Vandersteen 3A sig , on the naked

During the two years I owned 3A Sigs I was perpetually tempted to pull off their socks. Though they'd be visually repellent, I have no doubt they'd also sound more open and transparent, even if they were voiced with the socks on. I've never met a speaker that sounded better through a grill no matter how "acoustically transparent" the fabric was supposed to be. The 5As sound better with the fabric lids removed, IMO.

Anybody that says the Model 5A sounds better without the grille assembly has not done a careful double blind comparison. Come on by and we will do it for you and I'm sure you will find otherwise. The grille structure smooths out the diffractive effects of the woofer enclosure/head transition. We do this all the time with the same result.
Cheer Johnnyr

Had considered doing something like this with the my 3A Sig's

http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php?topic=3041.0

Scroll about halfway down, I could see mine with the addition of some nice wood work and a little leather. Then add a little circular wood frame around the drivers similar to the Cain & Cain's. Would (wood) be nice.

Bad part is too scared to cut them. Maybe I'll wait till I get my 5A's before doing that.

Interesting, thanks for the link.

JohnnyR: Double-blind test? No, never did one. But in my admittedly limited time with 5As, I though the HF more transparent and immediate with the lids off.

"The grille structure smooths out the diffractive effects of the woofer enclosure/head transition. "

This might well be, although you make it sound like band-aid. Don't get me wrong: I think the 5A is a great speaker and it's on my short list.

And now back to the 3A Sig thread, which is already in progress....