This question is on my mind two weeks straight , Am I too sensitive about equipment too much?
I had a thought/theory that smoking might damage the twitters on the speakers or cause them not translating the high frequencies due to smoke germ on them over time...if won't care and keep smoking in the room...(just a thought and I never witnessed any sound change at all when I'm working)
Not to forget that my place is also humid due to its environmental factors...
And most of the gear I had been using they all have kinda like a very very thin layer of humid germ on them and this happend over time (+10years) that you can't tell by the naked eye but when you use like soft/mild homecleaner chemicals for some clean up seassion you will see how they have been there all the time...

But should I be worries about smoke in the room and the twitters at all ?

 

no, when you catch'a'fire the heat reduces the humidity

 

it's not a theory, it literally will... and humidity will make the smoke residuals more sticky... it shouldnt make them translating HFs bad but it will cause damage... as dust et cetera...

 

I hope you don't mind having to read an answer from the AI, but it is very informative and described in detail.

Spoiler: Source: Grok KI

You're not being overly sensitive—it's a reasonable concern based on how environmental factors can interact with audio gear over time. Let's break this down factually, focusing on your theory about smoke affecting tweeters (which handle high frequencies) and the humidity aspect you mentioned.

On Smoke and Tweeters/Speakers
Cigarette smoke (assuming that's what you mean by "smoking") contains tar, nicotine, and particulate matter that can indeed build up on speaker components, including tweeters. Over extended periods, this residue can add mass to the delicate diaphragms or cones, potentially damping their movement and reducing their ability to reproduce high frequencies accurately. This might manifest as a duller or less crisp sound in the highs, though it often happens gradually and may not be noticeable until significant buildup occurs. Several audio enthusiasts and forums report this effect:

• Smoke particles are drawn into speakers due to air movement, clinging to surfaces and electronics.
• Tar and nicotine can coat cones, altering their density and leading to subtle changes in performance.
• Specifically for tweeters, the buildup can make them sound dull over time.

That said, the damage is typically slow and mild, especially if you're not chain-smoking in a small, unventilated space. You've mentioned not noticing any sound changes yet, which aligns with reports that it takes years of heavy exposure to become audible. If your room has good airflow or you clean the gear periodically (as you do with mild cleaners), that could mitigate a lot of the risk. Electrostatic speakers might be more vulnerable, but for standard dynamic tweeters, it's more about long-term accumulation than immediate harm.

Should you worry? If you're using high-end or sensitive equipment and plan to keep it for decades, yes—it's worth considering ventilation, air purifiers, or smoking outside to preserve optimal performance. But if it's casual use and you're already vigilant about cleaning, it's probably not an urgent issue.

On Humidity and Gear Buildup
Humidity absolutely contributes to that "thin layer" you describe, which sounds like a mix of dust, oils, and moisture-attracted grime (sometimes called "humid germ" or biofilm in humid environments). Over 10+ years, high humidity can:

• Cause paper-based cones (common in some tweeters and woofers) to swell or soften, subtly altering frequency response.
• Promote corrosion on metal parts or electronics inside the speakers.
• Change air density, which affects how sound waves propagate—higher humidity can make highs feel slightly muffled or alter overall tonal balance.

Your cleaning routine is spot-on; mild cleaners removing that layer and restoring a "brand new" look likely also helps maintain sound quality. In humid areas, dehumidifiers or silica packs near gear can prevent buildup. Extreme low humidity (below 30-40%) isn't ideal either, as it can dry out materials and cause cracking.

Bottom Line
Your thought about smoke "germ" on tweeters isn't far-fetched—there's real evidence it can degrade high-frequency performance over time, compounded by humidity. But since you haven't heard changes and you're proactive with cleaning, you're ahead of the curve. If it keeps nagging at you, test by moving speakers to a smoke-free room for a bit or using an air quality monitor. No need to obsess, but protecting gear from avoidable contaminants is smart stewardship.

 

Come on man, everyone smoked in the studios from the 50s to late 90s....

 

Unless you do dub music smoking isn’t good for equipment. Over long time, it can leave a slight film inside, i've seen it in old synths, of course it depends on how much is smoked and the ventilation system

 

So should I consider cleang

Yeah I had the same thought ...

 

Not too much chainsmoking but some breaktime puffs so I'm all good then but I consider to smoke in another room if felt worried about it again.
I liked the mentioned term ahead of the curve about my situation...
thanks for your attentions and useful replies✌️I got many answers ...

 

Only if they inhale

 

Smoking does not damage gear. There is no practical amount of tar nor the dust it will attract that you can accumulate to cause heat damage. Heat is the death of electronics. If you aren't pouring jars of molasses onto the boards in the middle of a saw mill factory floor you're fine.

Do cigarettes make your gear smell like shit? Yup. Will tar from smoked things and glycerol residue (ecigs) make shit sticky, eventually? Sure will. Damage? Maybe you brought about capacitor death 2 days early in its 30 year expected life cycle.

Smell is the real pain in the ass (mostly applies with cigs) because after cleaning it you still probably need to put it in an open space with a fan blasting it 24/7 for two weeks to finally get the smell out.

 

Emphysema and abdominal aortic aneurysm will kill you long before the hardware is damaged.

 

I always defer to the experts.

 

Yep, I'm trusting this science! I light some incense resin.. from churches in classic Spain, allegedly, and that does a fair bit to eliminate the "homely" aroma...

 

They'll probably sound chronic

 

Mold could do harm to your chassis, smoke will not (within your lifetime).

And by the way that's why LLMs suck: Some new age guys theorizing for ten years about smoke particles having mass, therefore smoke on speaker adds mass, therefore change of characteristics. And some right wing LLM eats it up and spits it out as a fact.
Not one scientific approach, just "well it's more than a few mol, so... mass!".

Variation within a week of speaker production is higher than 10 years of exhaling into your tweeter.
If you've ever listened to pink noise on a hand full of 'identical' speakers you know what I mean.
Now we can talk if weed makes you a little paranoid about your gear, that might be possible

 

there would be no full length reggae albums. it takes a couple of tracks for the resin to really collect.

 

i wouldnt be worried about the speakers as much as your brain. most real professionals never smoke while creating tracks or performing. afterwards or just relaxing they may have some. Ive done it all though!

 

There's a certain Dampening Factor after decades-long accumulation of resin layers,
like in the edge of the speaker cone; or in the mixer *pots themselves..

This creates a natural resistance, which can emphasize certain middle-low freqs,
making it more woolly and uniquely indistinct..

But think of it as an actual Upgrade,
like adding extra Impedance dynamics in a natural way..

 

Last edited: Oct 24, 2025

Like you can read from the other comments, whether you dislike or do not mind the smell/tar it will hurt the re-sell value.