How Long Do Different Types Of Car Speakers Last?

Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Norvan Martin

If you are a music lover, then there are more chances you have owned different speakers before. But how long did they last? In this article, we look at different speaker brands and their lifespan.

Most car speakers last for around 5 years. The most durable ones last for 10 to 15 years. Regular use at low-to-moderate volumes will ensure that your speakers last for as long as possible. Avoid distortion and clipping. Most speakers will wear out, but a decent speaker will last a really long time.

The Lifespan Of Speakers

Generally, most car speakers are reported to last anywhere from 10 years to 25 years, but this will depend on various factors such as how long you use your car, the conditions in which you use it, and just how you tender for your car, the volume to which you tune your music among other factors.

Narrowing it down a bit, there are two types of car speaker designs: passive and active. The type of speaker you use determines to a great extent the number of years it can last. Let’s look at passive and active speakers briefly.

Passive Speakers

A passive speaker is a speaker that needs an external feature such as an amplifier, power supply, and equalizer so as to produce a good sound.  

Subsequently, they have an external crossover network that divides the audio signal into low and high frequencies that are then sent to the subwoofer and tweeter respectively. These speakers are fairly large in size compared to active speakers.

Passive speakers generally last longer. This is due to the lack of several built-in electronic components. Also, their technical configuration makes them more versatile and highly adapted to elements such as heat, pressure, and humidity. 

Active Speakers

Active speakers on the other hand have built-in or internal features such as amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, or crossover circuits. One advantage that comes with these active speakers is that some can connect via USB cable as well as accept digital audio signals from a sound processor.

The lifespan of these two types of speakers varies, and the longevity of passive speakers mainly depends on the frequency of operation.

This is to means that passive speakers producing low frequency will tear faster than those operated under high frequency over long periods of time. This is because low-frequency sound produces high power. It is therefore recommended that passive speakers be changed every five years.

For active speakers, one factor that affects their lifespan is the in-built technological limitations and how they are used. For instance, the internal amplifier may produce excess heat when run at full capacity and contribute to the destruction of the drivers.

If the thermal circuitry is not properly maintained, it will shorten the lifespan of the speakers. Because of this, most experts conclude that active speakers have a shorter lifespan than passive ones.

Table Showing How Long Different Types Of Car Speakers Last

Types of speaker	Longevity
Acoustic Research	45 – 60 years
Boston Acoustics	20 – 25 years
Klipsch	25 – 30 years
Sony	12 – 15 years
B&W	20 – 25
Polk Audio	15 – 20 years
Alpine	10 – 15 years
Altec Lansing	20 – 25 years
Kenwood	10 – 15 years

Which Car Speaker Brands Last The Longest?

Many companies manufacture car speakers today and a number of these brands are high-quality ones.

But whether they last longer or shorter depends on factors such as the type of speaker as we mentioned already, the manufacturer, frequency of usage, materials they are made of, maintenance, and the environmental conditions of where you use them.

Here are some of the best car speaker brands that will last much longer when used under controlled conditions.

• Acoustic Research
• Polk Audio
• JBL
• Rockford
• Infinity
• JVC
• Skar Audio
• Boss
• Diamond Audio
• Klipsch

Conclusion

As much as passive speakers last longer than active ones, the lifespan of a speaker will generally depend on several factors put together. These include the manufacturer, materials, environmental conditions, and frequency of usage among others. It is advisable that you use your speakers responsibly if you want them to last longer.