Heating drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . ???????

[KIRKLIN1]

Good day:

I came across an unusual (to me anyway) practice for regenerating speakers that sat for a while (months/years). I read how someone heated their speaker cone (CAREFULLy) and "massaged" the cone, "gently pressing in the woofer slowly until it stopped - 2 two 3 times." Apparently, ferrofluid (not sure if I'm using the correct term - so pardon me) can settle in speakers and heating the driver slowly and compressing it gently revitalizes the cone - restoring intended playback characteristics.

I've never heard of this practice.

1. Have you heard of this
2. Is it practiced?
3. Would, or does it actually make a difference?

Thanks in advance for any feedback

 

[ryanosaur]

Nope. Never heard of this.
If you had a speaker that sat idle for any amount of time... you probably aren't an audio-(*gulps)-phile!
Ferrofluid is not an element used in every driver, either.
To me, if you have a concern about your speakers needing a "warm up session" then you should just turn on your system at about -40, let it play for 20 min, then turn it up to -20 and repeat... and then you would be fine.

But massaging your speaker cone? Gently pumping it like you're awkwardly feeling up your first girlfriend?


To be fair, Ferrofluid can dry out with age, but this practice won't "revitalize" it to the best of my knowledge, as it's not a function of it "setting up" from lack of use.

I'd love to hear what others have to say, but...