Wondering how long could you sit back and enjoy your speakers? Some people say that speakers could last a lifetime. On the contrary, some say theirs died only after a year or two.
So, how long do speakers last actually?
Speakers last from 5 years to even 50 years depending on the type of speaker. That lifespan depends on the kind of environment it is in and the materials it is built of. In other words, Different types and qualities of speakers have different longevity. In terms of battery life, speakers generally last from 10 hours to 24 hours depending on the type.
That was only just the tip of the iceberg. Get aboard and let’s find out how long your speakers can last. Also, how to troubleshoot your speakers and take proper care of them!
Do Speakers Degrade Over Time?
Speakers gradually degrade over time. To be more specific, the parts inside a speaker degrade over time. The part that degrades the fastest is the surround, followed by the spider and cone. While the other parts don’t degrade as fast, they eventually all wear out.
Here’s a graphical representation comparing the lifespans of speaker components-
This is the basic outlook of how speaker components can degrade over time. However, you can minimize the degradation through proper care. However, I have further analyzed the lifespans of speaker components for convenience as well.
Furthermore, you can just as easily replace some of the speaker components. That’s why the degradation of a speaker does not necessarily mean the end of their life.
Without further ado, here’s a deeper look into how long speakers can last.
How Long Can Speakers Last?
Speakers can last more than 20 years, even 50 years with proper care. The two major factors of speaker lifespan are speaker type and speaker brand. That’s because the build materials as well as quality rely on these two factors.
Longevity is always a deciding factor when buying any electronics. The same goes for when you try to find a suitable speaker for your 5e3.
Yet here’s a list of different speakers’ longevity that our research has found. These stats shown here are based on the average lifespan of different quality speakers from different brands.
| Type of Speakers | Minimum Lifespan | Maximum Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Speakers | 5 years | 10 years |
| Home Theater Speakers | 10 years | 50 years |
| Car Speakers | 5 years | 25 years |
| Portable Speakers | 5 years | 20 years |
These are general estimates of Speaker lifespans according to the type. Here’s another table delving into the speaker brands.
| Speaker Brand | Minimum Lifespan | Maximum Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| JBL Speakers | 10 years | 20 years |
| Klipsch Speakers | 10 years | 50 years |
| Sony Speakers | 10 years | 25 years |
| Sonos Speakers | 5 years | 10 years |
| Bose Speakers | 10 years | 50 years |
| Magnepan Speakers | 5 years | 30 years |
According to the tables, The exact longevity of speakers can vary for different brands, types, and qualities. They can last longer or shorter depending on the care they receive.
The Lifespan of Different Speaker Types: Quick Analysis
Speakers last from 5 years to 50 years according to the type of speaker. The difference exists because of the difference in usage of the speakers as well as the materials they’re built of.
The exact lifespan of speakers relies on how and where they are used. Here’s another glance into how long they would generally last according to the type-
How Long do Outdoor Speakers Last?
Outdoor speakers last at least 5 years and at most 10 years. Although, with extra care and some modifications, you can increase that number. This type of speaker has the least lifespan out of all the types.
The lifespan of outdoor speakers primarily relies on how they’re protected from weather conditions and how clean they are kept. As weather conditions like rain and contaminants like dust can easily reduce the lifespan of these speakers.
I further looked into the lifespan of outdoor speakers, if that’s what you want to go for.
With that out of the way, Let’s move on to Home Speakers.
How Long do Home Speakers Last?
Home Speakers last 10 years at least and 50 years at most. This kind of speaker has the most in terms of durability. With proper care and precautions, home speakers can last a lifetime.
People use home speakers indoors in most cases where the effect of weather, as well as contaminants, are minimal. For example, the dust indoors can easily be cleaned and maintained. That makes it easy to keep the home speaker away from dust.
But for your convenience, I’ve performed a more in-depth analysis of the Home speaker lifespan.
How Long do Car Speakers Last?
Car speakers last from 5 years to 25 years You can extend that time by using the speakers at a lower capacity and replacing components when needed. You also need to maintain them properly for them to last to their potential.
Car speakers are generally susceptible to heat and wear. Because of the heat generated by a moving car, using car speakers at higher volume often wears it out. That’s why they don’t last as long as home speakers.
I’ve further given you an insight into the lifespan of car speakers if you’re looking to buy a new one.
How Long do Portable Speakers Last?
Portable speakers last a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years. The lifespan of portable speakers primarily relies on how carefully they are used.
Portable speakers usually lose their lifespan faster at full volume. Aside from that, damaging them is rather easy because of their comparatively fragile nature.
I’ve also covered the ins and outs of how long portable speakers last too. Make sure to read that if you plan to buy a new portable speaker.
To replace a speaker cone, follow these five simple steps and you’ll be done!
