stiff anulus

[no gas]

Now that I have your attention, does anyone know where I can find replacement rubber surrounds for my old ScanSpeak 18w series kevlar drivers? I've found only a foam replacement from all my searching. The rubber has really stiffened up over the last 16 years!

[thoriated]

Somebody posted that a few applications of WD-40 significantly loosened up the hardened rubber surrounds in older speakers. Take care none gets on the cone if it absorbent. Different types of oils are used in the manufacture of rubber as plasticizers. Might be worth a try. If it doesn't work satisfactorily, the annulus can still be replaced.

FWIW, I tried adding WD40 with a Q-Tip on some new spare butyl surround drivers I had laying around. It didn't do any harm and did have some effect on the surround stiffness, and any excess can be removed with rubbing alcohol.