Grilles or No Grilles

The grills on my Egglestons were very transparent - both aesthetically and sonically. I heard no difference. It was a very elegant design (super thin, sheer) and I could actually still see the drivers when the grill were on, so I kept them on. My new speakers don't come with grills.

Gentlemen,
Vandersteen speakers not only sound better with grills they measure better. Any one who thinks they can hear a very sheer double knit grill double blind is most likely hearing the diffraction caused by improper grill frame design. Many of the worlds most expensive tweeters use wire mesh or fabric for protection without sonic effect.
Thanks Johnnyr

If a speaker comes with a grill its made to be used with one, in this insane anal hobby if a maker didnt think it was a good idea he simply wouldnt offer it OR he would sell it as an option....grills on, they look and sound better. As a closer if Johnnyr tells you sometihng you can be pretty confident its the truth.
And for those who say its there for protection and not sound I can name many turntables that come with no cover and are all things considered much more vulnerable to damage.

I have never heard a speaker that did not sound better with the grills off. However, some speakers look "but ugly" with the grills off.

Orpheus10 wrote:
I have never heard a speaker that did not sound better with the grills off.

I have heard speakers that are better with them off and speakers that are better with them on. It really is not something that one should make a blanket statement about unless one has heard them all.

How they look with the grilles on or off is another matter.

Kal