My recommendation: put new surrounds on your ten-year old speakers, enjoy for ten more years, repeat.
Would you be "the" JDub of Supramania fame?
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I'm just "a" JDub of no fame at all. (I googled Supramania because I'd never heard of it. Seems to be auto related. I know about as much [little] about autos as I do about audio. But care rather less.)
I used this stuff from Simply Speakers...
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/speaker-repair-cone-edge-sealer-mi-1291fg.html
First on my 4 HPM-150 woofers, almost 20 years ago now, when Simply Speakers advertised in the back of Audio magazine. Still soft, flexible, no sign of deterioration, haven't rotted. Originals only lasted 14 years. These replacement surrounds with the sealer have been on now almost 20. What can I say.
Also have used it on my Baby Advents about 10 years ago on the new foams they needed, and I used it on the 15 year old original foams of my Optimus Pro 77 speakers I use on this computer. I've seen several posts about those surrounds, hard to find, having to glue two together to make it work. The originals are still in good shape here.
Yep something like that. Simply Speakers told me at the time it was a formulation that won't get stiff over time. What I do know is, it had extended the life of the surrounds of my Optimus Pro 77s. all of which I've seen on this site have rotted and crumbled to bits. Mine are still fine. So if some basically watered-down Elmer's does the trick, great I say! I don't particularly relish the thought of re-foaming 4 HPM-150 woofers, a pair of Baby Advents, and a pair of Pro 77s. Hopefully they will outlast me!PVA? sounds suspiciously like Aileen's tacky or Elmer's white glue, probably thinned with water to the desired consistancy....
Thanks. There are a couple of products guys here have suggested. If you glanced at the product page could you tell me if these seem effective or a plausible fix to you.
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/speake...mi-1291fg.html
I've mentioned before in another thread that I have a pair of old stock HPM-150 woofers that have never been out of their original boxes and factory plastic bags until about 6 months ago. Foams were completely crumbling and falling apart. So UV doesn't seem to have anything to do with causing it, likely would accelerate the process though.
Here’s an idea: Put a large pickle jar by your favorite listening chair. Toss a quarter in the jar every time you sit down to enjoy some music. If you listen every day, it should only take a couple of years to collect enough to have your speakers professionally refoamed (going by the prices on the SS website).
Good luck!
Foam has specific characteristics that were an essential part of the speaker design. Changing the mass or flexibility of the foam will change the driver resonance point and affect the low frequencies.
Modern foam is more durable that that used a couple decades ago. It's not that hard to replace.