AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Audio & Video > General Speaker Discussion

General Speaker Discussion Calling all Speakers

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-01-2016, 11:48 PM
Randy Myers Randy Myers is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Nipomo, CA
Posts: 2,142
Default Grills, on or off?

Just a curiosity, do you leave your speaker grills on or take them off?

I understand certain speakers such as Vanderstein the grills are part of the acoustic design of the speakers. However I also believe that for many companies it is simply for cosmetics or to protect the drivers from small fingers.

Do you believe your speakers sound better with the grills off, or does it not really seem to make a difference?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-02-2016, 12:01 AM
Wasatch's Avatar
Wasatch Wasatch is offline
Music Lover!
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Grand Junction, CO
Posts: 2,284
Default

I keep them on. Never really listened to them with them off. Might give it a try.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-02-2016, 12:11 AM
scirica's Avatar
scirica scirica is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: DFW Metroplex
Posts: 3,788
Default

Always off for me. I like to see the speakers at work.
__________________
Analog: VPI Classic Direct (12" Fatboy) with Ortofon A95 cartridge; Ortofon ST-80SE Transformer; McIntosh C2500.
Digital: SilenZio Gen 3 High Performance Media Server; Esoteric K-03X.
Supporting System: McIntosh MX122 A/V Center; MC205 Amplifier; Bryston 14bSST2 Amplifier; PS Audio P10 Power Reconditioner; Revel Salon 2 Mains; Revel Voice 2 CC; JL Audio f113v2 (2); JL Audio CR-1 Crossover; Focal IC1002 Surrounds
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-02-2016, 12:12 AM
Randy Myers Randy Myers is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Nipomo, CA
Posts: 2,142
Default

The MC speakers look pretty cool with the grills off with the Kevlar drivers and grand piano finish even on the front of the cabinet. However I think they look a tad "classier" with the grills on. Not sure I hear a difference on or off.

Last edited by Randy Myers; 06-02-2016 at 12:17 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-02-2016, 12:21 AM
jdandy's Avatar
jdandy jdandy is offline
Merry Christmas to all



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 53,224
Default

Randy.......This is where the Search Tool comes in handy.

http://www.audioaficionado.org/wilso...rills-off.html
__________________
Dan



STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-02-2016, 12:26 AM
Alki's Avatar
Alki Alki is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 938
Default

Grills off. Some have suggested that speakers sound better this way but I have never tested it. When I set up my current speakers the Grills were not put on (not even taken out of the box) and I just did not bother. Have been considering putting them on because a client brought some small children over the other day and they were intrigued with the speakers.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-02-2016, 12:53 AM
Randy Myers Randy Myers is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Nipomo, CA
Posts: 2,142
Default

Who would have thunk a thread about this six years ago ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy View Post
Randy.......This is where the Search Tool comes in handy.

http://www.audioaficionado.org/wilso...rills-off.html
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-02-2016, 01:06 AM
GaryProtein's Avatar
GaryProtein GaryProtein is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NY
Posts: 5,393
Default

When a speaker is designed and sold with a removable grille, the designer would have to know that grills "on" or "off" would be an option for the purchaser. If they design the speaker with a grill, it would seem they expect it to be "on" and that it would be acoustically transparent, or else the frequency response of the speaker would be affected, especially for the upper midrange and tweeters. Of course, if the grilles are acoustically transparent, and modern grills are usually very fine, thin material, the question of "on" or "off" becomes one of esthetics. The old days of heavy tweed cloth grills are gone!

Last edited by GaryProtein; 06-02-2016 at 01:09 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-02-2016, 01:17 AM
Randy Myers Randy Myers is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Nipomo, CA
Posts: 2,142
Default

Yes, this is true. I remember the old KEF 104ab's the grills were a heavy, fairly thick foam. I almost always had them off.

On the MC's however the grills are a very thin, appearing to be very nicely made cloth.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-02-2016, 01:38 AM
pete6737 pete6737 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: North Florida
Posts: 521
Default

Experience with my Revel Salon2s was easy in 2 minutes. Grills off. I was really a great surprise how the grills dulled the sound. They went back in the original boxes on day one, never to see daylight since.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:32 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video