Mat,

The Paradigms were actually designed to be played with the grills on. We made sure to listen to them with the grills on in the store. Enjoy your speakers and let us know what you think about the M3s. I personally would be very interested in hearing your comparison between the M3s and your Paradigms although I do realize that one is a floor-stander and the other is a bookshelf.

House of the Rising Sone
Out in the mid or far field
Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated