Do you leave your speakers grills on or take them off before listening to music?

[MrReaper182]

Might be a bit of a stupid question but I was wondering do you leave your speakers grills on or take them off before listening to music? I leave mine on.

 

[Gray]

Might be a bit of a stupid question but I was wondering do you leave your speakers grills on or take them off before listening to music? I leave mine on.

Not a stupid question.
Just today, I had a session with mine off, I like to look at the drivers (that's a bit stupid).
But unlike some others, I haven't noticed a difference in sound either way.

 

[Deleted member 108165]

I think there was a thread on this last year. I leave them on as they are a b*gger to get off, (never been off), plus they are tuned to sound their best with the grilles in place... brilliant excuse for not taking them off.

 

[Deleted member 116933]

I leave the Hersey 3s grills on. For no rhyme nor reason other than I’m to lazy to take them off. Plus It keeps the dust out of the compression drivers as I’d be to lazy to put the back on. Lol

 

[Gray]

I think there was a thread on this last year.

Yes, I'm sure there was a more recent one, but here's one:

Speaker Grills 0N or OFF ?

Hi, wondering what benefit; if any ? Removing the grill covers on speakers. I have a pair of used B&W PM1 speakers but have always left the bass and tweeter grills on (mainly due to scratches on speaker) Recently watched What-Hifi review of the PM1's on YouTube where it was recommended removing...

forums.whathifi.com

 

[SteveH72]

Grilles off. And they stay off. Can’t stand them. Never know why they’re put on 😉

 

[manicm]

Can’t remember, a recent speaker WHF reviewed stated the grill was meant to stay on for best sound quality, but I know my B&Ws and Monitor Audios just sounded a bit more open to me grills off, and of course look much better that way too.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Always off - there was no option with the MAs as bass at high volumes would move them, audibly. Never tried 'on' with the Spendors.

 

[AJM1981]

Always on. With a child around it doesn't appear that inviting. Also the open parts don't collect as much, or any dust.

 

[Gray]

Also the open parts don't collect as much, or any dust.

Yes, that's why mine are on when not in use. A soft paintbrush periodically gets to work when the grilles are off.
(Removal / refitting easy enough due to magnetic attachment).

 

[Deleted member 108165]

Grilles off. And they stay off. Can’t stand them. Never know why they’re put on 😉

Small children really like cones

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

My old Arcam A32 allowed a customised message on start up - I changed mine to 'keep away, child.'

 

[Oldfart]

After 47 years of grills on, Epicons grills off. Sound even more open and don’t look too bad naked.

 

[Deleted member 108165]

There is something alluring about a naked speaker, with drivers on show, but I can assure that it only has an affect on the male of our species.

 

[plastic penguin]

There is something alluring about a naked speaker, with drivers on show, but I can assure that it only has an affect on the male of our species.

 

[AJM1981]

After 47 years of grills on, Epicons grills off. Sound even more open and don’t look too bad naked.

Given almost all modern speakers they really did some optical design or took a good standard format. That's why many brands nowadays look good without grills. Going back in time to the 70s and 80s they mainly cared about the appearance with a grill. There was a function first approach.

 

[Al ears]

Much easier to achieve a grilles-off look these days with magnetic attachment. Back with older speakers it was often either / or as it was all to easy to break the plastic pins that held the grilles on.

 

[Al ears]

There is something alluring about a naked speaker, with drivers on show, but I can assure that it only has an affect on the male of our species.

Gives a whole new meaning to "getting your kit off", think a new forum subsection is called for.....

 

[camcroft]

Much easier to achieve a grilles-off look these days with magnetic attachment. Back with older speakers it was often either / or as it was all to easy to break the plastic pins that held the grilles on.

Thats true, I just offer my grills to the speakers and they snatch them out of my hands.

 

[plastic penguin]

Sure I read somewhere years ago -- may have been on here, can't recall. However, someone said having the grilles (grills) on is like holding the palm of your hand an inch from your lips. If you speak and then remove your hand, there's slight veil to your speech compared to the hand removed.

Speakers pretty much work on the same basis.

I also remember the RS6s have their own separate grille/mesh for the tweeter. Using a piece of blu-tak and remove and the detail is slightly more prominent.

 

[JohanEk]

Always grills off I like to watch my speakers while I listen.

 

[Gray]

Thats true, I just offer my grills to the speakers and they snatch them out of my hands.

Same with mine, thanks to those powerful Neodymium magnets in the grille, which also allow you to pin them to metal strips screwed on a wall.
(I hang them up behind me for minimal extra room treatment).

 

[Deleted member 108165]

View attachment 2287

Kenneth Williams/Barbara Windsor - Carry On Camping

 

[MrReaper182]

There is something alluring about a naked speaker, with drivers on show, but I can assure that it only has an affect on the male of our species.

For all you know Kashifa Kabir, Becky Roberts and Verity Burns (all females who worked on testing hifi for What hi fi sound and vision) could love looking at a naked speaker.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Might be a bit of a stupid question but I was wondering do you leave your speakers grills on or take them off before listening to music? I leave mine on.

Currently using 5G Gold 200's and grills are off. Might as well also see what you've paid for