Grille on or grille off?

[PristineSound]

Nearly half prefers grills on so far, more than those preferring grills off. That is quite surprising to me, I would think most people prefer grills off.

 

[LaL]

How about grilles half on
to help calm the Klipsch horn tweeters

 

[KL....]

Nearly half prefers grills on so far, more than those preferring grills off. That is quite surprising to me, I would think most people prefer grills off.

Thank you, @PristineSound, hmm, Speaker Test/Measures are done with Grills Off, aren't they, unless the Grills are fixed and cannot be removed. So hopefully, the Grills are, or be considered as, Transparent and not just for Shiping/People/Animal Protection, reasonable, although Test/Measure would be required, wouldn't it?

When a Speaker is Tested/Measured, with Grill/s on, then the Grills can be considered as a Wave Guide, reasonable?

Perhaps those useing Grills On, also utilise DSP/etc. The Room (also the Listener/s) can be considered as a (Dominant) consideration/s, can't they?

Certainly when Drivers are Tested/Measured it is done without Grills, aren't they?

 

[sergeauckland]

Thank you, @PristineSound, hmm, Speaker Test/Measures are done with Grills Off, aren't they, unless the Grills are fixed and cannot be removed. So hopefully, the Grills are, or be considered as, Transparent and not just for Shiping/People/Animal Protection, reasonable, although Test/Measure would be required, wouldn't it?

When a Speaker is Tested/Measured, with Grill/s on, then the Grills can be considered as a Wave Guide, reasonable?

Perhaps those useing Grills On, also utilise DSP/etc. The Room (also the Listener/s) can be considered as a (Dominant) consideration/s, can't they?

Certainly when Drivers are Tested/Measured it is done without Grills, aren't they?

Not necessarily. KEF's 104.2 'speakers were intended to be used with grilles on, as made clear in the instruction leaflet at the time. Ditto Meridian M10/M100 and M2 ad M3 'speakers. Harbeth and Rogers were also always intended to be used with grilles on, and the Heco loudspeakers I had in the 1970s had fixed grilles, as did the LS3/5A. QUAD electrostatic loudspeakers are very rarely seen without their 'socks'.

Tannoys of that era were also always seen with grilles on.

My B&W 801f have cloth hoods for the mid and top, and provided a small grille for the midrange if the loudspeaker was used without the full hoods.

I think this 'fashion' for bare drivers is more recent, say in the last 30 years or so. No good reason for it other than again, fashion, as grilles can be well designed to be transparent.

S.

 

[BJL]

I originally voted grilles on because of the cats. Now my speakers are in a cat-free room and I am considering removing the grilles on the 9 ear level speakers. I have to remeasure for Dirac (a tedious process for 16 speakers total) because I have moved the speakers.

I have Revel F206 speakers at all ear level positions (LCR, surround, front wide) except surround back, which are Revel F36. Has anyone grilles on/off opinions for these speakers, ignoring appearance and cats, just sound quality. I looked in the speakers' manuals (yes, I read them) and they do not make a recommendation one way or the other, just point out that there is no visible hardware to spoil the appearance if grilles off.

I thought perhaps it would improve the treble having the grilles off. Any thoughts, anyone?

 

[Salt]

Grills on when recommended by the manufacturer as then implemented into sonic reproduction, otherwise at your choice...

 

[BJL]

I originally voted grilles on because of the cats. Now my speakers are in a cat-free room and I am considering removing the grilles on the 9 ear level speakers. I have to remeasure for Dirac (a tedious process for 16 speakers total) because I have moved the speakers.

I have Revel F206 speakers at all ear level positions (LCR, surround, front wide) except surround back, which are Revel F36. Has anyone grilles on/off opinions for these speakers, ignoring appearance and cats, just sound quality. I looked in the speakers' manuals (yes, I read them) and they do not make a recommendation one way or the other, just point out that there is no visible hardware to spoil the appearance if grilles off.

I thought perhaps it would improve the treble having the grilles off. Any thoughts, anyone?

Never mind. I tried it. No discernible audible difference and they are way too distracting with the grilles off. Sorry about that.