The Lifespan of Different Speaker Brands: A Glance
According to the brand, speakers can last from 5-50 years. Klipsch Speakers last the longest whereas Sonos Speakers last the least. The lifespan, according to the brand, relies on the build materials and quality as well as the warranty.
I’ll now take a look at some of the more prominent brands in the speaker industry-
How Long do JBL Speakers Last?
JBL Speakers are known to last from 10 years to 20 years. The lifespan of JBL speakers is shorter in comparison to many other brands. The reason is build quality.
The shorter lifespan is unexpected for a big-name brand. However, this is a strategy to sell more speakers in the long run. There are many build factors at play here. I also further explained the lifespan of JBL speakers to make it clearer for you.
How Long do Klipsch Speakers Last?
Klipsch Speakers usually last from 10 years to 50 years. Speakers from this brand are known for their durability and seemingly endless lifespan.
Klipsch Speakers are known to last a lifetime. That speaks of superior build quality. However, you’ll need to take proper care of it for that to show.
I’ve also done an analysis of the durability of Klipsch Speakers for your convenience.
How Long do Sonos Speakers Last?
Sonos speakers last only from 5 years to 10 years. The company is infamous for short lasting speakers. Furthermore, they don’t support a speaker for more than 5 years either.
Sonos speakers are the kind you usually want to avoid. The speakers don’t last long and the products support is not even subpar. So I would recommend against getting this speaker for your home.
However, if you’re still interested in it, I did provide an analysis on the lifespan of Sonos speakers.
How Long do Sony Speakers Last?
Sony speakers last from 10 years to 25 years. The lifespan is average at best and there are many factors at play here. However, the performance of the speakers often make up for the durability-deficit.
Sony speakers are well-known and well-loved because of their performance. Though, they don’t last the longest. I also looked into why Sony speakers don’t last too long.
How Long do Bose Speakers Last?
Bose Speakers last from 10 years to 50 years. It lacks nothing in the quality department. However for these speakers to last long, you need to properly take care of them.
With proper care, Bose speakers can last for decades. While I will talk about the proper care I’ve been talking about so much, I also performed an analysis of why Bose speakers last so long. Check that out if you want to.
How Long do Magnepan Speaker Last?
Magnepan Speakers last from 5 years to even 30 years with care. This brand is not relatively well known, but the speakers do boast a lifespan above the standard.
I wasn’t expecting much when I used these speakers. But Magnepan speakers do pack a punch and the speakers have a decent build quality. I researched more on the unexpected lifespan of the Magnepan speakers, if you’re interested in that.
Why Speakers May Not Last Long – 3 Major Reasons
The 3 primary reasons of your speaker lasting less are: Speaker Deterioration, Speaker Burnout and Physical Damage. These lead your speakers to failing before long.
The audio industry made strides in the recent years. However, many experts call loudspeakers the problematic part of the industry. These 3 are a part of why.
Without delaying the matter any further, I’ll just talk about those three reasons in greater details.
Reason 1: Speaker Deterioration
Speakers can wear out fast because of components like the cone, surround or spider. These components deteriorate faster compared to other components. They lead to speakers wearing out fast and a shorter lifespan.
Like I’ve said before, speaker degradation is a real and serious issue. This is not an issue that you can prevent as all electronic devices deteriorate over time.
However, you can counteract the wear by replacing the foam parts with rubber and replacing the parts in general when they start showing signs of wear.
Reason 2: Speaker Burnout
The condition of the voice coil melting or ‘burning out’ is known as speaker burnout. This is a rather common condition which happens if the power that flows into the voice coil is more than what it can take.
Speakers often have lower conversion efficiency which results in a lot of heat generation. This heat is why they come with an amp rating.
Let’s assume you used the speaker with an amp of a higher rating than what it can handle. The heat will go over what the voice coil can handle. That will result in the voice coil melting, leading to a speaker burnout.
My takeaway for you here would be that, never use an amp with more wattage rating compared to your speaker.
Reason 3: Physical Damages
Physical damages can easily put a speaker out of order or reduce its lifetime. This is the most obvious offender when it comes to a shorter lifespan of your speaker.
Speakers usually have fragile components inside them. Even slight trauma to the speakers can put severe stress on those components. This is the most common as well as the most preventable reason.
Just be more careful with your speakers. They’re not built to last through beatdowns. Enough about the reasons. As a special treat, I’ll give you some tips on how you can make your speakers last even longer.
How to Increase The Lifetime of A Speaker- 7 Effective Tips!
Prevention is always better than cure. If you handle your speakers with care, they can serve you for the rest of your life. So, how to take care of speakers?
In order to increase the life of a speaker, you need to maintain it with utmost care. You should clean the dust, save it from the heat and magnet. If you’re using Bluetooth speakers, recharge the battery often. Also, play your speakers at the manufacturer’s recommended volume.
