The yellow part is the spider, the top folds around the perimeter the surround.
When a speaker is new, the surround and spider are stiff and need to be flexed to get them loosened up. This process can take anywhere from several hours to several hundred hours depending on the design. This is one reason a new pair of speakers sounds stiff and 'tight assed'. Also, should your loudspeakers sit for any good length of time, the surround and spider can get stiff again.
A flat panel planar style speaker such as a Magnaplanar or an electrostatic, even a ribbon or an AMT style, has a similar issue, although does not have a surround or spider to deal with.
Another area of obvious break in is the venerable phono cartridge; the cantilever is typically held in place with an elastomer that needs to be broken in as well. Here's a picture:
This Sure cartridge is simplified, but you get the idea. We'll look at the harder stuff tomorrow.
Keep the thoughts and comments rolling in.
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