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Speaker Question

jsf729

jsf729

Dec 12, 2014
522
467
70
Central Maryland
#1
Can speaker quality degrade over time? I'm under the assumption that they either work properly or are unusable if obviously damaged due to voice coil or cone damage, but my understanding may be based on older technology speakers. Any insight would be appreciated!
 
#2
The gaskets around the cones can wear over time. Voice coils can warp and degrade sound quality without totally failing. Dust covers can loosen up and give you weird noises but not be obviously bad.

Are you having a specific issue with a specific speaker?
 
#3
The most common failure mode I've experienced with speakers and time relates to deterioration of the surround/spider/dust cover materials and/or adhesives. This was primarily in home audio gear (JBL specifically) that could not have been treated more gently.

I would imagine repeated over-powering a driver could result in premature fatigue and/or heat related failures. Storage and general exposure to high heat, UV rays (direct sunlight) and/or high humidity could also result in a shorter useful life.

All that said, I'm still using Peavey Scorpion loaded PA cabs that I bought new in 1984. They've been treated well and stored in ideal conditions. Those speakers (while not the highest-end products in the world) sound as good today as they did when I first bought them.
 
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#4
Reedt2000 said:
The gaskets around the cones can wear over time. Voice coils can warp and degrade sound quality without totally failing. Dust covers can loosen up and give you weird noises but not be obviously bad.

Are you having a specific issue with a specific speaker?
Click to expand...
Not sure. I have a 20 year old Eden D210XLT that seems to have lost it's "luster". Although it still sounds OK, it seems to have lost it's edge and bottom. It's been well used but well cared for. What is the best way to test? Take it to shop and sweep all the frequencies? Thanks for the insight
 
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#5
jsf729 said:
Not sure. I have a 20 year old Eden D210XLT that seems to have lost it's "luster". Although it still sounds OK, it seems to have lost it's edge and bottom. It's been well used but well cared for. What is the best way to test? Take it to shop and sweep all the frequencies? Thanks for the insight
Click to expand...
IME a good speaker tech can very quickly (within a few minutes) check a cab out and give you an assessment of the condition of the drivers. The time I watched this being done they took a few static electrical measurements (to include the crossover and the drivers), did a visual inspection (with a magnifying glass for some areas), and conducted some hands-on moving of the drivers and a dynamic frequency sweep while listening very carefully.
 
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#6
jsf729 said:
Not sure. I have a 20 year old Eden D210XLT that seems to have lost it's "luster". Although it still sounds OK, it seems to have lost it's edge and bottom. It's been well used but well cared for. What is the best way to test? Take it to shop and sweep all the frequencies? Thanks for the insight
Click to expand...
Thats a tough one. One simple thing you can do is just take off the grille and gently push on the cones. If you feel a friction rubbing feeling you can tell if the coils have warped. I've found with small cabs it is easy to fry the tweeter but that should be easy to diagnose. Have you run it with a different amp? The possibility exists that its not the cab at all but something like a pre amp tube or even a dying battery in your bass (I apologize if those suggestions are insultingly simple)
 
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#7
Time to let go maybe?
I had an amazing amp for almost 40 years.
Trouble free gig after gig all size venues.
Output capacitors went DC at a big dance last December. Fried all my speakers.
They have a normal life of 25 to 30 years i found out after, i got 37 years. Things wear out.
Picked out a Mesa Subway 800 with 2 mesa subway !5 lightweight cabinets.
It is brand new tech and sounds amazing and it all weighs less than 65 lbs.
Check it out))
 
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#8
Reedt2000 said:
Thats a tough one. One simple thing you can do is just take off the grille and gently push on the cones. If you feel a friction rubbing feeling you can tell if the coils have warped. I've found with small cabs it is easy to fry the tweeter but that should be easy to diagnose. Have you run it with a different amp? The possibility exists that its not the cab at all but something like a pre amp tube or even a dying battery in your bass (I apologize if those suggestions are insultingly simple)
Click to expand...
Yeah, tried another amp. Pulled the speakers to check connections- which were good but didn't check cone travel. I'll check that. The crossover network uses a halogen bulb as a fuse (pretty ingenious I thought) and it is intact. Checked it with a VOM. Tried 2 different basses- active and passive. Thanks
 
#9
Britur said:
Time to let go maybe?
I had an amazing amp for almost 40 years.
Trouble free gig after gig all size venues.
Output capacitors went DC at a big dance last December. Fried all my speakers.
They have a normal life of 25 to 30 years i found out after, i got 37 years. Things wear out.
Picked out a Mesa Subway 800 with 2 mesa subway !5 lightweight cabinets.
It is brand new tech and sounds amazing and it all weighs less than 65 lbs.
Check it out))
Click to expand...
Yeah. Actually am planning on selling because although it's only 65 pounds, this 60 Y.O 150 lb. guy is getting tired of lugging it around. Especially with all the nice new lightweight hi tech stuff out there now. Just want to make sure it OK before I sell it. Yep- that MB stuff looks nice. Especially the Bass Profit! Thanks
 
#15
Everything ages. The paper cones, foam and/or rubber edging, glues, plastics, wire coatings, and coils heating up and cooling over time accelerates the process when in use. If you store speakers in an area subject to temperature and humidity extremes this will cause them to dry rot and age the materials even faster.
 
#17
jsf729 said:
Not sure. I have a 20 year old Eden D210XLT that seems to have lost it's "luster". Although it still sounds OK, it seems to have lost it's edge and bottom. It's been well used but well cared for. What is the best way to test? Take it to shop and sweep all the frequencies? Thanks for the insight
Click to expand...
If the cone is ok you can buy gasket kits online and refurbish it. I did to one of my speakers last year and it worked great.
 
#18
StatesideRambler said:
The suggestion to push on speaker cones with your fingers will never go away. No one seems to figure out that, unless you KNOW what you're doing, this is among the most effective ways to convert a perfectly good speaker into a re-cone job.
Click to expand...

Could you please elaborate a bit on that idea, please? (e.g.) the 'wrong' way as you've touched upon already, and the 'correct' way if possible? thank-you.
. .
 
#19
StatesideRambler said:
The suggestion to push on speaker cones with your fingers will never go away. No one seems to figure out that, unless you KNOW what you're doing, this is among the most effective ways to convert a perfectly good speaker into a recone job.
Click to expand...

Really? I guess you'd say I've been really lucky. I've checked many speakers over the years and never destroyed a cone that way.
 
#20
Rattman said:
Could you please elaborate a bit on that idea, please? (e.g.) the 'wrong' way as you've touched upon already, and the 'correct' way if possible? thank-you.
. .
Click to expand...
It all depends on why you would do this and what are you looking for? The construction of a speaker typically has a coil of coated wire that is suspended in a slot that moves inside the magnet. Sometimes when the coil has overheated, the coatings on the coil will bubble up and expand. The speaker will continue to work but it will scrape the sides of the magnet or buzz. This can help indicate the overall condition of the driver and indicate a need for reconing.
 
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