???Modern Speakers???Life Expectancy???

I just gave my brother a 23 year old pair of Sonus Faber Concertos that still lookand sound great.  

Time can take it's toll on certain things like surround material and glues but it seems those speakers have stood the test of time.   

Fortunately 8 years left on my main speaker warranty and 10 on my new Omega so hopefully don't have to worry for a while. 

Some foam surround types do seem to degrade with movement (i.e.: excursion) as well as from the exposure to UV-radiation and atmospheric conditions, but more modern polyether-based foams last decades, and when treated with foam guard are very resistant to UV-radiation and other external factors.

This is very interesting, would you care to elaborate a bit? I’ve always been reluctant to even consider speakers with foam surrounds fearing for their longevity - e.g. Cube Audio Nenuphar or Gethain. What to expect from such speakers in terms of longevity?

Sorry for the (relative) off-topic.

Yes- we expect your speakers to last with no problems 

No- I haven’t heard nor seen any speaker longevity products and/or tweaks. People usually replace the speaker, a few repair them.

Wishing you the very best for your health- hope it turns for the better.

I appreciate the replies folks...

I think that keeping them in a controlled environment away from heat, moisture and sun would be your best bet!  I have a pair of Acoustic Research AR9 speakers from 1980 that are in excellent shape and can handle anything I throw at them.  They were very well cared for.

@freediver wrote:

I have speakers that had manufacture periods starting in late 2012(Harbeth M30.1)& 2014(Dynaudio Excite X14)..Both are low hours usage & it’s likely neither is over 300-400 hours use..

Speakers usually don’t degrade with accumulated use (unless mechanically and thermally pushed to or beyond their limits in a regular fashion), and you could even argue to the contrary. One aspect is running in the speakers mechanically (drivers) and electrically/chemically (crossover), but maybe there’s some merit to the expression of "burn-in;" some metal parts of the drivers close to the magnet and voice coil - disregarding the magnet itself - will benefit (the sound from the speakers) from being demagnetized to the exposure of sufficient heat created by the voice coil. From thereon it seems the more frequently the speakers are used (again, within their limits), the better, not necessarily to say they’ll get increasingly better from this point forward (i.e.: after being properly run in), but rather that they’ll will maintain their level the best - not least mechanically - from regular use. Some foam surround types do seem to degrade with movement (i.e.: excursion) as well as from the exposure to UV-radiation and atmospheric conditions, but more modern polyether-based foams last decades, and when treated with foam guard are very resistant to UV-radiation and other external factors. In your case I wouldn’t worry; keep ’em playing, be mindful of exposure to UV-radiation (that is: direct sunlight) and extreme temperature and humidity conditions, and enjoy the music.

How many hours played determine longevity more than age. Environment very important as already stated.  I don't run therefore I will live forever. 

As for hearing....

...been considering replacing my YT vid, which is way out of date.

A better means of documentation...including an orbit ought to do it to it... *G*

Choice of music will be mine.

Any requests will have to be done IRL prior to my demise.

I want to ensure they end up in a 'proper home'.....*L*

No problem the newer Xovers 20 years on the capacitors .

@freediver ,

You’re good to go. The speakers in my office system are almost 40 years old and the basement speakers were built in 1985 and both are still going strong.

All the best.

I have speakers ( and amps etc) that were made in the 1960-70's that after some minor updates i.e. caps they sound great. so a speaker that's only 20 years old is still young IMO. 

Note sure what happened to your amp but more electronic gear can be repaired, granted parts are still available, but even then there are usually substitutions. now if its fiscally wise to repair is another issue. 

Good quality poly caps can last for decades...especially in a passive circuit. Inductors, resistors, and wire, even longer. Woofer surrounds can rot if they’re foam, but the butyl rubber ones last decades too.

If the tweeters have ferrofluid, that can dry up every 20-25 years or so, but can be cleaned out and refreshed.

I suppose gravity can do it’s thing to the suspension over time, so can’t hurt to rotate the woofers in the cabinet 180 degrees every 20 years or so if the speaker wire leads are long enough..

My speakers are 33YO, showing no signs of giving up.

Wish you all the best with your health.

i think you are set - LONG may you run Sir !

I agree with @mofojo.

Sorry to hear about your health sir. 
I think the odds are your speakers will be fine. I’ve had multiple 30 year old speakers and none of them had issues. 
 

my upstairs system is a 50yo Sansui, 30 yo Krell and 30yo Paradigms. Sounds great. Preventative maintenance would be keep them out of the sun and in a semi climate controlled environment. Other than that you’re probably good 👍.