Speaker Grilles On or Off? - Blu-ray Forum

Solo man · 02-10-2013, 08:50 PM

Just wondering how many of you have the speaker grilles on or off. When I set up with Audyssey, I had the speaker grilles on because I watch movies with them on. I leave them on because the grilles are black and go from the very top to the bottom of the speaker, they hide well in the dark with the screen down. But if I have them off, I can notice them in the dark.

octagon · 02-10-2013, 08:57 PM

Given how often I dust I should probably keep the grills on and put sheets over all my speakers.

Johnny Vinyl · 02-10-2013, 09:00 PM

Some manufacturers say to leave them on, others don't. From an audio perspective I suppose one should follow their recommendations. Personally I think the difference with many speakers is undetectable, at least to me, so I leave them off. I do that as I prefer to look at them without the grilles. YMMV.

From a visual perspective in your case, I think what you said makes good sense as they blend in and aren't a distraction.

CHASLS2 · 02-10-2013, 09:05 PM

I left them off on all the Klipsch speakers i had and leave em on with my Paradigm Sig2's.

darkpoet25 · 02-10-2013, 09:11 PM

For me it depends. On occasion, when I am listening to music I may take off the grills on the 170's, but the majority of the time I leave them on. The grills have a fairly thin and transparent fabric, so the overall sound quality isn't affected. Sometimes I just like to look at them with the grills off.

gibbsy24 · 02-10-2013, 09:31 PM

I like the look of them off, but keep them on most of the time. Especially if my niece is going to be over.

Goat1 · 02-10-2013, 09:58 PM

My Martin Logan's don't have grilles

BigAl87 · 02-10-2013, 11:22 PM

My Totem Forest don't have grills either, even with my Energy speaker I was taking them off, now I don't have animals nor kids so it's safe, I agree with John if the grill is well designed its impossible to tell the difference in sound but some manubacturers sometimes have plastic hives type of thing under the fabric which to me interferes with the sound.

I like grills off personnaly.

Big Daddy · 02-11-2013, 01:27 AM

Are we recycling old threads?

This is the link to the three-year old thread:

Do You Guys Keep the Speaker Grilles On or Off?

This was my post in that thread:

Taking the grills off of my Definitive Technology super towers is like undressing a woman in corset. I prefer not to go there.

If I turn them around so that I can see the back side drivers, I will get too excited.

BP2000_Grille_Off.jpg

Solo man · 02-11-2013, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Are we recycling old threads?

This is the link to the three-year old thread:

Do You Guys Keep the Speaker Grilles On or Off?

This was my post in that thread:

Taking the grills off of my Definitive Technology super towers is like undressing a woman in corset. I prefer not to go there.

If I turn them around so that I can see the back side drivers, I will get too excited.

Attachment 59321

Cool, my brother in law has Def Tech towers and I never noticed slip covers. That is very convenient rather than taking off the grilles, and can see myself pulling them down to listen to music.

Even when I listen to music I leave on the grilles. Mine are metal and heavy, and I could not be bothered to take them off but if I like the idea of slip covers.

@BigAl87, I like your speakers and I think Totems come without grilles or do they? The dealer I deal with carry Totem as well and I never see them with grilles on in the showroom.

richteer · 02-11-2013, 02:40 AM

When I had speakers that had grills, I took them off. My Martin Logan Spires don't have grills so it's a moot point for me at the moment!

callas01 · 02-11-2013, 02:58 AM

i have 3 kids so the stay on, most of the time i have a baby gate up as well, as i dont trust them. However if Im home alone, or listening to music late at night alone, I take them off.

seigneur_rayden · 02-11-2013, 03:39 AM

Although I like the look of the Klipsch without the grills, I still keep them on all the time. They look classic with the grills on and disappear well in the dark.

rpatt · 02-11-2013, 04:59 AM

I also can't tell a difference. I leave mine on.

Spicoli · 02-11-2013, 05:03 AM

i don't want to live on this planet when a question like this shows up.

Should I keep my remote in a drawer?

rpatt · 02-11-2013, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spicoli

i don't want to live on this planet when a question like this shows up.

Should I keep my remote in a drawer?

I keep mine in a WAF approved, dedicate basket.

slimdude · 02-11-2013, 06:27 AM

I like my grills to be on. I don't like how they look when they're off, and besides, they help prevent dust to accumulate inside the speakers, drivers and twitters. Actually, that's what the grills were made for! I've pay good money for my A/V equipment and speakers, so i want to protect, and take good care of my investment the best way possible.

Gremal · 02-11-2013, 07:45 PM

I leave them on to avoid dust getting on the woofers and other parts, but certainly do not object to taking them off.

Infrared Sight · 02-11-2013, 11:23 PM

I leave mine on because of my daughter and two cats. Plus I don't think it makes a difference, but it for sure looks cool with it off. I watch maybe a movie a month with it off.

Clark Kent · 02-11-2013, 11:31 PM

Most speakers I've heard sound slightly better without the grille covers. The effect is most apparent in the treble frequencies.

