How Long Does A Car Speaker Last?

Are you in the market for new car speakers? Maybe your old ones have finally packed in, or perhaps you're looking to upgrade to a better sound system. Either way, you might be wondering "how long does a car speaker last?" In this post, we'll take a look at the average lifespan of a car speaker and what affects their lifespan.

Most car speakers will last between 4-8 years. The first parts to go are often the tweeters. These speakers, which reproduce higher-frequency sounds, can start to become distorted after four years of regular use. Midrange and woofer drivers will last longer, however eight years is the average lifespan for these components.

Because speakers are often buried inside your vehicle's trim, they can be easy to forget about. If you want to maximise the life of your speakers, it's important to take proper care of them. The following can all shorten your speakers lifespan: 

Playing your music at high volumes can shorten the lifespan of a car speaker. The higher the sound, the more stress and strain is put on the components of the speaker, which leads to greater wear and tear over time and eventually failure. In particular, the speaker's cone, coil and suspension can become damaged from too much volume.

Environmental conditions such as excessive cold or heat can also reduce the lifespan of your speakers. Generally speaking, extreme temperatures will cause materials like plastic to wear down faster than normal. In addition, high humidity levels can lead to rust and corrosion of speaker components.

It goes without saying, but cheap, low-quality speakers will typically fail before more expensive ones. Materials used in cheaper speakers are often of an inferior quality, which means they won't be able to handle the same level of stress and strain as more expensive models. If testing isn't as stringent when it comes to manufacturing, then the components can be exceptionally prone to faults not picked up by quality control.

Finally, if you want your car speakers to last longer, it's important to take proper care of them. This includes keeping dust away from the speaker components, cleaning them regularly, and making sure wiring remains secure and not exposed. Regular maintenance such as dusting can be overlooked, however over time, this will cause audio distortion, crackling and other problems if left unchecked.

If you'd like to get the most miles out of your car speakers—which we're sure you do—then the aforementioned issues need to be addressed. This means:

• Keeping the volume to safer levels
• Ensuring your windows are up when it's raining
• Storing your vehicle in a garage to reduce the risk of parts corroding
• Investing in high-quality speakers
• Consider investing in a set of weather-resistant speakers
• Cleaning and inspecting your speakers regularly 

To tell if a speaker is of high-quality, start by looking at the build materials. High-end speakers are typically made with quality components such as a lightweight cone, ribbed foam surrounds and silver tinsel leads. Additionally, it's also wise to check for compliance with the relevant Australian Standards.

However, the easiest way to ensure you're buying a speaker that will last is to go with a reputable brand. Kenwood, Sony, Pioneer and Bose are all known for making quality speakers which can last many years with proper care.

Rather than spend hours researching which speakers are the best for your car, why not come down to AAV - Automotive Audio Visual in Molendinar and speak with our team. With years of expertise in the industry, we can help you choose your speakers, amplifiers, subwoofers and head units —in addition to professionally fitting everything to maximise lifespan.