Some sound better with, and some without. Try it yourself, and go with the one you like - since you like the looks of both.
Some thicker grills do add something to the sound - takes the edge off - benefits aggressive souding speakers.
Personally I like the sound without on most speakers - has that attention getting immediacy to the sound - closer to real - sounds like a veil has been lifted.
Experiment and go with the one that sounds best to you.
I have JBL's for the HT setup and I leave the grille's on but for my Totem Rainmakers (which don't come with grille's) they probably would take away from the sound. I agree that some are better with and some are better without, generally cheaper speakers sound better with. Generally.
Some speakers are designed to sound better with grilles on. The Paradigm Reference series for example. Others are designed without a grille as part of the equation. Consult each manufacturer to find out if they were designed their speakers specifically with grilles as part of the equation or whether it's just a matter preference.
I like em without the grills. If a speaker has to use grills to dessipate sound, chances are that it will sound good only in the sweet spot, and no-where else.
I like to get the most out of mine, so I chose the ones that dont limit or reffrain me to a confined listening spot.
Totems are usually really hard to place, but these Rainmakers do good closer together than I would have thought.
B.Steele
Unregistered guest
Posted on
Personally, I take the grilles off and wrap toilet paper around my speakers. I've found that the tonality is much more well behaved, not to mention that it is the ultimate cure for stubborn imaging problems. Double-ply, of course, not any of that cheap stuff on my monitors! If you take a green sharpie marker and draw pictures of music notes on the toilet paper (not on the sides - such a beginner's mistake) in front of the drivers and over the wire terminals the musicality will literally knock your socks off your feet. Seriously.