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Pro Tip: Sonos Speaker Maintenance

  • July 20, 2025
  • 24 replies
  • 364 views

AjTrek1

Hello

You may have heard the saying “Use it or lose it”. Well there is truth in that statement. Here’s how it relates to Sonos.

Speakers are designed with several components which are:

  • Basket
  • Diaphragm 
  • Dust Cap
  • Magent
  • Spider
  • Suspension
  • Voice Coil

Just like your body in order to maintain it and stay healthy regular exercise is recommended. Speakers are no different.

You may have a Sonos Home Theater (soundbar, surrounds and sub) that get regular use. You may have other Sonos speakers that are only used on occasion.

I have a Sonos Home Theater setup in a guest bedroom. The operative word being “guest”. Since I’m not running an AirBnB the guest room speakers get very limited use.  To maintain those speakers in good working condition I at least once a month send music audio to them to keep them “exercised” 

The music audio I send is not at low volume. I increase the volume to a level that gives them a good workout.  However, not enough to cause clipping and/or damage.

This recommended routine is not specific to Sonos speakers. On the contrary it applies to any speaker. 

Click the link to see an animation of a speaker at work to get a better understanding of what I mean by “exercising” your Sonos speakers.  I hope you find  this information useful. Enjoy your Sonos for years to come!

https://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/webproj/212_spring_2017/Jesse_Drick/Jesse_Drick/template/Parts%20of%20a%20Speaker.html

 

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24 replies

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  • Lyricist III
  • July 20, 2025

I’ve not ever heard of “use it or lose it”‘when it comes to speakers and preventing degradation over time. 


AjTrek1
  • Author
  • July 20, 2025

I’ve not ever heard of “use it or lose it”‘when it comes to speakers and preventing degradation over time. 

You are over thinking that statement. It’s metaphoric. Here’s a definition of metaphoric:

  • "Metaphoric" means relating to, or using a metaphor, which is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using "like" or "as." It implies a symbolic or figurative meaning rather than a literal one. Essentially, it's about one thing representing something else, highlighting a resemblance or similarity between them

Maybe you are just too young to have ever heard the phrase used in general conversation. You have probably never heard of “speaker rot either. 😂

Hers’s a definition of “speaker rot”:

  • Speaker rot" refers to the deterioration of the speaker's surround, typically the foam or rubber edge that connects the speaker cone to the frame. This degradation, often called dry rot, can cause the speaker to produce distorted or unpleasant sounds, or even stop working entirely. 

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  • Prodigy II
  • July 20, 2025

@AjTrek1 

I’ve noticed you're doing a lot of lengthy posts lately. What’s prompting these blogs? Simply curious, not passing judgement.


AjTrek1
  • Author
  • July 20, 2025

@AjTrek1 

I’ve noticed you're doing a lot of lengthy posts lately. What’s prompting these blogs? Simply curious.

@Rhonny 

Are you reprimanding me and/or trying to psychoanalyze. If so it’s not appreciated!  I don’t recall having to justify my posts. If there is a problem with them it’s up to the moderators to say so. Period!


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  • Prodigy II
  • July 21, 2025

@AjTrek1 

I’ve noticed you're doing a lot of lengthy posts lately. What’s prompting these blogs? Simply curious.

@Rhonny 

Are you reprimanding me and/or trying to psychoanalyze. If so it’s not appreciated!  I don’t recall having to justify my posts. If there is a problem with them it’s up to the moderators to say so. Period!

Wow. You guys at the moment. I just wondered what was behind them. Completely innocuous. 


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

The same could be said for the forum, ‘use it or loose it’.


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

Pro Tip 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Some do talk about breaking in etc. but ‘regular exercise’ is a cracker. 🤣🤣

The statements of fact above are simply opinions and should be stated as such.


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

regular exercise’ will be more applicable to portable speakers, with lithium ion batteries inside, they are prone to fail if left for long periods without charge.


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  • Lyricist III
  • July 21, 2025

regular exercise’ will be more applicable to portable speakers, with lithium ion batteries inside, they are prone to fail if left for long periods without charge.

I follow the Sonos advice for battery maintenance of my Roam which mirrors this. 
 

Should I follow the Pro Tip and play loud music monthly to prevent degradation/speaker rot or not? 


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

regular exercise’ will be more applicable to portable speakers, with lithium ion batteries inside, they are prone to fail if left for long periods without charge.

I follow the Sonos advice for battery maintenance of my Roam which mirrors this. 
 

