Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions "Rubber" on the drivers.........

Hello, everybody!

I have a question for Axiom, OR one of the more "technical" members here...
(i.e. John K.)..........(NOT the guy from Steppenwolf).

In the event they find a cure for "upgradeitus".........or
the "secret" speakers Chesseroo is so often mentioning, are not "M60 type replacements"......or somehow, I'm sent a brand new set of FREE Rocket speakers,.....(insider board humor)....I will be keeping my Axiom's ....a LONG, LONG, time.

So my question is this:
How well does the type of rubber on the "Axiom type drivers" hold up over time?
Does it go thru a "polymerization treatment" or is it a neoprene type material?

Here in Florida, the climate is brutal on many things.... especially "rubber products".(no Pmbuko, my speakers are NOT outside).

Anyhoo, I don't recall seeing posts about this, so I was wondering.

LT (STILL groovin', while tryin' movin') 61.

Good question, although I doubt any of us will know the answer. There are a few people on the board who have had foam surrounds rot out over the (20-ish) years but I don't remember hearing about failure of rubber surrounds on any speaker -- Axiom or other.

Axiom has been in business quite a while but probably nowhere near long enough to see any degeneration-related surround failures.

Dumb question for you -- what is it about the Florida climate that could affect rubber products indoors ? I know the heat and humidity can get pretty brutal in the fall but I can't imagine them being bad enough to affect the longevity of a rubber product unless you throw sun into the mix.

P.S. I always thought Houston did a better job of making fun of the weather, famous for the morning "race to 100", ie will the temperature or the relative humidity hit 100 first ?

Hey i never mentioned secret speakers per se, i just mentioned secrets.
It could be that Axiom is working on a new car, or car audio, or in-walls, or new colours, or new peripherals like a world class universal remote to be named The A.M.I.E. (Automatic Mode Is Easy or....other varations).

As for the rubber, well, let's just say that by the time that rubber breaks down (unless your speakers are sitting in the sun) you likely won't be around to see it or notice any audio change b/c of it.

Might depend on whether or not the rubber is Michelin or Bridgestone.

we really need a "rolls eyes" smilie.

How about this one Ford?



or even this



or maybe go with the classics

I think rubber like driver surrounds deteriorates with lack of use and dry conditions over decades of non-use. Long time since HS chemistry.

I have a 30 year old pair of Criterion speakers that still have good rubber surrounding the drivers.

Larry, although my undergraduate degree is a B.S. in Chemistry, anymore anything much more complicated than H3O(or whatever they call that stuff)throws me. The "rubber" in rubber surrounds is generally actually synthetic butyl rubber(polyisobutylene)which has a very high resistance to deterioration in normal use. The useful lifetime should be measured in terms of several decades.

Haven't thought about it until I read this thread, but what are the wear mechanisms for speakers. How long should they last?

Just something to think about?!!!??

As said earlier, the 30 year speakers still put out good sound. I have them laid on the floor pointing up as possible rears. I would think paper cones would go first. The new synthetics and metals should last longer than the cabinets.

H3O as in heavy water John?

Butylene is a double bonded structure (think butane but with 2 bonds) with the iso meaning the double bond is in the middle of the 4 carbon chain (C2 and C3 bond), otherwise surrounded by hydrogen except at the chain points which attach to other butylene atoms (hence the word poly for polymer...chain of same structured compounds).
Its short chain likely gives it the elastic properties but its simplistic nature gives it stability yet not total environmental resistance. It will breakdown over time, but it would need some harsh influences to do so. UV light is one such element. Caustic cleaning agents are another.
Stick to dish soap and water for the cabinent cleaning. Vinyl wipes up nice.
I do use natural oils on my wood veneers though.