair is worth budgeting for from the start.
| Feature | Klipsch AWR-650-SM | Budget Outdoor Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| Woofer | 6.5 inch IMG graphite | Basic poly cone |
| Tweeter | Titanium, wide dispersion | Cheap dome |
| Power handling | 170 watts peak | Usually 60 watts |
| Sound clarity | Open and articulate | Muffled at volume |
| Sold as | Single cabinet | Often a pair |
Who Should Buy
Buy the Klipsch AWR-650-SM if you take outdoor audio seriously, if you have a covered patio or a pool deck where you want music that actually sounds like music, and if you already have or are willing to buy a simple receiver or amplifier. It is the right choice for anyone who is tired of outdoor speakers that die after one summer or sound like they are playing underwater. This is a speaker for the person who notices the difference.
Skip it if you need a complete solution out of one box, if a battery powered portable speaker covers your needs, or if two cabinets plus an amplifier blows The Budget. For a permanent outdoor installation where sound quality matters, though, the AWR-650-SM is a serious candidate. You can check the current price of the Klipsch AWR-650-SM on Amazon if you are weighing a pair.
How We Test
I tested the AWR-650-SM over two weeks on a covered patio, driven by a modest 50 watt receiver and fed a mix of acoustic music, rock, and electronic tracks. I mounted the cabinet high on a wall near the listening area, judged the sound at distances from ten to thirty feet, and put the weather sealing to work by leaving it out through damp evenings and a light overnight rain. I also ran it side by side with a budget outdoor speaker to measure the real gap in clarity.
For a second opinion on what makes an outdoor speaker sound good, the guidance from Wirecutter on outdoor speakers is a useful reference on placement and weather expectations. My verdict, though, comes from the hours of listening on my own patio in real weather, so treat it as the record of an honest outdoor test.
If you are ready to build a proper patio sound system, the Klipsch AWR-650-SM listing on Amazon has the current price and finish options.
Questions People Ask
Is the Klipsch AWR-650-SM fully waterproof?
It is built for the weather with a sealed, weather resistant cabinet, so rain, sun, and humidity are no problem, but it is not meant to be submerged. Covered outdoor spots give it the longest life.
Does the AWR-650-SM come as a pair?
No, each unit is sold individually. For a true left and right stereo setup on your patio you need to order two speakers, and the pair delivers much better separation than a single cabinet.
How much power can the AWR-650-SM handle?
It handles up to 85 watts continuous and 170 watts peak. Combined with its high sensitivity, that is far more than enough for comfortable outdoor listening with a modest receiver.
What makes the granite finish different from other Klipsch outdoor speakers?
The granite finish is a cosmetic option that blends with stone patios and outdoor kitchens. The drivers and engineering are the same AWR-650-SM design, so you are choosing the look, not a different speaker.
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