Do you put fresh speakers on your machines?

I only replace one if it has a problem. If you put one in with an incorrect resistance, you risk burning out your audio amp which can be a PAIN to repair.
 
Do you guys put in new speakers when you get a machine? Seems like an easy step to how it sounded 30 years ago.

Any reason not to?

This is an interesting point, if it is your goal is to make your arcade sound like it just came out of the box. Replacing the speaker it or replacing it's cone should get you closer to what it sounded like. If you are trying to match the memory of the sounds it use to make, keeping the speaker soft and mushy might be better. I don't recall many kids who got to play an arcade machine that was ever minty out of the box condition. They always played a well loved machine with lays a bit of personality. Meaning the buttons or joysticks were always a bit off.
 
I only replace speakers if it's blown.
I go by the old thought- "they don't meke 'em like they used to..."
So in theory- replacing with a new one that may or may not last longer than the old original is simply wasting money.
 
If the rubber surround is rotted, I would replace it, and have done so. If it has the original speaker it may very well be rotted and its easier to replace while things are apart for touch up and cleaning etc. If the speaker looks OK and is working there is no reason to replace it.
 
I have 2 with the paper cone torn and I still used them. Probably should replace them, but they sound OK, just look ugly when you remove the powdercoated speaker covers (how's that for ironic?).
 
I have on a few games and I thought it actually made a big difference.
Star Wars sounds a LOT clearer. Scramble & Tron too.
Match that resistance though. I think Scramble had a 6" 6ohm if I remember right, & I was happily surprised to find some Honda speakers that I had changed out that were 6ohm.
 
Replacing the speaker with a decent quality unit is an absolute must in my opinion. Makes an incredible improvement to the sound quality.

Resistance is not applicable to speakers or any other devices operating on AC. The correct term is impedance.
 
Replacing the speaker with a decent quality unit is an absolute must in my opinion. Makes an incredible improvement to the sound quality.

Resistance is not applicable to speakers or any other devices operating on AC. The correct term is impedance.

Speaker impedance is really only an issue in hifi/audiophile systems (funky woofers like the Infinity Watkins or planar/electrostatic panels) or when running more than one speaker off one amp. As long as you keep the impedance at 4 ohms or higher, most amps won't have a problem.

As for the speakers used in vintage games, more often than not they were cheap car stereo speakers. Look at the tiny magnets on the speakers and compare them to modern coaxial 6 by 9s. The new speakers will sound far better.

Vintage game speakers rarely had useful treble or bass response. The tiny amps (usually under 5watts) didn't help either. In my old JAMMA test jig, I used an external amp and a small pair of two-way speakers and it sounded great.

If you want an "authentic" sound using some crap speakers then that's your choice.
 
As long as you keep the impedance at 4 ohms or higher, most amps won't have a problem.

OK, this is just bad advice.... Many classic games actually used 8 Ohm speakers, and using a 4 Ohm speaker may cook the amp (check the specs of the audio amp in question for the acceptable impedance range).
 
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