View Poll Results: Speaker Grilles on or off?
Speaker grille on all the time	27	50.00%
Speaker grille off all the time	11	20.37%
Speaker grille on occasionally	0	0%
Speaker grille off occasionally	14	25.93%
Flip Flop between both	3	5.56%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 54. You may not vote on this poll

02-10-2013, 08:50 PM	#1
Solo man Active Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jan 2013 Location:Toronto, Ontario Home Theater Gallery:72 4K collection:6 Blu-ray collection:360 DVD collection:285 Trading Score:1	Speaker Grilles On or Off? Just wondering how many of you have the speaker grilles on or off. When I set up with Audyssey, I had the speaker grilles on because I watch movies with them on. I leave them on because the grilles are black and go from the very top to the bottom of the speaker, they hide well in the dark with the screen down. But if I have them off, I can notice them in the dark.

02-11-2013, 06:27 AM	#17
slimdude Banned Member since:Apr 2009 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews:8	I like my grills to be on. I don't like how they look when they're off, and besides, they help prevent dust to accumulate inside the speakers, drivers and twitters. Actually, that's what the grills were made for! I've pay good money for my A/V equipment and speakers, so i want to protect, and take good care of my investment the best way possible. Last edited by slimdude; 02-11-2013 at 12:23 PM.

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02-10-2013, 08:57 PM	#2
octagon Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jun 2010 Location:Chicago 4K collection:255 Blu-ray collection:2801	Given how often I dust I should probably keep the grills on and put sheets over all my speakers.

02-10-2013, 09:00 PM	#3
Johnny Vinyl Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:At the crossroad of Analogue Dr & 2CH Ave Home Theater Gallery:19 Blu-ray collection:205 DVD collection:7 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:8	Some manufacturers say to leave them on, others don't. From an audio perspective I suppose one should follow their recommendations. Personally I think the difference with many speakers is undetectable, at least to me, so I leave them off. I do that as I prefer to look at them without the grilles. YMMV. From a visual perspective in your case, I think what you said makes good sense as they blend in and aren't a distraction.

02-10-2013, 09:05 PM	#4
CHASLS2 Expert Member Member since:Jul 2011 Location:Tampa FL area	I left them off on all the Klipsch speakers i had and leave em on with my Paradigm Sig2's.

02-10-2013, 09:11 PM	#5
darkpoet25 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Indianapolis, IN Home Theater Gallery:45 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:297 Blu-ray reviews: 4	For me it depends. On occasion, when I am listening to music I may take off the grills on the 170's, but the majority of the time I leave them on. The grills have a fairly thin and transparent fabric, so the overall sound quality isn't affected. Sometimes I just like to look at them with the grills off.

02-10-2013, 09:31 PM	#6
gibbsy24 Member Member since:Jan 2013 Location:Traverse City, MI Home Theater Gallery:3 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:217 Trading Score:1	I like the look of them off, but keep them on most of the time. Especially if my niece is going to be over.

02-10-2013, 09:58 PM	#7
Goat1 Power Member Member since:Jan 2012 Home Theater Gallery:3	My Martin Logan's don't have grilles

02-10-2013, 11:22 PM	#8
BigAl87 Contributor Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Corner Totem Rd. and Sugden Ave., Arcam Shire Home Theater Gallery:135 Blu-ray collection:359	My Totem Forest don't have grills either, even with my Energy speaker I was taking them off, now I don't have animals nor kids so it's safe, I agree with John if the grill is well designed its impossible to tell the difference in sound but some manubacturers sometimes have plastic hives type of thing under the fabric which to me interferes with the sound. I like grills off personnaly.

02-11-2013, 01:27 AM	#9
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	Are we recycling old threads? This is the link to the three-year old thread: Do You Guys Keep the Speaker Grilles On or Off? This was my post in that thread: Taking the grills off of my Definitive Technology super towers is like undressing a woman in corset. I prefer not to go there. If I turn them around so that I can see the back side drivers, I will get too excited. BP2000_Grille_Off.jpg

02-11-2013, 02:40 AM	#11
richteer Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Kelowna, BC Trading Score:1	When I had speakers that had grills, I took them off. My Martin Logan Spires don't have grills so it's a moot point for me at the moment!

02-11-2013, 02:58 AM	#12
callas01 Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Riverside, CA Home Theater Gallery:42 Blu-ray collection:230 DVD collection:47	i have 3 kids so the stay on, most of the time i have a baby gate up as well, as i dont trust them. However if Im home alone, or listening to music late at night alone, I take them off.

02-11-2013, 03:39 AM	#13
seigneur_rayden Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray collection:1097 Blu-ray reviews: 12	Although I like the look of the Klipsch without the grills, I still keep them on all the time. They look classic with the grills on and disappear well in the dark.

02-11-2013, 04:59 AM	#14
rpatt Blu-ray Guru Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Home Theater Gallery:69 Blu-ray reviews: 3	I also can't tell a difference. I leave mine on.

02-11-2013, 05:03 AM	#15
Spicoli Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2010 Location:East of Seattle Trading Score:5	i don't want to live on this planet when a question like this shows up. Should I keep my remote in a drawer?

02-11-2013, 07:45 PM	#18
Gremal Blu-ray Samurai Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Daddyland Home Theater Gallery:49 Blu-ray collection:184	I leave them on to avoid dust getting on the woofers and other parts, but certainly do not object to taking them off.

02-11-2013, 11:23 PM	#19
Infrared Sight Expert Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Southern Utah Home Theater Gallery:65 4K collection:26 Blu-ray collection:630 Trading Score:38	I leave mine on because of my daughter and two cats. Plus I don't think it makes a difference, but it for sure looks cool with it off. I watch maybe a movie a month with it off.

02-11-2013, 11:31 PM	#20
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	Most speakers I've heard sound slightly better without the grille covers. The effect is most apparent in the treble frequencies.

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