Vandersteen 3A sig , on the naked

I like the look of the Vandersteen ads showing their speakers sans socks. They remind me of old fashioned cameras. Kind of romantically nostalgic.
Never the less, Riley804 offers good advice.

Ha, the first Audiogon thread I authored back in 2003 asked the same question about the 2CE sigs. A few years ago someone sold a naked pair of them on ebay with pics. They did look terrible but the person who removed the socks and posts did half-ass job of it. I was outbid and they sold for about half of what a pair in normal condition sold for.
My problem was with the size. All that extra size just to get the sock over them, they are visually overwhelming. Still think about doing it if a really good buy presents itself.

If you ever saw one "naked" in the flesh, it is very unappealing, and nothing to do with nostalgic! butt ugly comes to mind. if you listen with the lights off, fine, otherwise, buy another speaker.

I think I'm the luckiest man alive. I have the Vandersteen's with black end caps and my wife actually likes the way they look. God love that woman!

There's an interesting Q&A on this on the Vandersteen website (yes, Richard replies in all caps):

Alan (2/12/11): I have owned four pairs of Vandersteen loudspeakers over the past 21 years. If you could find a way to design your speakers with user removable/replaceable grill cloths, you would stand to be counted amongst the most enviable of men.

Answer: HELLO ALAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I HAVE BEEN PUSHED, BEAT, BRIBED AND ABUSED ABOUT THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. I HAVE EVEN ENCOURAGED OTHERS TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND FIND SUCH A SOLUTION. EVERY IDEA INCLUDING MY OWN SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE SOUND OR INCREASED THE PRICE APPROXIMATELY 100 PERCENT. IN THE END THE SOLUTION BECAME THE MODEL 5, QUATRO WOOD AND THE NEWLY ANNOUNCED TREO. THE QUATRO WOOD IS $10,700.00 A PAIR AND THE TREO (3A SIG SOUND BUT LESS BASS) $5990.00 PER PAIR BUT THEY ALL HAVE REMOVABLE GRILLES. SO FOR MANY YEARS WE HAVE THAT OPTION FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PAY. THE NON REMOVABLE FABRIC WRAP IS WHY WE HAVE A 4 WAY SPEAKER WITH SCANSPEAK DRIVERS FOR $3950.00, NOBODY INCLUDING THE CHINESE CAN TOUCH THAT