How long before drivers wear out?

[Pbassred]

I still listen to my dad's old B&W DM4s that date back to 1976. I used the speakers from my first ever ALBA music centre for 20 years before the rubber mounts perished. These days I'm more concerned with live audio

However, aside from physical degradation, its a mechanical assembly that moves. It must wear with hours of use. Does performance change with usage? Some drivers do get overloaded (especially in public performance use). Is there a measurable effect?

[chris661]

Provided they are not abused, most good quality drivers will last a long time (some 60+ years)

Foam rot can be an issue, so replacing the rubber with cloth can help to ensure a longer-lasting speaker

The effect of over-loading a speaker depends on the period of time it is over-loaded for.

If it hits it's "peak" power, no physical damage will be done, provided it's only for a short amount of time (ie, bass drum)

However, feeding a 100W speaker 500W continuous will cause the voice coil to heat up so that the glue holding it in place melts, causing the coils to come free.

PA speakers are designed to be fairly long-lasting, so it is unlikely that it will wear heavily.

An example of speakers lasting a long time is in shops. They play music all the way through their opening hours, and I've never heard a speaker that sounds like it needs a new driver.

There's no measurable effect that I know of apart from listening to it, and seeing if it sounds how it's meant to.

[Geek]

Hi,

If properly built, drivers can last a lifetime+

Three main killers of vintage drivers are:

1) Too much power. Giving your Hip-Hop loving teenager a pair of vintage Coral's is usually a bad idea.

2) Foam rot. The foam in woofers fail due to chemical breakdown from poor manufacturing, environmental contamination and the occasional set of kitty claws.

3) Stiff surround. The treatment of some widerange and midrange speakers turn to a glass-like substance over time due to the chemicals,.

Cheers!

[Circlotron]

I imagine it would be good to keep direct sunlight off the driver cone and surround. UV exposure makes lots of things deteriorate.

[tinitus]

I have seen lots of older drivers where the glue fails
Non treated cones are sensitive to invironment, like moist

[zigzagflux]

Originally posted by Circlotron
I imagine it would be good to keep direct sunlight off the driver cone and surround. UV exposure makes lots of things deteriorate.

I cover my speakers when not in use, for that very reason. Butyl rubber, or whatever the actual material is, does not care for extended UV.

[Pbassred]

Like i said, degradation of the materials is inevitable. I really was referring to wear caused by active use. Perhaps Geek nailed it.

[thermal runaway]

The only parts that move are the voice coil spider , cone surround and cone lead outs. The only part's out of those that have ever failed in my experience are the cone surround and lead outs. Lead outs due to fatigue and cone surround due to fatigue and decomposition.

[mcmahon48]

since 1977 and they are now starting to showing some break down in the surrounds, so that is why I am working on new speaker design,
I never like listening to loud music, I want to keep my hearing as long as possible. Cant enjoy music if you cant hear it you know.

[Pbassred]

I never like listening to loud music, I want to keep my hearing as long as possible.

LOL! While i was writing the original post I remember that my wrist watch was on the table 4-5 feet away. I thought it was making a hell of a racket. I've been a bass player for 30 years, so I guess It didn't do me any harm.