Grilles off / Grilles on

[AJM1981]

Audioholics offers a nice insight into why it is a better choice to leave the grilles off.

Speaker Grilles On Or Off: Which Way Sounds Better?

Do speakers sound better with their grilles on or off? This article compares the two options to scientifically determine which way is best and what other factors can impact sound more dramatically.

www.audioholics.com

The following is perhaps a big open door to users who own one. But I have noticed that AMT tweeters, despite their great clarity behave like beams.

When you are out of the field, even standing up from the chair the treble disappears, when someone passes in front them, the treble is gone. This side effect doesn't apply to hard or soft domed tweeters which easily can fill a room. Which might be why AMT systems can be a deal breaker to people who are used to conventional tweeters and want room filling audio outside the circle around a speaker.

It also means that when a person passing has a full effect, any grill should have, without a doubt have a percentage of dampening effect on the full potential of an AMT tweeter.

This example does not apply to all speakers and I know that having grilles off or on can also be an aesthetic choice and having grilles off is not always an option with kids and pets around.

What is your preference? and do you notice any difference? 🙂

 

[Al ears]

It is often best to stick with manufacturers recommendations as there are certain speakers that are designed to perform best with their grilles in place.

 

[Al ears]

It is often best to stick with manufacturers recommendations as there are certain speakers that are designed to perform best with their grilles in place.

That's grilles by the way, a grill is something you do your sausages under.... 😎

 

[AJM1981]

That's grilles by the way, a grill is something you do your sausages under.... 😎

Thanks.

English is not my native language. In Dutch we have the same word for grills and grilles as grills use grilles, which I dont know if it makes sense in English. I made some corrections 🙂

 

[RoA]

I generally leave them on because I don't like the look of exposed drive units that much and I can't hear much difference.

Changing between the two speaker cables I use makes a bigger difference.

To be honest, I don't understand speaker manufacturers making grilles and then recommend to take them off.

Either voice the speakers with them on or don't bother in the first place.

 

[AJM1981]

I generally leave them on because I don't like the look of exposed drive units that much and I can't hear much difference.

Changing between the two speaker cables I use makes a bigger difference.

To be honest, I don't understand speaker manufacturers making grilles and then recommend to take them off.

Either voice the speakers with them on or don't bother in the first place.

Like with cables and Bi wiring, it won't really do much for the big picture but for the audiophile it matters. When some reviews stating that some AMT tweeters are too harsch (usually reviewed with grilles off) ; leaving the grilles on might take some of that harschness away, so it might be an outcome somewhere.

Manufacturers mainly design speakers with the idea of having them without grilles as they also advertise them that way. Honestly I find 70s and 80s speakers without grilles mostly ugly with traces of glue or choices that are not optically designed well. Modern ones are definitely more boring with them being attached.

Despite that little difference in measurements they know that audio components need to come with family friendly attributes in order not to have animals enter the front bass port or children using the components as buttons to press.

 

[Al ears]

I generally leave them on because I don't like the look of exposed drive units that much and I can't hear much difference.

Changing between the two speaker cables I use makes a bigger difference.

To be honest, I don't understand speaker manufacturers making grilles and then recommend to take them off.

Either voice the speakers with them on or don't bother in the first place.

I am led to believe many do just that

 

[Al ears]

Thanks.

English is not my native language. In Dutch we have the same word for grills and grilles as grills use grilles, which I dont know if it makes sense in English. I made some corrections 🙂

my apologies for my comment it was merely meant as a joke, sometimes my sense of humour isn't that great.

 

[AJM1981]

my apologies for my comment it was merely meant as a joke, sometimes my sense of humour isn't that great.

I didn't intepret it in a negative way. I wrongly assumed grilles / grills was something like colour and color. But it is good to learn something new. 🙂

 

[Al ears]

I didn't intepret it in a negative way. I wrongly assumed grilles / grills was something like colour and color. But it is good to learn something new. 🙂

like it's only color if you are American....
But back to the thread. I take my grilles off for listening, not because it makes them sound better, I just like to see the woofers moving.. 🙂

 

[plastic penguin]

I don't care. There's only a very subtle difference. Quite enjoy the occasional naked driver. Ooh er missus.

 

[Teo]

Didn't hear very big difference . I like better how they look without .
But I prefere the protection that the grilles offer , even against dust . I used my older speakers without .
The Elan 10 have a set of alternative grilles wich permanently expose the drivers .Looks very nice ,but never used them .And without the cloth ones the tweeter looks ugly

 

[Gray]

With their magnetic grille fixings and real wood baffles, some speakers are OK visually.
I quite like to see the drivers - grilles back on when not in use.

 

[AJM1981]

With their magnetic grille fixings and real wood baffles, some speakers are OK visually.
I quite like to see the drivers - grilles back on when not in use.

The stringed grilles of Sonus Faber are among my favorites.

just wonder how long they will survive with a cat at home.

I also like how they solved it for the Wharfedale Diamond 220s in some way.

 

[Teo]

 

[Teo]

I don't post them without any grilles , I don't want to make fun of them ! 🙂