[Tone Depth]

I hope to someday purchase a pair of Salk speakers.  One question that pops into my mind on occasion is whether the present driver technology will prove have similar longevity to older style drivers.

My existing modest bookshelf speakers each have a KEF dome tweeter and an Audex woofer (edited to correctly identify), were made in the late 1970s, and have been in daily use.  I'm certain that the performance of present drivers far eclipses older drivers.  My speakers have always been driven with high quality electronics, so haven't been exposed to much abuse from high distortion signals.

Do the RAAL ribbon tweeters, for example, show any signs of deterioration with normal use?  How about the midrange and woofers? 

Are loudspeaker manufacturers designing for similar longevity in today's high performance drivers?

[cujobob]

A lot of technologies using lightweight parts (ribbon tweeters and such) have issues with being able to take a lot of power.  If one were to accidentally feed too much power into those, damage can occur.  I don't know specifically about the Salk drivers, but this is often the case.  Power handling is very important.

[DMurphy]

A lot of technologies using lightweight parts (ribbon tweeters and such) have issues with being able to take a lot of power.  If one were to accidentally feed too much power into those, damage can occur.  I don't know specifically about the Salk drivers, but this is often the case.  Power handling is very important.

The steep crossover slopes I use on the RAAL should keep them out of trouble, and worst case scenario is having to replace the ribbon elements, which is not very expensive.  All of the mids and woofs Jim uses have excellent build quality and shouldn't deteriorate with normal-hard use. 

[Saturn94]

I hope to someday purchase a pair of Salk speakers.  One question that pops into my mind on occasion is whether the present driver technology will prove have similar longevity to older style drivers.

My existing modest bookshelf speakers each have a KEF woofer and an Audex dome tweeter, were made in the late 1970s, and have been in daily use.  I'm certain that the performance of present drivers far eclipses older drivers.  My speakers have always been driven with high quality electronics, so haven't been exposed to much abuse from high distortion signals.

Do the RAAL ribbon tweeters, for example, show any signs of deterioration with normal use?  How about the midrange and woofers? 

Are loudspeaker manufacturers designing for similar longevity in today's high performance drivers?

Excellent question.  I guess I just assumed that Salks would last at least as long as my ADS L1290 (24 years and no sign of giving up).  Would that assumption be correct?

[jsalk]

Excellent question.  I guess I just assumed that Salks would last at least as long as my ADS L1290 (24 years and no sign of giving up).  Would that assumption be correct?

There are a number of variables here (such as the material the surrounds are made of and what kind of environment the speakers will be kept in, to name a few).  So it is hard to offer a definitive answer.  But the drivers we use have about the best build quality in the world today and there is no reason to believe today's drivers shouldn't last as long or longer than drivers made 20 years ago.

- Jim

[Saturn94]

There are a number of variables here (such as the material the surrounds are made of and what kind of environment the speakers will be kept in, to name a few).  So it is hard to offer a definitive answer.  But the drivers we use have about the best build quality in the world today and there is no reason to believe today's drivers shouldn't last as long or longer than drivers made 20 years ago.

- Jim

Thanks Jim.

[srb]

I have a pair of speakers with the Aurum Cantus G2 ribbon tweeters.  I have played them for 5 years and never have been shy with volume levels.  I have no reason to believe they wouldn't last a long time.
 
They are, however, vulnerable to certain external environmental conditions, namely air and wind.  The ribbon material is so thin and lightweight that they could be stretched out and damaged from
 
1. Anyone (or a young child?) blowing into them.
 
2. The faceplate being dusted with a vacuum cleaner.
 
3. Placed temporarily outside on a patio (for room painting, installing carpeting, etc.) where a strong winds could possibly deform them.
 
Other than that they are physically protected with a screen, and with a proper crossover network should not be seeing damaging frequencies below their range.
 
Steve