Question Do You Run with Speaker Covers On or Off

[Dom]

I would love to run with speaker covers on, the soft dome tweeter is exposed, but the difference is night and day so I run with covers off!

 

[Dom]

I can only imagine. How good it sounds.

 

[stereoman]

Honestly it does not matter almost at all. You can improve some psychoacoustics range but on or off won't improve the sound to any substantial change. A bad synergy won't be improved and good synergy won't be spoiled.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I can only imagine. How good it sounds.

Thanks 👍 System was already excellent with the NDX2, SCA2 and particularly the Halo JC5 however bring the Fathom f112 v2 into play and then overall performance is jaw dropping 😎 Hence why i keep on saying that imo a subwoofer is the most important component. Ime when effectively aligned, calibrated and dialled in no other component can make such a profound difference to the overall performance of a system.

A subwoofer is the ultimate component 🙂

 

[smbmetal]

Covers on when not listening to music. TV etc.

Off when listening to music as they sound better to me with the covers off. Love that they’re magnetic so easy to put back on.

For some reason my old B&W 602 S3’s sounded better with the covers on.

 

[Dom]

So my speakers are difficult to remove the covers. Not really hard, just a bit of a pop. So after listening to them with and without. Just have them on and say, cool.

 

[priam]

If you can, always off. Most engineers don't consider a grille when designing and tuning the sound of the speakers.

 

[Dom]

Most engineers don't consider a grille when designing and tuning the sound of the speakers.

Nonsense

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Off at all times - despite kids and dogs. They are front- and rear-ported, and the grilles rattle above what I consider to be reasonable volume levels. I don't think I heard a difference otherwise.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

I keep mine on but do not hear any difference with them off to be honest

 

[Nick B]

Just tried no grills for the first time because of this question. Sounds a bit like donald fagen is in the house. There is more presence, it seems more active. A bit clearer, a bit more forward, and individual instruments stand out a little more.
Should really put them back on to check but am enjoying this right now.

 

[Roby]

Depends Avalon suggest for there speakers to leave theme on.
Other brands like Proarc suggest to remove theme if I remember well

But if you have kids at home trust me leave theme on

 

[Dom]

I say leave them on. Take them off if you want the extra millionth of detail.

 

[Dom]

I have had no luck with room acoustics.

 

[Mike Hunt]

Mine have no covers, so I have to leave them off.

 

[Dom]

That's interesting.

 

[Mike Hunt]

You have no covers, that's interesting.

My main speakers don't have any. Possibly because they're studio monitors. My PC speakers do have covers and remain covered. They're a lovely little pair of Ruark Epilogue that I've owned from new. They have sentimental value, and I wouldn't want to have to kill a cat for p1ssing on a driver. 😉

 

[Dom]

LOL. How long have you owned them the PC speakers. 🙂

 

[jonathanRD]

With my previous cherry Rega RS5's I left the grills off so that the speakers got an even tan 😎
My Spendors are light oak so probably won't be affected so much, but I still leave the grills off.

 

[Mike Hunt]

LOL. How long have you owned them the PC speakers. 🙂

Around 20 years, if memory serves. Could be slightly longer.

 

[Dom]

Yeah, nice one.

 

[Mike Hunt]

Yeah, nice one.

I listen to a fair bit of music on my PC. What tends to happen is I'll be working on some design for 3D printing, whilst drinking copious quantities of alcohol, then suddenly I'll be rooting out old songs from the 80s on YouTube. I have the output from the PC connected to a mixer, which defaults to sending the signal from the PC to an Arcam Alpha 8 amp, which is driving the Ruarks, but... occasionally I drink too much, and the Arcam is also connected to an old set of Jamo speakers, so I flick the spkr2 button, then a few minutes later I'll reach for the mixer, and power up the Behringer Truth 2031As, and bring them up to near clipping... then a few minutes later my missus will look at me sideways, like a goose looking into an empty coke can, and if I'm not too far gone, I'll concede, otherwise she'll go to bed...

 

[Dom]

I have never listened to music whilst in a relationshi*.

 

[Mike Hunt]

I have never listened to music whilst in a relationshi*.

It's better than earplugs 🤣

 

[Dom]

Cheers nice to talk.

 

[insider9]

I say leave them on. Take them off if you want the extra millionth of detail.

That's if you have modern speakers.... I have a pair of vintage speakers that sound perfect with no covers on and have that vintage warmth with them on