So long as they're not damaged electrically, and you keep the cones out of UV light, new, modern drivers will last longer than a lot of us.
How long do good speakers last?
I just ordered a set of Sonus Faber Olympica Nova Vs, my first foray into nice speakers. I turn 51 this month and am hoping these will be the last speakers I ever buy. But it got me to thinking - how long should I expect these speakers to last? Or any good speakers for that matter? Does the foam eventually break down? Issues with general wear and tear? Appreciate your perspectives!
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As others have mentioned, woofers with foam surrounds may eventually need replacement of the surround. The life of such surround is usually shortened by exposure to sunlight and air pollution (particularly ozone). Other kinds of drivers should last longer. These days, tweeters are not built with magnetic fluid in the voicecoil gap; that fluid eventually dries up. I’ve heard many systems that use terrific sounding woofers that have never had to have the surround replaced because they do not employ rubber foam (e.g. pleated paper surround); some of these drivers are more than 60 years old. The midrange compression drivers in my system are around 73 years old. |
Infinity InfiniTesimal RS 0.1. 1978 I have 2 pairs never touched other than rotating the woofer (4" DVC Watkins) every 5 years or so and cleaning the switch pots. Poly caps will last 100 years and the BR surrounds will last 100 years with just silicone spray every 2-3 years. There are kits for the ribbon tweeters. 45 years old.. Impressive little speakers still fetch a serious price too.. Mag/Aluminum cast speakers cabinets, fitted with hard wood.. and screen diffuser.. Regards |
My speakers are 32 and performing well. It depends on the components and materials. Foam surrounds tend to go in about 20 years, depending on humidity and temps...rubber surrounds can last much longer, but I haven’t reached the point yet where I can tell you what it is. Any pots can get oxidized at about any time, but most definitely will grunge up at some point. Good caps can last a really long time, but after 50 years lots of people replace caps in electronics...not so sure about speakers (they see a lot less heat). I replaced the ferro fluid in my tweeters at about the 30 year mark. All else is near mint on them. Enjoy your new speakers! |
That's a gorgeous speaker, where do you live? Near NJ, USA? Can I invite myself for a listen? Yes, I would expect to keep them until I'm gone. My drivers and crossovers were all made in 1958 (I was 10 then). I have replaced the 15" woofer cones 3 times over 63 years (not separate foam surrounds back then). Once by a pro; twice by myself. horn tweeters and horn midrange impregnated linen, nearly indestructible, UNLESS you over-blast this: https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tFP1zcsNjAtKsqqLDBg9BLKzFNIVEhPTElJVACissyURAC2Sgq7&q=... I burnt 2 tweeters, nothing since then. Crossover is a tar filled can, newer open crossovers can be repaired, upgraded, that won’t be a limiting factor. I also have L-Pads (speakers in that era were designed with flexibility in mind), I just replaced them, inexpensive and easy to find and do myself. True Longevity: buy spare drivers at some point before you cannot get them anymore. ........................................ Substitute Drivers, i.e. a different tweeter, can be done and possibly be better: reliability, sound, or both. JSE Infinite Slope Model II’s used Dynaudio D21 Tweeters. I got my speakers used, great price ($700/pair) with burnt out tweeters, replaced them with D21’s. All set, except: Every party my teenage son had, they burnt one or both of the tweeters. It cost him $60. each tweeter way back then. After a while, I researched, found some Focals with near identical specs, matching sensitivity, better ferro-fluid cooling, got confirming advice from Madisound, used them, they are still tweeting. |
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