Grills-On or Off?
I know I know...but after all these years of high end home audio, I was wondering if there is a general consensus on keeping speakers grills on or off? I have to assume the manufactures test the sound quality designed with the grills on..but maybe not?
Comments
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Use your ears.Anaheim Hills CA,
HT 5.1: Anthem MRX 720 / BDP-Denon DBT1713UD / Polkaudio LSiM703 / W4S mAmp's / Polkaudio LSiM706c / Polkaudio LSiM702F/X's / SVS PC12-NSD / Panasonic TC P55VT30
2 Channel: Rogue RP-5 / WireWorld Electra power cord / Marantz TT-15S1/ Ortofon - Quintet Black MC / Marantz NA8005 DAC / W4S mAmp's / Synology DS 216+ll-4TB / Polkaudio LSiM703 -
I know I know...but after all these years of high end home audio, I was wondering if there is a general consensus on keeping speakers grills on or off? I have to assume the manufactures test the sound quality designed with the grills on..but maybe not?
Manufacturers are no different than you. Some voice their speakers with grills on others grill off.
Only you can make the ultimate decision as to which sounds best to your ears. -
It just always seemed odd to me they would manufacture speakers with grills that might pose a hindrance in audio quality. I assumed people had their grills off strictly for visual aesthetics (myself included).
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I don't's gots no grilles...
DSC_9984 (3) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
I think the case can be made for the grilles as removable covers to protect the drivers from dust and -- you know -- fingers and stuff.
There's no doubt in the olden days loudspeakers were meant to be used avec grilles; nowadays it's less clear. Heck, they're optional at extra cost on some loudspeakers nowadays.
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My Silverline Audio Sonatina MkIs come with grilles. But with the grilles on, the grille cloth makes constant contact with the dome midrange driver which seems to me would be detrimental...so I run without the grilles all the time.
For my Ushers, I think they look better naked.
For my LSi7s, I run them with grilles on. Same with my Monitor 5s.
My JTRs have metal mesh grilles over the drivers and I leave them on all the time."Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."
"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip -
My KEF Q150's don't include the grills when you buy them new. KEF sells them but they must be purchased separately. So, I don't use grills with these speakers.Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10 -
I like the look of grilles off. Makes it look more interesting, IMO. The SRS's look impressive with all the drivers exposed, and the massive PR. Or the look of the Klipsch speakers with the copper colored drivers.
Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
My KEFs are one of the speakers Doc Hardy mentioned, the grills were an extra $25 and there was no white option to match the white finish. I decided that if I know there were gonna be little kids around, I'd switch quick to my Dad's Bostons that I am storing, since they have grills and still sound pretty good.
And on some speakers, it doesn't really matter, my KEF's tweeter has a waveguide/armor:
Picture looks a little weird because they are playing at the moment, but you can see what I'm talking about.
But yeah, like others said, let your ears decide. -
Grills are to protect the speakers, not enhance the sound. Many Magico speakers do not have grills. The S series does, but for protection. I take my grills off when I listen, and you can hear the improvement with grills off.Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
If they come with grills they stay on. Besides, if you're looking at the drivers while listening you're not really listening.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I leave mine on to block dust from getting on the drivers.
I do detect a slight, but perceptible, difference in the sound with grilles off vs on.
However when they are on, I feel more content and at ease. So I just leave them on. -
If they come with grills they stay on. Besides, if you're looking at the drivers while listening you're not really listening.
Amen!"if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
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I like the look of grilles off. Makes it look more interesting, IMO. The SRS's look impressive with all the drivers exposed, and the massive PR. Or the look of the Klipsch speakers with the copper colored drivers.
Hmm...
Maybe @verb is ready for... Kabuki
(all borrowed images, Gott sei dank
)
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Since stereo speakers create an illusion, having speaker drivers visible can distract from that. Good speakers themselves are designed to acoustically disappear. When I got my LSiM 707s the big grills kept sliding off the magnetic attachments. I tried them without grills for a week then decided to apply a permanent fix by putting velcro attachment points on the grills and cabinets. Looking at drivers when listening bothers me.
Those Kabuki speakers were designed to be looked at, not listened to. Mirror imaging a pair for stereo would have been unnecessary work. Worked for Quadrophonic sound maybe. -
I will say visually, I like to look at the drivers vs grills. Any perceived audio enhancement i always assumed was a placebo effect just by nature of seeing the drivers looking at you. I like the mindset that the speakers should seem invisible. Interesting to read these opinions!
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mhardy6647 wrote: »I like the look of grilles off. Makes it look more interesting, IMO. The SRS's look impressive with all the drivers exposed, and the massive PR. Or the look of the Klipsch speakers with the copper colored drivers.
Hmm...
Maybe @verb is ready for... Kabuki
(all borrowed images, Gott sei dank )
Yeah Baby! Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
It depends on how they were designed/engineered. Often grills are provided simply for protection or esthetics.Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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I always leave mine on, I'm supposed to be focused on the music/movie not looking at my speakers. They are there to provide sound not be looked at.Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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LOL. Why aren't some of you listening to music instead of looking at the speakers?Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Grills on unless my green army men are repelling down my speakers, then I like to see em get blasted when they try to get past the drivers.
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Grills on because they are SDAs and that's the way they were intended to be listened to.Just a dude doing dude-ly things
"Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
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How you supposed to cook if you don't turn thr grill on?
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Listening to tunes.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Depends on the speaker.
Some grilles do alter the highs a good bit, but not just in amplitude, but create peaks and valleys in the treble region.
Measure the response with grill on and off. If it just reduces the treble a tad, which most do, then decide with ears.
If it creates several peaks and valleys, (due to diffraction) then better to remove them.
