speaker degradation question

I have an excellent sub, (sunfire signature) and a center that i feel is timbre matched (Sonus Faber). I suppose my question should be, loudspeakers have not changed much enough in the past decade for me to worry about obsolesence, right ?

Justy: If you find your current speakers/sub musically satisfying by all means use them for home theater. New does not neccesarily make better. Do not fall for the salesman's hype.

Justy, there have been alot of changes(more so in formats) in the past 10 years, but there are a number or great speakers being made with technology arround 10 years ago. I aggree with above, if you like the sound stick with what you have. Another idea would be to audition some of these new up-to-date speakers. If a saleman tells you there would be significate changes, make him put up. Most quality dealers will let you try them in your home. A/B them against yours. If the difference isn't worth the money, tell the salesman he was wrong. Have fun and happy listening...LR

I think that speakers do experience some level of degredation over the years. I know my 12 year old vandersteens were starting to sound loose and 'chuffy' in the bass. This may have been due to my listening to more modern designs. I understand that speaker manufacturers have considerably better options for drivers and wire than they did ten years ago. I know there was a world of difference between my vintage vandersteen 2C's and the modern day 2CE signature. Same basic design, but with more modern components. On aging, speakers are an electromechanical device, and I know that there is a certain amount of 'flex' built into speaker cones. This is speculation, but it would seem logical that after a number of years these become more flexible and produce a less accurate sound. If your linn's sound great to you (which they should!), you should just keep them until you find something better. On the topic of 'home theater' speakers, there is some truth to the fact that a home theater designed speaker tends to be a little brighter and able to product the exaggerated special effects of movies. Way-overcooked bass being an example.

Providing that your speakers don't have foam surrounds they should last a very long time, unless you expose them to very high levels of UV. Bright sunlight will destroy many different materials over time. The old Magneplaners had a problem with it.(they use a UV resistant adhesive now). I am sure you have also seen an old loudspeaker with crumbeling foam around the woofer. The Rodgers Ls35a's I bought in 1978 still sound as good as they did when new. I still use them in my bedroom. 8 years old is just broken in!