In Reply to: smoking around electrostatic speakers? posted by bullethead on August 13, 2012 at 14:11:52:
Uncle Stu has it correct -
The tars that are made airborne during smoking condense on the stators and possibly membranes - again depending upon static charges and dustcover/construction. As the tar condenses it will be sticky and attract/collect other airborne particles - ash, dust, etc. which will then accumulate and can cause damage in two ways -
1- provide an arc path - and perforate the membrane, or limit the excursion of the membrane
2- weigh down the membrane which will adversely affect the response of the membrane/diaphragm.
There are also elements within the tar - depending upon the cigarette/tobacco that are caustic to some components - I remember cleaning out a Pre-Amp from a smoker where the PCB was discolored and some traces were lifting...
It is not easy to clean out as the oils from the tar tend to be absorbed into the material and while solvents can help, it is hard to completely remove the effects.
Happy Listening
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Follow Ups
- RE: smoking around electrostatic speakers? - 6bq5 14:53:33 08/13/12 (0)