Should I follow the Pro Tip and play loud music monthly to prevent degradation/speaker rot or not? 

I’m not sure if you’re serious?


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

regular exercise’ will be more applicable to portable speakers, with lithium ion batteries inside, they are prone to fail if left for long periods without charge.

I follow the Sonos advice for battery maintenance of my Roam which mirrors this. 
 

Should I follow the Pro Tip and play loud music monthly to prevent degradation/speaker rot or not? 

I’m not sure if you’re serious?

Yes, best to exercise your Roam in your back pack at full volume, whilst you are cycling or jogging.


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  • Lyricist III
  • July 21, 2025

regular exercise’ will be more applicable to portable speakers, with lithium ion batteries inside, they are prone to fail if left for long periods without charge.

I follow the Sonos advice for battery maintenance of my Roam which mirrors this. 
 

Should I follow the Pro Tip and play loud music monthly to prevent degradation/speaker rot or not? 

I’m not sure if you’re serious?

Yes, best to exercise your Roam in your back pack at full volume, whilst you are cycling or jogging.

The Pro Tip says not to use damaging volumes. You shouldn’t be posting misinformation as readers may take you seriously.
 

That said would it also be recommended to exercise my arc and sub while cycling? 
 

 


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

regular exercise’ will be more applicable to portable speakers, with lithium ion batteries inside, they are prone to fail if left for long periods without charge.

I follow the Sonos advice for battery maintenance of my Roam which mirrors this. 
 

Should I follow the Pro Tip and play loud music monthly to prevent degradation/speaker rot or not? 

I’m not sure if you’re serious?

Yes, best to exercise your Roam in your back pack at full volume, whilst you are cycling or jogging.

The Pro Tip says not to use damaging volumes. You shouldn’t be posting misinformation as readers may take you seriously.
 

That said would it also be recommended to exercise my arc and sub while cycling? 
 

Yes, of course. If you don't have an indoor cycle trainer, I find a skipping rope also works well.


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  • Lyricist III
  • July 21, 2025

Oh indoors 🤦‍♀️ I thought you meant outdoors and had thoroughly lubed my chain and donned my spandex. That would have been embarrassing. 
 

I hope my Peloton has a speaker exercise class as I have three guest rooms with home theatre set ups (no I don’t run an Air BnB)


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

 


AjTrek1
  • Author
  • July 21, 2025

I see it’s the usual suspects making all the noise. Which the majority of you have successfully contributed meaningful answers to OP’s issues between 1 and 32 times compared to my 900 + answers. So...go on laugh or here’s a novel idea….maybe channel your time to helping others in the community. I’m done...carry on!

BTW I stand by my post even though you fail to make a connection.


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

 

Just like your body in order to maintain it and stay healthy regular exercise is recommended.

We are discussing your post, and helping others.

 


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  • Lyricist III
  • July 21, 2025

 

Thank you, very helpful. The arc voice coils are a little flabby, will have it in shape in no time. 


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

I’m done...carry on!

Promises, promises.

Checking profiles to see who's most helpful, hilarious.

I don't have enough time to help the others, I'm busy exercising, sorry, listening to, my speakers.


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  • Lyricist III
  • July 21, 2025

I see it’s the usual suspects making all the noise. Which the majority of you have successfully contributed meaningful answers to OP’s issues between 1 and 32 times compared to my 900 + answers. So...go on laugh or here’s a novel idea….maybe channel your time to helping others in the community. I’m done...carry on!

BTW I stand by my post even though you fail to make a connection.

Wow I’m impressed with your prodigious posting history and I don’t impress easily 
 

Please post more Pro Tips


Mr. T
  • July 21, 2025

Here’s a Pro Tip for anyone actually interested in speaker maintenance.

If you are not going to use a speaker for an extended period of time, environment conditions (humidity, dust, temperature changes etc) are much more relevant factors than solely “exercising” the speaker “at least once a month” at “not a low volume”. There is no need to bother your neighbours on such a frequent basis IMHO.

ps. I have a better answer:replies ratio than OP, none of which were in response to a question thread I created.


AjTrek1
  • Author
  • July 21, 2025

I’ll be posting again! That’s not a threat…it’s a promise 😂😂😂😂


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  • Local Superstar
  • July 21, 2025

So the “I'm done…” was BS, as suspected.


AjTrek1
  • Author
  • July 21, 2025

So the “I'm done…” was BS, as suspected.

You’re so gullible 😂😂😂😂