Can speakers (i.e. drivers, woofers, tweeters) go bad?

[polkatese]

Say, with regular daily use, can they go bad? coils got loosen up due to fatique wear and tear over period of years and usage? or is it more like either work or burned (and don't work)?

How about sign of abuse (not physically) but rather been overdrived? Is there such thing?

curious...

[zarrdoss]

Yep, look at all those foam surrounds that rot, unless you put them in a vacuum and block out all the light, wires will oxidize and corrode glue will fail and everything will eventually break down. And places with humid climates or near the ocean and humid (tropical) it will break down faster.

[lightman1]

I say yes. I just finished refoaming another set of :oBose 901 series III. The surrounds had deteriorated to a sticky mush or completely gone. Took awhile to set the surounds to the cones. But in the end it may seem worthwhile.

[polkatese]

Good point, didn't think about rot. I was thinking more along the line of overdriving it or subjecting it to extended usage rather than extreme climate.

[lightman1]

It wasn't a matter of climate, but a matter of surround composites. Not taking away from the build aspects of speakers from then to today. But cone and rings have come a long way since then.




I re-built a set of 901 series I's and I soon realised my room wasn't big enough.

[nooshinjohn]

I re-built a set of 901 series I's and I soon realised my room wasn't big enough.

was that before or after you realized that blose is a complete waste of time:p

[lightman1]

was that before or after you realized that blose is a complete waste of time:p

John, I'm gonna call you out on this. IMHO, Bose made some great speakers before the Psyco-acoustic, hyper marketing HTIB **** they produce today.
The only 901's I don't have are the series V and VI.
If I didn't like these speakers, why would I take the time to replace surrounds on 18 cones in two speakers?
I've got a set of late '80 301's that, when you put the juice to them are a big bookie blast.



My foot.....

[kawizx9r]

Ill vouch for the 901's personally, but PLACEMENT is absolutely key with these things, otherwise youll hate them. And...lol I want to say wow to you refoaming those things, mustve taken forever doing so. Arent the iv/v/vi series the ones with better surrounds/crossover or whatever it is they use? never really was much of a bose fan other than their bookshelf direct/reflecting series speakers

[nooshinjohn]

I know that bose used to build some ok stuff. For me personally I have never heard a bose speaker that I have liked. I wanted very much to like the 901's but the setup and the special external controlled and all the stuff that went with getting a decent sound out of them was not my cup of tea. Add to that, I have heard what was described to me as a properly set up pair of 901's and to my ear the SDA-1b's sounded better.

[lightman1]

10-4 on the placement kawizzhtrhy(?). Yes it was a project but it might be worth it......
The series IV,V and VI did have a better surround from what I understand. I'm not to familiar with them. The EQ's were designed for each series that evolved.
And I do agree with you on the direct/reflect bookies. Thats why I like the 301's...again.;)
The tower/floor models were no slouch either.







****... i just talked about an audio related post...:(

[kawizx9r]

10-4 on the placement kawizzhtrhy(?).

LOL! Its kawasaki zx9r haha, but ive heard it ALL. kaweezer, kawazixxer/etc from when id play games online.

[nooshinjohn]

****... i just talked about an audio related post...:(

Yes you did, And in a related story, Hell has formed an ice hockey team:D

[lightman1]

I know that bose used to build some ok stuff. For me personally I have never heard a bose speaker that I have liked. I wanted very much to like the 901's but the setup and the special external controlled and all the stuff that went with getting a decent sound out of them was not my cup of tea. Add to that, I have heard what was described to me as a properly set up pair of 901's and to my ear the SDA-1b's sounded better.

Fair enough, John. But I have run my series I,II and III with and without the EQ. The Eq is what it is... an EQ. BUT! you compare an orange to an orange with a slightly redder skin without the EQ. Sure, they take a ****load of power to make them sing like the 2B's without the EQ. And that is a matter of how efficiant the speaker is.

[lightman1]

Yes you did, And in a related story, Hell has formed an ice hockey team:D

Don't let anybody else know about this, Dig it?

[Knucklehead]

Russ, you are hilarious.....what a great sense of humor, I dont think you've ever had a "bad" post.

[Knucklehead]

As for speakers going bad, Ive had a set of JBL outdoor speakers on my deck for 4 years now, I think I paid $30 for them from Best Buy. Aside from being just a tad brite when you crank them, they have held up pretty good in the elements.