Does speaker degrade over time?

[gobats]

We moved to anew state. When I unpacked my speaker wire boxes, I found a new in box spool of 16 ga. speaker wire. I then tried to use it to in my center speaker and surrounds. I have a yamaha htr 5950. I can't get sound from the surrounds and center. I checked all the connects
--No go. The other speakers have 12ga. What do you think?

 

[Alex2507]

Sounds like you have the rec'r set to stereo.
I doubt that it's a speaker or speaker wire issue.
Dig out your manual and go through the set up procedures again to #1 set it up and #2 re-familiarize yourself with the different output modes.

 

[Exit]

I agree with Alex's advice and I don't think the problem is in the speakers or wires, but in a receiver setting.

About speaker wearout, just for information, my EPI 100 speakers lasted from 1968 to about 1998, or 30 years. The speaker cone surrounds rotted out and that was the end. My brother's Boston Acoustics speakers did the same thing in about the same timeframe, but he got a repair kit and fixed them. So speakers do go bad over time, but I would say the timeframe is roughly 30 years. I also have a pair of Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble speakers which I bought about 1998 and they are still good in 2008, or 20 years. So based on previous experience I expect to get about 10 more years use out of them, unless they improved the surround materials over the years and then they might last longer.

 

[Adam]

I also agree with Alex. That's the first thing that came to mind.

Please let us know if that wasn't it so that we can help you troubleshoot the issue, if you want.

 

[pzaur]

Sounds like you have the rec'r set to stereo.
I doubt that it's a speaker or speaker wire issue.
Dig out your manual and go through the set up procedures again to #1 set it up and #2 re-familiarize yourself with the different output modes.

I agree with Alex. Another possibility is that you were listening to a 2-channel source. Have you tried a movie with a 5.1 surround track?

-pat

 

[Adam]

Another possibility is that you were listening to a 2-channel source. Have you tried a movie with a 5.1 surround track?

Eww, excellent catch, Pat! That certainly could have been the case.

 

[gobats]

Does speaker wire degrade

Thanks to all and yes you were right! I went back to the manual and indeed one of the connects was loose but the
receiver WAS IN STEREO MODE. I did indeed pull out a Lara Croft dvd and VOILA! Thanks many times

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks to all and yes you were right! I went back to the manual and indeed one of the connects was loose but the
receiver WAS IN STEREO MODE. I did indeed pull out a Lara Croft dvd and VOILA! Thanks many times

To your subject, only if it corrodes between connections increasing resistance. Other than that, you don't have to worry in your lifetime.