Now let’s see how to execute each of these steps smoothly!
Keep Your Speakers Dust-free
Dust is the arch-enemy of speakers. If there is too much dust, it could get inside the system and block the electric signals.
This will result in an irregular power supply. This will put more pressure on the speakers and eventually the speaker will go bad.
Try to keep your speakers in a place where dust doesn’t usually cluster. You can use dry clothes, dust pads, and even your vacuum cleaner to fight off the dust.
Clean your speakers using any of these every week. Keep that in mind, you should not use any liquid cleaners. If liquid cleaners go into the system, it could cause even more damage to the amplifiers.
Protect Against Heat
When a speaker is being used, it already generates a fair amount of heat to function. So, more heat on the outside will overheat the speaker and possibly burn the voice coils.
Keep your speakers away from direct sunlight and any other heat source. Make sure that there is proper ventilation in the room where the speakers are placed. Ventilators take out the heat from the room and help to cool it down.
Protect from The Magnet
Try not to put any magnetic element near your speakers. External magnetic sources can affect the system electromagnet of the speaker and damage it.
Avoid Static Electricity
Though static electricity may not sound like a severe issue it definitely is! We often avoid this little concern. As a result, it jumbles with the usual power supply for the speaker.
So, what can we do to protect our speakers from static electricity?
Try to place your speakers on a wooden surface or use a wooden cabinet for speakers. Also, you can install an anti-static floor mat. This will reduce the amount of static electricity in the room and help your speakers last longer.
Recharge Your Speakers
If you’re using a Bluetooth speaker, regularly recharge it. As a rule of thumb, recharge your speakers when the battery is at 25%.
If you haven’t used your Bluetooth speakers in a month or two, recharge them before using them. Even though there is no charge left, it’s safe to recharge them.
Using Bluetooth speakers for too long without charging affects the overall battery life.
But never ever use Bluetooth speakers while charging! This will cause even more damage!
Use Manufacturer Recommended Volume
Your speakers must’ve come with a user manual. Read the instructions carefully. Sometimes, some of the speakers have specialized functions. Therefore, it requires different maintenance.
However, the most crucial things about speakers are the volume.
Different manufacturers recommend different levels of volume. Try not to exceed that volume level. In case you don’t have your user manual, use your speakers at a maximum of 75% volume.
Don’t Overuse Speakers
We often play music and forget about the longevity of the speakers. It is not right.
In order to ensure the maximum lifespan of the speakers, we have to know when to stop. But there are no fixed metrics of this measurement of stopping.
No need to worry! Notice if your speakers are overheating. If it is overheating, let your speakers rest until it cools down. You can use it again after 10-15 of it cooling down
By executing these simple activities, we can ensure the maximum life expectancy of our speakers.
How to Tell When A Speaker Needs to Be Replaced Or Repaired
If any of the solutions didn’t work, we’re afraid this is where you bid your speakers goodbye. You can sell them to vendors who collect out-of-order electronics.
They disintegrate the parts of speakers and resell the parts or use them for recycling. This is a good way to dispose of your dead speakers. Not to mention, you’re making a little amount of money out of a dead speaker!
But before buying your next speaker, you should look for renowned brands. You should also see the warranty period. To ease your pain, here’s a list of some famous speaker brands and their warranty periods.
| Brand | Warranty Period |
|---|---|
| Bose | 1 year |
| JBL | 1 year |
| Klipsch | 5 years |
| Focal | 1 year |
| Bowers and Wilkins | 2 years |
| Harman Kardon | 1 year |
| Dynaudio | 3-8 years |
| Definitive Technology | 1-5 years |
| Polk | 2 years |
Showing 1 to 9 of 9 entries
Now you know which brand offers what warranty periods. You can get one of these as they are renowned in the market for their quality. Not to mention, they also come with some lucrative warranty offers!
FAQs
Question: Is the maintenance of all types of speakers the same?
Yes. Subwoofers, floor stand, in-wall, all of the speakers function in the same way. As a result, their maintenance is also the same.
Question: What speaker should I choose?
When choosing a speaker, see your requirements first. For example, the coverage area, your budget, market popularity, etc. Then choose the one that meets all your criteria.
Question: What is a subwoofer used for?
Subwoofers are mainly used for boosting the low frequencies. This means it is usually used for amplifying the bass of the audio.
Conclusion
As we’re here, we hope you’ve got your answer to how long do speakers last.
Maintaining a speaker properly can get you a speaker friend of a lifetime. And also it’ll save you a lot of money as new speakers are expensive these days. Always remember to maintain your speakers properly.
This is where we say goodbye. Take care of yourself and of course your speakers!
