Grills on or off

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brianle
brianle Posts: 572
in 2 Channel Audio
Do you listen to music with speakers grills on or off? My Dynaudio s5.4 sound better with grills off to my ears.

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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,116
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    Off
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,073
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    On. The top hats on my speakers have diffraction plates that keep the high frequencies from bouncing off the top of the cabinets, they sound better on. That aside, it keeps the dust off the drivers and top crossover.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited May 2015
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    With my SDA 2As and my Monitor 7As I never noticed a difference with the grills on or off. I did quite a few comparisons both ways, and was never able to. I haven't done any comparisons with the LSi9 grills on or off. I had them off for my first couple of listening sessions just because I wanted to look at the drivers. They've been on since then.

    For whatever it's worth, many high end speakers are designed to be used with the grills in place. The slight diffraction effects of the grill fabric can be taken into account in tuning a speaker, and often is with very high end offerings.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,840
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    For whatever it's worth, many high end speakers are designed to be used with the grills in place. The slight diffraction effects of the grill fabric can be taken into account in tuning a speaker, and often is with very high end offerings.

    This
    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

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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,353
    edited May 2015
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    I've read manufacturer claims that grill cloth tends to diminish only high frequencies and slightly. Diffraction could occur from the grill frames and more likely measure higher and be more audible than say a 1/3dB high frequency dip through cloth.

    You could always ask a manufacturer if they measure response with grills on or off if not indicated in the specs.

    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
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    Off. Magico designs their speakers to be without grills, and the top of line models do not even have grills. The grill on the S5 is designed to protect the speakers from damage, for example during parties. However, they obviously impact the sound, so off they come when it's time to listen for pleasure.
    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.
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  • vc69
    vc69 Posts: 2,500
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    I like 'em off unless the grandkids are around.

    -Kevin
    HT: Philips 52PFL7432D 52" LCD 1080p / Onkyo TX-SR 606 / Oppo BDP-83 SE / Comcast cable. (all HDMI)B&W 801 - Front, Polk CS350 LS - Center, Polk LS90 - Rear
    2 Channel:
    Oppo BDP-83 SE
    Squeezebox Touch
    Muscial Fidelity M1 DAC
    VTL 2.5
    McIntosh 2205 (refurbed)
    B&W 801's
    Transparent IC's
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,640
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    Sun's out, guns out! Er...wait...wrong thread.

    Depends on the speaker. But I prefer off in most cases. Not all, just most.
    "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
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
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    nbrowser wrote: »

    Peerless Monitor 5s, off because the grill has minimal impact to my ears and I love seeing the look on people's faces when you tell em the 8 inch woofer isn't a woofer at all.

    I often left the grills off of my Monitor 7As and my SDA 2As for this very reason. The 2As have flat cones in the passive radiators, and a lot of people comment on how strange looking the woofers are. When I explain the passive radiator design and show them the PR push-test, most people find it really interesting. It's something that most people aren't familiar with though in my experience.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,523
    edited May 2015
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    Depends.

    BW PM1 I left on. BW 802 Diamonds I take off.
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,907
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    Shouldn't the more appropriate question be.....pants on or off ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,523
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    tonyb wrote: »
    Shouldn't the more appropriate question be.....pants on or off ?

    Ooooh kaaaay.... Bahahaha
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,523
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    nbrowser wrote: »
    tonyb wrote: »
    Shouldn't the more appropriate question be.....pants on or off ?

    Remember that line the next time you lock yourself out of the house in just your robe in the middle of winter ya senile ol f a r t! :)

    Locked out in the wintry Chicago cold.... let's see who'll be laughing then.
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,656
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    Joey_V wrote: »
    nbrowser wrote: »
    tonyb wrote: »
    Shouldn't the more appropriate question be.....pants on or off ?

    Remember that line the next time you lock yourself out of the house in just your robe in the middle of winter ya senile ol f a r t! :)

    Locked out in the wintry Chicago cold.... let's see who'll be laughing then.

    Maybe you missed it. Actually happened...

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,523
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    That is soooo hilarious... job well done Tony!!!
    Magico, JL, Emm, ARC Ref 10 line, ARC Ref 10 phono, VPI, Lyra, Boulder, AQ Wel, SRA Scuttle Rack, Bluesound
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
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    For vintage Polks, grills on. The cones are naturally tacky, and the grills keep them relatively free from dust accumulation. If your worried about high frequency roll-off, replace the grill cloth. The original cloth is mediocre at best.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
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    Using mine both ways I hear absolutely no difference but I'm only 9' away. I do like to gawk at them so for the most part grills off except now nearing the summer I keep the grills on do cover them up when the sun streams in which I showed on another post.
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,907
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    nbrowser wrote: »
    tonyb wrote: »
    Shouldn't the more appropriate question be.....pants on or off ?

    Remember that line the next time you lock yourself out of the house in just your robe in the middle of winter ya senile ol f a r t! :)

    LOL.....you guys aren't going to let that one rest are ya ?

