removing speaker grill
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 23
hobbyist
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OP
hobbyist
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 23 |
last night I was listening to my new M60's and I took the speaker grills off while i was listening to them and they sounded so much crisper and cleaner. Am i hearing things in my older age, or do these speakers sound better without the speaker grills on them?
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,463 Likes: 1 |
I don't think there is any evidence they sound better without the grills. I've done tons of listening with and without and couldn't tell a difference. Having said all that, I still left the grills off in the off chance that there a subtle change. Your mind can play havoc with your happiness.
I'd say if you don't have kids, leave the grills off and enjoy what you hear.
*********** "Nothin' up my sleeve. . ." --Bullwinkle J. Moose
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488 |
I take the grills off when i really sit down to do some listening. I think they sound better with them off. A little crisper like you say. And my non scientific way of telling myself that it would affect the sound is try blowing through the grill cloth. It doesnt go through like it would without the grill cloth.
That being said, I keep the grills on most of the time now days. I was the exact opposite a couple years ago but i have become attached to the sleek, slim look they have with the grills on. who knew.
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
Mojo has mentioned the M80s sound less sibilant(was that it Tex?) when the grilles are on. I haven't put the grilles on mine yet, still enjoying the look of all those drivers so I really can't comment. I have noticed that the grille cloth is now thicker than in the past. When the grilles are on my M22s/VP100 I can still see the drivers through it, but on the newer M80s/VP150 when the grilles were on, ever so briefly when they first arrived, I couldn't see the drivers.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,490 Likes: 116
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,490 Likes: 116 |
When I had Mojo toe-in, my ears objected to naked M80s. The highs were too sparkly. I haven't tried listening for a difference with my current, zero toe-in configuration. I know what Ian and Alan said about the grill being practically transparent at all audible frequencies and I have no explanation for what I heard. I suppose someday I should convince myself by taking SPL measurements with varying frequency. I only tried this once by the way so it's not a statistically significant result. I do remember however that I was listening to a native flute close to what I believe was its top end.
That's interesting about the grille cloth thickness. We should compare our grills, Jason. I'm only speculating but maybe Axiom is trying to respond to reports of brightness.
House of the Rising Sone Out in the mid or far field Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
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Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7 |
They're like sunglasses for speakers.
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17 |
Oddly enough this is one thing i have not done A/B blind yet though i'm inclined to side with Alan's comments on the non-effect of the speaker cloth. Sound is not exactly like hard wind rushing at your face. It is air related and pressure related but the speaker cloth, being as light as it is, should have a negligible effect on the sound pressure created by the drivers within the room. That being said, i did see some heavier plastic grills with rather narrow holes on some Energy speakers. Now THAT would impede air flow immediately off the driver cone more significantly.
In subjective tests i cannot say i recall any big or noticeable difference between having the grilles on or off my Axioms. Being such a potentially subtle effect if any, i think only an A/B test could help to define it.
Last edited by chesseroo; 11/16/07 04:01 AM.
"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
The blow test isn't very good for testing a grill cloth for acoustic transparency since your mouth is a poor model for a speaker driver. Now, if you can move your tongue forward and backward at 200Hz and greater, I stand corrected (and she's a very lucky girl).
Last edited by pmbuko; 11/16/07 04:34 AM. Reason: added some color
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,490 Likes: 116
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,490 Likes: 116 |
I just measured at 10KHz. It's louder by 1dB...with the grills ON ! I measured three times with the same results. My explanation is that the cloth acts as a lens. Ok you guys. Go measure before you go to bed tonight. How can you possibly sleep without confirming it yourselves?
House of the Rising Sone Out in the mid or far field Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated
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Re: removing speaker grill
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,488 |
The blow test isn't very good for testing a grill cloth for acoustic transparency since your mouth is a poor model for a speaker driver. Now, if you can move your tongue forward and backward at 200Hz and greater, I stand corrected (and she's a very lucky girl). I also figure that because the grill frames stick out past the baffle you wouldnt get as good of soundstaging. Or something. All i know is that a set of sansui speakers in the garage that have literally a 1 inch lip around the entire front for the grille to fit into seems to really make them sound... Bad. i think is the word im looking for.
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