Hi Fi speakers

[EEZABLADE32]

Just noticed the light material around my speakers is disintegrating to a black dust. Will this have any effect on the sound quality?

[rojash]

"the light material around my speakers"
That's a pretty vague description.

[shoota]

If it is the mesh over the front of the speaker - no it won't, you can take it all off with no problem.
Doesn't look quite as smart but will sound the same.

[bazwillrun]

Or do you mean the rubbery membrane that supports the cone to the speaker chassis is starting to perish ?

If so yes eventually it will but unless youre a real audiophile you may not notice for quite some time.

Like rubber bands they dry out and crumble away

If it is the rubbery surround then smear it lightly with petroleum jelly (both sides if possible) to try and keep whats left of it intact and reduce the loss of moisture in the rubber.

If you push a lot of watts through them then the cone will move more and further and will break the rubber even quicker, so try and listen at lower volumes to stop the cone moving so much.
sooner or later though you will need to replace them

[deggers316]

my friend has a pair of bang and olfson speakers 35 years old no perishing there
and still sound better than most of later hi fi speakers

[EEZABLADE32]

The material is between the rubber and the cone about 1" wide. It has left a gap where it has eroded. Not sure whether it will have any long term effects on the speakers.

[rojash]

"Not sure whether it will have any long term effects on the speakers."
Yes, it most definitely will.
The purpose of the surround is to keep the cone centred. If the surround is damaged, the cone can shift, and the spider (which is the part that centres the cone at the magnet end) will act as a fulcrum, the cone can now pivot on the spider,causing the voice-coil to rub on the sides of the gap.

[ChuckFickens]

Or to put it in a technical way, the speakers will sound crap.

[rojash]

:-)

[EEZABLADE32]

Thx for the replies.

[EEZABLADE32]

Found out the disintegrating material is foam. I need to purchase a repair kit.