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I've tried it both ways, with my Soliloquy speakers. I decided to go grille-less. I just don't want anything to get between me and my glorius digitally sourced music reproduction. I'm sure Mikey approves.

No discernable difference in sound, and they look better that way—both to me and to "she who must be obeyed"

Innersound stats no grills! none, zip, zero, ziltch, nada,

I tend to listen to speakers with there grilles on because i figure that is how they are meant to be player. Example: Paradigm Studiop 100's. In that case the the grille is an intregral part of reducing edge diffraction improving the overall sound. Where as i have a set of Celestion A300 minimonitors whose speaker grilles increase the amount of diffraction taking away from the overall sound. Before i decide where or not to listen with grilles or not, i take a look at the design. I am much more likely also to listen with grilles on not matter what the design when i watch a movie.

I prefer to listen with the grilles off, but I haven't had them off since 1993 which is the year I got my house, first child, and dog. But I expect to take them off around 2015 when things will finally be back to normal around here.

Looks better

a little bit of protection...

Dhalquest DQ-20's,Classe CAP150, Musical Fidelity A3.2 cd player, Classe Tuner-1. ahh, it does the job.

Always on, they don't come off (Vandersteens) but if they did I'd leave them on, I don't care for drivers showing. I wonder if "sound best" with grills on is really a matter of sounds as good, with grills on?

Actually, the speakers in my "big rig" do not have removable grills. However, the speakers in my second system do. I leave them ON always.

Off most of the time during serious listening sessions, and on when I have people over. Why degrade the sound with a piece of cloth over your drivers when they obviously sound better with them off? Why go to the expense of upgrades for cleaner more natural sound throughout your system and then leave the grilles on...duh?

I have B&W Matrix 805's, where the tweeter is outside the grille.

While my speakers sound slightly but noticably better with the grills off, I prefer the protection of having the grills on. Helps avoid unfortunate accidents.ill

Because I guess that Kevin Voecks knows what he's doing and there's no word in any of Revel's manual recommending to remove the grilles. Besides, as in real life, the "dressed" Ultimas are more sexy than the stripped ones!

I listen with my speaker grilles off. It seems to sound better. a minor tweek.

Ever try to get the grille cloth "socks" off a Definitive Technology speaker? Good luck!

There is definitely an increase in treble detail without the grilles. Talk about a cheap tweak! The manufacturer recommends the same.

The gold colored speakers of my Klipsch reference-7 series speakers, while gorgeous, are a little over the top in appearance and way too attractive to a small grandchild. Black grills do not invite curious little fingers like gold speaker cones might.

Grilles are just material right in front of the tweeter and woofers, and the sound has to travel through them. I wouldn't put grilles in front of the soundstage any more than I'd put paper towels or tea leaves in front of it.

Sure I do. But then, I have to. The grill clothes don't come off my Maggies.

What will taking the grills off do?

My grills are on most ofthe time for WAF! I do remove them on my day off, not because of sound differences but I like watching the woofers bouncing. There is something appealing about seeing the drivers. My wife is very forgiving about my weaknesses.

My speakers, Coincident, don't come with grills.

The grilles are fine most of the time, but sometimes they just seem wrong. Audio goes directly from the speaker to the ear, and sometimes the grilles seem like a kind of obstruction. It's all psychological, I know. But there are days when they just have to be off.

Old pair of Glastonbury II's by townshend. without grills they look scruffy and psychologically sound different - Interesting?

I had exactly the same thought myself some time ago, so I did a comparison on my KEF Reference 201 speakers. It does seem to make a subtle but distinct difference with the grilles off.

First,because I got better imaging without them.And secondly they look alive with their grilles off.

Off on my Epos ES14 On on my LS35A No question with my Martin Logans,or spendor SA500

Although it's a nuisance to remove the grilles, the improvement in the realism of human voice makes it worthwhile. With instrumental music, the difference seems much less pronounced.

I actually do both, the bass grille covers are on and the tweeter and mid range is off. I have Virgo III speakers that allow me to do this. I do not think the grille covers have any effect on bass but I worry they might effect higher frequencies.