The annual CEDIA Expo places a heavy emphasis on home theater and smart home technology, but there is also a growing presence in the outdoor audio category. Origin Acoustics, Theory Audio, ELAC, and Polk Audio are among the players in this category, but two companies getting more aggressive in the segment are KEF and Coastal Source.
At CEDIA 2026, Coastal Source was on hand with several new products, including its recently released Bollard 100 Series speakers, Ovation Ceiling Speaker, Power Source Low Voltage Plug-and-Play System, and Via Dynamic Outdoor Lighting, developed in partnership with Lutron.
The Bollard 1000 Series
We have previously reported on the Coastal Source Bollard 1000 Series speakers, but the company’s presence at CEDIA gave us an opportunity to listen to two models; the 3-Way B2600 and 2-Way EB1250 Ellipse — on the show floor.
Both sounded better than I expected, delivering impressive bass, a very prominent midrange, and clear highs. The “weatherized” ribbon tweeters certainly did their job. More importantly, these speakers sounded much closer to what you would expect from mid-to-high-end indoor loudspeakers than conventional outdoor speakers.
Coastal Source Model B2600 EB1250 Ellipse Product Type 3-Way Bollard Speaker 2-Way Bollard Speaker Construction Rotomolded color-through polymer composite Rotomolded color-through polymer composite Outdoor Rating Meets or exceeds NEMA 6 / IP67 testing standards Meets or exceeds NEMA 6 / IP67 testing standards Tweeter 2.5” Planar Ribbon 3” Planar Ribbon Mid-Bass Woofer 6.5” Carbon Fiber Cone 7″ x 10” Carbon Fiber Cone Passive Radiators 3x 6.5” Passive Radiators Not Applicable Subwoofer 4x 6.5” Laminate Cones Not Applicable Power Handling Sub – 500W, Sat – 125W 200W Frequency Response 30Hz – 20kHz 50Hz – 20kHz Sensitivity Sat – 88db @ 1w/M, Sub – 88db @ 1w/M 90db @ 1w/M Dispersion 120° 120° Impedance 16 ohms 16 ohms Speaker Connectors 8C16 Uni-Connect Input & Output Connectors 8C16 Uni-Connect Input & Output Connectors Finish Brown (fine textured satin) Brown (fine textured satin) Mounting Freestanding, Partial Burial, or Hardscape Mount (optional) Freestanding, Partial Burial, or Hardscape Mount (optional) Dimensions (HWD) 42.5” x 11” x 12.25” 29” x 11” x 12.25” Weight 50.6 lb 27.5 lb
For full details and specifications on the entire 1000 Series Bollard lineup, refer to our detailed report: Coastal Source 1000 Series Bollards Bring Ribbon Tweeters Outdoors, Because Why Not.
Ovation Ceiling Speaker
Initially released at the 2025 CEDIA Expo, the Coastal Source Ovation made another appearance at CEDIA this year.
The Ovation combines high-end performance with a compact but heavy-duty design that is easy to install either outdoors or indoors, with a flush-mount design and 360° clamping system.
The Ovation provides environmental protection with a combination of a rust-resistant extruded aluminum grille and UV-stable plastics & weatherproof fabrics. The Ovation is built to last.
For sound reproduction, the Ovation incorporates an elliptical driver and ribbon tweeter that provide wide coverage without losing focus on sound quality. It also provides exceptional bass for such a small form factor.
Coastal Source Model Ovation Product Type Outdoor/Indoor Ceiling Speaker Construction Rust-resistant extruded aluminum grille and UV-stable plastics & weatherproof fabrics Ceiling Placement Designed for protected outdoor spaces such as covered patios, lanais, cabanas, and breezeways Outdoor Rating Wiithstands harsh climates, salt spray, sun, snow, and heavy rain – Tweeter 1.25″ coaxial planar ribbon tweeter Woofer 7″ x 10″ elliptical woofer Power Handling up to 80 watts RMS Frequency Response 40-25,000 Hz (-6 dB) Sensitivity 86 dB Dispersion 120° conical dispersion pattern Impedance 8 ohms Speaker Connectors Binding posts with male Coastal Mini Connector (CMC) pigtail Mounting In-Ceiling Dimensions (WHD) 10.675” x 5.25” x 7.675″ Weight 4 lbs
VIA Lighting
In addition to the Bollard 1000 Series and Ovation speakers, Coastal Source also showcased examples of its VIA lighting solutions, developed in partnership with Lutron. The system supports Lutron’s Ketra full-spectrum color and accent lighting capabilities, along with Rania tunable white lighting.
The fixtures are available in a variety of styles designed to complement different architectural and landscape requirements.
VIA Lighting fixtures feature solid brass construction and plug-and-play installation with Coastal Source power systems, with control provided through Lutron HomeWorks.
Coastal Source PowerSource
One of the biggest challenges with outdoor audio and lighting systems is the complexity of power management. At CEDIA 2026, Coastal Source gave us a closer look at its PowerSource system, designed to simplify that part of the installation process.
According to Coastal Source, its PowerSource system is the first UL-certified, plug-and-play 120V system approved for direct burial (NEMA 6) and above-ground use. The company says the system is designed to provide safe, reliable power where needed while reducing the permitting delays and licensed line-voltage labor costs traditionally associated with outdoor power installations. Local permitting, electrical code, and licensing requirements may still vary by jurisdiction.
The system consists of pre-assembled, modular components that screw together, shortening installation times and reducing the level of specialized labor required. Its modular design also makes the system easier to scale as outdoor audio, lighting, and other systems expand.
PowerSource can also shorten cable runs and improve system efficiency while, perhaps most importantly for the homeowner, helping keep installations clean and discreet.
The Bottom Line
Coastal Source is not approaching the backyard as a place to bolt a few speakers to the house and call it a day. The Bollard 1000 Series, Ovation, VIA Lighting, and PowerSource system are designed to work together as part of a more complete outdoor entertainment and architectural platform, with sound quality, lighting, installation, and power management addressed under one roof.
The company’s use of weatherized ribbon tweeters is also unusual in this category, and based on what we heard at CEDIA, the better Bollard models can deliver the kind of bass weight, midrange presence, and treble clarity that we normally associate with considerably more serious indoor loudspeakers.
This is primarily aimed at custom integrators, landscape designers, and homeowners building premium outdoor spaces where aesthetics and reliability matter just as much as sound quality. It is not the solution for someone looking to hang a $300 pair of patio speakers beside the grill.
Coastal Source also has considerably more competition than it did a few years ago. Theory Audio Design has been pushing high-output landscape audio further upmarket, while KEF’s expanding outdoor lineup adds speakers, subwoofers, and amplification from one of the biggest names in high-end audio.
The backyard audio wars have officially moved well beyond waterproof speakers and an extension cord.
Price & Availability
Coastal Source products (including amplifiers) are available through Coastal Source and Authorized Dealers. Refer to dealers for pricing and installation.
Related Reading:
- Gift Guide: Best Outdoor Audio and Movie Gear for Summer 2026
- Coastal Source Unveils Hardscape Razor Outdoor Speakers That Can Fit in Tight Spots
- Wisdom Audio Debuts Ultra-High-End Outdoor Sage Series Line Source Speakers at CEDIA 2025 for Full-Range, All-Weather Performance
- Bang & Olufsen Beosound Haven Outdoor Speaker Debuts with Antolini at Milan Design Week 2026
- Theory Audio’s Landscape Speaker Lineup Aims to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into A High-End Audio Oasis
