Wanted to check myself on this:

Got an outdoor type audio speaker within 5 feet from the waters edge. This is not an underwater speaker, just an above ground (weatherproof) outdoor speaker so you can hear music while outside.

Am I correct in that 680.10 would apply here, and that the wiring should be at least 5 feet away?

I think the code section you wanted is 640.10 not 680.10 as you typed. Yes I agree with you, if you want look at 640.3(i), 640.10(a), but be carefull cause 640.10(b) might just change things.

10-4 Mike, thanks.

In addition check out 640.9(c) and FPN 2.

The interesting thing I see in 640.10(A) is the distance is measured laterally, with no regard to height.
"Audio system equipment supplied by branch-circuit power shall not be placed laterally within 1.5 m (5 ft) of the inside wall of a pool, spa, hot tub, or fountain, or within 1.5 m (5 ft) of the prevailing or tidal high water mark."
They are saying you can't even have a speaker where you could have a luminaire. (12ft up)
It would also seem to prohibit speakers on any structure that extends out beyond 5' of the high tide mark. Are we going to raid the St Pete or Naples pier? (along with 10,000 waterside resturants)
Actually some of those resturants need a good inspector raid but that is another issue. ;-)

Having been the pres. of a sound company in a previous life most speakers are able to be supplied by CL2 circuits. The amps still must be away.

The article does not talk about the wiring method (IE:CL2) to the speaker. The way I read it, if the amp is line powered the speakers can't be within 5' of the water's edge.

Article 640.9 identifies the type wiring methods and also references article 725. The output wiring method is determined by the listing marked on the amplifier as to the class. They can be class 1, 2, or 3.

640.10 doesn't care.
"Audio system equipment supplied by branch-circuit power shall not be placed laterally within 1.5 m (5 ft) of the inside wall of a pool, spa, hot tub, or fountain, or within 1.5 m (5 ft) of the prevailing or tidal high water mark"

Defined as;
"Audio Signal Processing Equipment. Electrically operated equipment that produces or processes, or both, electronic signals that, when appropriately amplified and reproduced by a loudspeaker, produce an acoustic signal within the range of normal human hearing (typically 20-20 kHz). Within this article, the terms equipment and audio equipment are assumed to be equivalent to audio signal processing equipment.

FPN:This equipment includes, but is not limited to, LOUDSPEAKERS; headphones; pre-amplifiers; microphones and their power supplies; mixers; MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) equipment or other digital control systems; equalizers, compressors, and other audio signal processing equipment; audio media recording and playback equipment, including turntables, tape decks and disk players (audio and multimedia), synthesizers, tone generators, and electronic organs. Electronic organs and synthesizers may have integral or separate amplification and loudspeakers. With the exception of amplifier outputs, virtually all such equipment is used to process signals (utilizing analog or digital techniques) that have nonhazardous levels of voltage or current potential."

I am assuming that they feel a fault in the <line powered> amp could present line voltage to the speaker leads. In older equipment the chassis might actually be connected to one side of the line, hopefully the grounded conductor. That assumes the plug cap is polarized, installed properly and that the receptacle is wired correctly.

It should also be noted that commercial/professional grade amps operate speakers on a 70v line.

I think that Nick was talking about the location of a speaker at a residential pool. Maybe he can give us that info.

640.9 defines the class and listing of amplifiers and will determine the type wiring methods required for that class in conjunction with article 725.

640.10(a). Your information is correct and well put by the way, and I believe I agreed with that in my first post to Nick.

But I also wanted to caution, 640.10(b) does not require the restricted placement of speakers that 640.10(a) limits, if the amplifier output is listed and marked for use with class 2 wiring. But the amplifier itself if supplied by branch circuit power is still subject to 640.10(a)

That's the point I was making, the class needed to be verified because if the amplifier output is class 2 than the requirements of 640.10(a) do not apply unless the manufacturer of the amplifier recommends restricted placement per 640.10(b).

If you are looking for help from the user's manuals (manufacturer's instruction) you won't get much. I looked at the book from a Magnavox big screen TV with external speakers, Yamaha stereo amp, Optimus <cheap> stereo amp and some Labtec PC speakers. None address the <725> class or wiring method and they all have some nebulous lawyer speak about "not using near water".
Considering you can't even have 12vdc "malibu" lights within 5' of the water's edge I don't see much controversy about failing them although I do think I would be OK if these speakers were 12 feet "up".

Sorry it took me so long to post back.

Well, actually I guess I'm talking about both the wiring and the speaker. The speakers were within 5' so the wiring was also within that parameter.

The difference is that landscape lighting falls under article 411. Article 411 addresses low voltage lighting systems operating at 30 volts or less having a maximum output of 600 va.

Article 411.4 prohibits this type of lighting within 10 ft of a pool, spa, fountain, except as permitted by article 680.

Whereas 640.10(b) does not have the same restrictions for a class 2 installation since the va. ratings for class two wiring per 725 is limited to:
0-20 volts 5 x vmax
21-30 volts 100 va.
31-150 volts 0.5 va.

For this reason the fire and shock hazard is limited for class 2 wiring in comparison to the low voltage lighting systems in article 411.

That’s the code difference. The code has left that up to the manufacturer to make that determination. The code requires one to determine what the classification of the amplifier output is.

So I agree if there is no classification marked on the amplifier than I would require the installation to conform to 640.10(a) as we said in the beginning.

I apologize because I am confusing everyone with my reply. When I said "the wiring and the speaker," I meant the speaker wiring and the speaker. I understand about the landscape lighting and low volt wiring, my concern was primarily the speaker. I think you have answered all angles, thanks!

I knew dat.