How long should high quality speakers last?

@asvjerry LOL

My DCM Time Frame 2000s date to around 1987 or so.  I have owned them for seven years and the still sound crazy good to me.  Given the relative rarity of the pair I am reluctant to do much work.  It is also the complexity of the design.  Twin transmission lines for the two woofers.  I have seen the TF1000 crossover so this must be much more.  The back panel comes off but it is (no exaggeration) 20 screws.

I also love vintage radios to talk how long a speaker can last.  A 1948 Farnsworth Caperhart 114N2 came into my possession recently.  These were the finest home entertainment you could buy.  In 1948 this model cost 1750.  It had Jensen's 5"/15" coaxial speaker the JHP-52.  It still sounds great to me all things considered with the  cabinet.

I'M GUESSING THAT oops sorry yelling that my ears will deteriorate faster than any other component I own so yay (?) for getting older.  BTW Youtube Bobs Capehart 41e 3 conversion if you want to witness a mechanical marvel.  20 record changer on the  Capehart that could play A/B, all A than B sides and shut itself off after a preset number of plays.

Interesting. I've never thought that speakers would deteriorate over time. I have a pair of TSM MMs that could be 20 years old ( Bought used). They sound just fine to my old ears, but should I doing some "maintenance"?

I have a pair of Snell Type C bought in the mid '80's and a pair of Large Advent Utilities purchased in the late '70s.  Both have had new surrounds installed years ago, cones are still in good shape.  They still pack a punch.  I use a 400 wpc amp with high dynamic headroom on the Snell's. 

If you're not buying them out of the back of a white van legit brands will last as long as we use them within their designed purpose. 

@guscreek ...I remember the DCM TW2Ks'....they lost out to a pair of Infinity's at the time....which lost out later to ESS AMT 1B's....of which the Heil design has sprouted up in variations in quite a few cabinets since....

I've got 4 of them now ( the big Heil's ) with little regard for much else at this juncture and age of the listener.... ;)  

We've all got our preferences....*L*