    Speaker grills ? On or off doesn't matter but I find it's a more mood dependent thing for me.

    btw KKKKEN, if I had a nickel for every hockey puck you Cannucks chewed on up there, I'd be a rich senile old ****. ;)

    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • vmaxer
    vmaxer Posts: 5,116
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    Joey_V wrote: »
    That is soooo hilarious... job well done Tony!!!

    Agreed, had to go back and read the thread again.. :D
    Pio Elete Pro 520
    Panamax 5400-EX
    Sunfire TGP 5
    Micro Seiki DD-40 - Lyra-Dorian and Denon DL-160
    PS Audio GCPH phono pre
    Sunfire CG 200 X 5
    Sunfire CG Sig 405 X 5
    OPPO BDP-83 SE
    SDA SRS 1.2TL Sonicaps and Mills
    Ctr CS1000p
    Sur - FX1000 x 4
    SUB - SVS PB2-Plus

    Workkout room:
    Sony Bravia XBR- 32-Inch 1080p
    Onkyo TX-DS898
    GFA 555
    Yamaha DVD-S1800BL/SACD
    Ft - SDA 1C

    Not being used:
    RTi 38's -4
    RT55i's - 2
    RT25i's -2, using other 2 in shop
    LSI 15's
    CSi40
    PSW 404
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,860
    edited May 2015
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    I consider the grills to be just like the hood on a car. Unless you are at a car show or have more invested in chrome than paint, leave the hood down. SRS top models or huge line arrays designed for open display, would be my exception.

    I always chuckled at the car club guys with the '60s Impalas that cruised with the hood off. I do like some of those exotic mid engined jobs that have windows for hoods though....
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
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    Been moving over the past few weeks. 2 channel system went up first as it is the easiest, grills off for cleaning and am really loving the sound. Including boxes, bare hardwood floors and crap all over the house.
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,009
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    Off. I just like to look at my drivers. Sound difference is negligible to me.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,907
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    Jetmaker737 wrote: »
    Off. I just like to look at my drivers.
    .

    Now that's the same reason I listen with pants off. :)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,623
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    I usually like them off.

    However, with my children they stay on...
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  • TCK
    TCK Posts: 231
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    Off now, but I go back and forth. They look louder with them off, more refined with them on. I'm just glad they are still in good shape to have the option.
    - SDA 2B (1989, Oak Tops, 194s, Spikes)
    - Monitor 7B (1982 Peerless, Sonicaps, Mills, Dynamated, JB Welded, Binding Posts)
    - SVS SB12-NSD (2 in Flat Black)
    - SVS SB 3000 (Gloss Black)
    - Pioneer SC-1222K AVR
    - Marantz MM 7055 (5 Ch Amp)
    - Pioneer PD-D6 SACD Player
    - Marantz NR1403 AVR
    - Sony UBP-X800M2 (4k Blu-ray)
    - Sony UBP-X1100ES (4K Blu-ray)
    - Adcom GFA 555
    - Monitor 5 (194s, Side Surrounds)
    - Monitor 5Jr+ (194s)
    - LG OLED65CXPUA (4K OLED TV)
    - LG 55UN7300PUF (4K HD TV)
    - RT35i (Cherry)
    - CS400 (Center)
    - CS350 (Center)
    - F/Xi A4 (Rear Surrounds)
    - RT25 (Rear Surrounds)
    - Audioquest Cables



    " But boy do I remember the strain of her refrain " LG
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
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    off... if it looks better it sounds better
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,377
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    Depends on the speaker. I listen to LsiM speakers with the grills off. SDAs with the grills on. I also have a pair of Spendor speakers I use once in a while that are designed to be used with the grills on. The cabinets on those are thin walled and the design of the grills, which are fairly thick mdf for the frame add to the solidity of the front baffle of the speaker overall.
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
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    Emlyn wrote: »
    Depends on the speaker. I listen to LsiM speakers with the grills off. SDAs with the grills on. I also have a pair of Spendor speakers I use once in a while that are designed to be used with the grills on. The cabinets on those are thin walled and the design of the grills, which are fairly thick mdf for the frame add to the solidity of the front baffle of the speaker overall.

    Actually I do the same... Grills on for the SDA's off for the LSIM's...

    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
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    I leave mine on when im not using them. When i use them i take them off. Very easy to do bc they are magnetic.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
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    Since this thread is still kinda going on I'll give you the 2 most ugliest grill off speakers ever made.
    1. AR 3As, w/ that tape and whatever else that's is going on looks terrible.
    2. Probably the worst for me has got to be Dahlquist D-10s. With that patch work of speakers, some mounted on masonite that looks haphazardly placed and that open grilled rear that has got to be the biggest dust collector known to mankind. Now w/ saying all that w/ grills and stands and the right power they do sound great.


    http://www.syer.net/dahlquist.htm
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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