Does it make sense to remove speaker grilles?
The debate over whether to keep speaker grilles on or remove them is a longstanding one in the hi-fi community. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal preference, influenced by your priorities and the specifics of your listening environment.
What Do Speaker Grilles Do?
Speaker grilles, typically made of fabric, metal, or plastic and attached magnetically or with clips, serve two primary purposes: protection and design. They shield delicate components—like drivers and cones—from dust, accidental damage, and curious fingers. This makes grilles an obvious choice if your speakers are within reach of children or pets.
But speaker covers also have an aesthetic purpose. They complement the typically well-designed, understated look of the speakers by hiding the technical details. However, some prefer the opposite: exposed drivers showcase the technology and are often seen as a statement in high-end circles—a sign of passion for and knowledge of audio technology. But is this really the case, or is it more about personal beliefs?
Do covers change the sound?
The central question is whether covers genuinely affect sound. The answer: it depends. The impact is often less significant than one might think, especially with high-quality acoustic cloth covers. Unlike metal covers, which inevitably reflect some sound, or foam materials, which dampen certain frequencies (and tend to disintegrate over time, becoming crumbly or sticky), speaker fronts made from specially designed acoustic fabric are sound transparent. When properly fitted, the fabric does not alter the sound. High-quality speaker fabric is, therefore, the best choice for restoration projects.
There may be minimal damping effects at the highest frequencies, detectable with measuring equipment. However, for most listeners, this effect is barely noticeable as it lies outside the audible range. Interestingly, our high-quality speaker fabric allows even ultrasound signals well beyond human hearing to pass almost untouched, making it suitable for ultrasonic applications.
Do Grilles Alter Sound Quality?
The impact of grilles on sound quality depends on the speaker’s design. Grille fabric is usually acoustically transparent, so its influence on sound is minimal. However, at the extreme upper end of the frequency spectrum, some slight attenuation may occur—though it’s unlikely to be perceptible in most cases.
Issues are more likely to arise from the grille’s frame. If the frame is too close to the drivers—particularly tweeters or midrange units—it can cause diffraction. This happens when sound waves bounce off the edges of the frame, interfering with the direct sound and potentially affecting dispersion or introducing slight coloration.
However, it’s worth noting that these effects are minor compared to those caused by poor speaker placement, such as placing speakers in recessed spaces or near reflective surfaces. If you’re curious about whether grilles are affecting your setup, a blind listening test can help clarify any differences.
Finding the Right Balance
Whether to keep the grilles on or off ultimately depends on your priorities. By experimenting and listening critically, you’ll discover what works best for your setup. The key is to balance protection, aesthetics, and performance for an optimal listening experience. If protection is essential—especially in households with pets or children—grilles are a no-brainer. Conversely, if optimizing sound quality is your main concern and you appreciate the visual appeal of exposed drivers, removing the grilles might be preferable during dedicated listening sessions.
A pragmatic compromise is to use a hybrid approach: keep the grilles on for everyday use to protect your equipment, and remove them when you’re focusing on critical listening or impressing audiophile friends.
