Speaker Grilles - Have Monitor Audio made a new discovery?

[pete321]

I was quite pleasantly surprised when on Christmas Day after setting up and listening to my new MA RX6's I found there was next to no difference to the sound with the speaker grilles off. Every other pair of speakers I've owned have sounded better with the grilles off. With my last Proac Studio 140's it was as though a blanket had been lifted from them, soundstage and clarity really opening up with the grilles off.
I'm glad I can leave the grilles on the RX6's without feeling I'm missing any sound, as lovely as the MA drivers are, I prefer the grilles for protection and looks. Have Monitor Audio discovered a new material for the grilles or is it just the character of the speakers?

P.S. The Monitor Audio De-Tox CD has worked a treat for shortening the speaker burn-in time. I don't think my German Shepherd appreciated it though!

 

[tyranniux42]

I was quite pleasantly surprised when on Christmas Day after setting up and listening to my new MA RX6's I found there was next to no difference to the sound with the speaker grilles off. Every other pair of speakers I've owned have sounded better with the grilles off. With my last Proac Studio 140's it was as though a blanket had been lifted from them, soundstage and clarity really opening up with the grilles off. I'm glad I can leave the grilles on the RX6's without feeling I'm missing any sound, as lovely as the MA drivers are, I prefer the grilles for protection and looks. Have Monitor Audio discovered a new material for the grilles or is it just the character of the speakers? P.S. The Monitor Audio De-Tox CD has worked a treat for shortening the speaker burn-in time. I don't think my German Shepherd appreciated it though!

possibly a double dose of snake oil? ;-)

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I was quite pleasantly surprised when on Christmas Day after setting up and listening to my new MA RX6's I found there was next to no difference to the sound with the speaker grilles off. Every other pair of speakers I've owned have sounded better with the grilles off. With my last Proac Studio 140's it was as though a blanket had been lifted from them, soundstage and clarity really opening up with the grilles off. I'm glad I can leave the grilles on the RX6's without feeling I'm missing any sound, as lovely as the MA drivers are, I prefer the grilles for protection and looks. Have Monitor Audio discovered a new material for the grilles or is it just the character of the speakers? P.S. The Monitor Audio De-Tox CD has worked a treat for shortening the speaker burn-in time. I don't think my German Shepherd appreciated it though!

possibly a double dose of snake oil? ;-)

Here we go again...

 

[steve_1979]

I find that there's next to no difference to the sound of my AVI Neutrons when the speaker grilles are taken off.

I think that the same can be said for most speakers.

 

[toyota man]

My old mission 752s used to sound better without the grills on bigger image and a little more open and some sibilance which rather defeated the benefits of removing the grills Ive not realy listened to the atcs without the grills but I will and report back if there are any benefits

 

[tyranniux42]

I was quite pleasantly surprised when on Christmas Day after setting up and listening to my new MA RX6's I found there was next to no difference to the sound with the speaker grilles off. Every other pair of speakers I've owned have sounded better with the grilles off. With my last Proac Studio 140's it was as though a blanket had been lifted from them, soundstage and clarity really opening up with the grilles off. I'm glad I can leave the grilles on the RX6's without feeling I'm missing any sound, as lovely as the MA drivers are, I prefer the grilles for protection and looks. Have Monitor Audio discovered a new material for the grilles or is it just the character of the speakers? P.S. The Monitor Audio De-Tox CD has worked a treat for shortening the speaker burn-in time. I don't think my German Shepherd appreciated it though!

possibly a double dose of snake oil? ;-)

Here we go again...

...helo darkness my old friend...;-)

my ovators sound best with the grilles left on... oh wait they aren't removable... scratch that!

.. burn in was quick too, only took a quarter of a litre of petrol, my previous B&W 683's took half a gallon! (UK gallon, not the US gallon!)

regards

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I was quite pleasantly surprised when on Christmas Day after setting up and listening to my new MA RX6's I found there was next to no difference to the sound with the speaker grilles off. Every other pair of speakers I've owned have sounded better with the grilles off. With my last Proac Studio 140's it was as though a blanket had been lifted from them, soundstage and clarity really opening up with the grilles off. I'm glad I can leave the grilles on the RX6's without feeling I'm missing any sound, as lovely as the MA drivers are, I prefer the grilles for protection and looks. Have Monitor Audio discovered a new material for the grilles or is it just the character of the speakers? P.S. The Monitor Audio De-Tox CD has worked a treat for shortening the speaker burn-in time. I don't think my German Shepherd appreciated it though!

possibly a double dose of snake oil? ;-)

Here we go again...

...helo darkness my old friend...;-)

my ovators sound best with the grilles left on... oh wait they aren't removable... scratch that!

.. burn in was quick too, only took a quarter of a litre of petrol, my previous B&W 683's took half a gallon! (UK gallon, not the US gallon!)

regards

For me is just a matter of looks... The Dyns X12 look so much cool with the grilles off... The sound is the same to my ears!

 

[Thompsonuxb]

I to hear no difference on my Mission 782se with or without grills - prefer the look of them with grills on.

 

[steve_1979]

my ovators sound best with the grilles left on... oh wait they aren't removable... scratch that!

I can lend you a pair of scissors if you like. :twisted:

 

[steve_1979]

Here's an Naim Ovator with two of the grilles missing.

 

[shafesk]

I was quite pleasantly surprised when on Christmas Day after setting up and listening to my new MA RX6's I found there was next to no difference to the sound with the speaker grilles off. Every other pair of speakers I've owned have sounded better with the grilles off. With my last Proac Studio 140's it was as though a blanket had been lifted from them, soundstage and clarity really opening up with the grilles off. I'm glad I can leave the grilles on the RX6's without feeling I'm missing any sound, as lovely as the MA drivers are, I prefer the grilles for protection and looks. Have Monitor Audio discovered a new material for the grilles or is it just the character of the speakers? P.S. The Monitor Audio De-Tox CD has worked a treat for shortening the speaker burn-in time. I don't think my German Shepherd appreciated it though!

I don't think its very difficult to make acoustically transparent grills, most mid range speakers come equipped with one...I for one would be surprised (and a bit annoyed) if I spent more than 500 pounds on a speaker and it didn't sound the same with the grilles on. For the record my Mezzos sound the same with or without them.