To Grill or not to Grill

[davethedyer]

Looking for opinions whether or not to keep grills on or off for aesthetics mainly. I guess many spouses would be involved in this decision. :D

[Pogre]

I run mine nekked.

[theophile]

Looking for opinions whether or not to keep grills on or off for aesthetics mainly. I guess many spouses would be involved in this decision. :D

Strictly your choice! Believe all Ascend Acoustic speakers have by design, acoustically transparent grills that any differences are only measurable, but difficult to "hear"!

To me, I hear no audible differences grilled or not. However, my Sierra-2EX grills stay On, as I have younger grandsons with inquiring minds (and fingers)! ;)

Ted

[curtis]

I have always kept the grilles on with my Ascend speakers. I hear no difference, and I felt safer when my kids were younger (I never showed them what was underneath).

Now they are much older, and it is just habit. I would rather the grilles get dusty and not have to dust the drivers.

[petmotel]

My dog tends to be a "slobber slinger", grilles on for me. Even though the drivers are amazing, and the front baffles are so well finished, I've always thought speakers just look cleaner and more refined with grilles, JMHO.

Jay

[racrawford65]

Grills on for me.

[davethedyer]

Doesn't anyone like the look of the bronze colored aluminum phase plug on the midrange?

[davethedyer]

I run mine nekked.

;):):)

[natetg57]

Doesn't anyone like the look of the bronze colored aluminum phase plug on the midrange?

absolutely. I keep my grills off my of my Sierra-2EX and Lunas

[davethedyer]

absolutely. I keep my covers off of my sierra-2ex and lunas

:):)

[mikesiskav]

No grills here.

[Pogre]

I have always kept the grilles on with my Ascend speakers. I hear no difference, and I felt safer when my kids were younger (I never showed them what was underneath).

Now they are much older, and it is just habit. I would rather the grilles get dusty and not have to dust the drivers.

You know what works great for dusting speakers? Good ol' swiffer wand. Works great for gloss finishes and dusty speaker grilles too! I can dust my whole front stage in about 2 minutes and never worry about micro scuffs and scratches.

[Mag_Neato]

Since my EX's are in a dedicated listening room with no kids/pets running around, I leave the grills off. I can admire the copper phase plug and RAAL ribbon while enjoying the sound!

[theophile]

Since my EX's are in a dedicated listening room with no kids/pets running around, I leave the grills off. I can admire the copper phase plug and RAAL ribbon while enjoying the sound!

Like Ed, I also have a dedicated sound room, but sometimes forget to keep the door closed when the grandsons are around (they know the rules, but 7 year olds quickly forget)...thus, Grills On!!

Yes, the Sierra-2EX are Very Cool to look at (and take pics of). However, when listening to my music library, my visual attention is usually tuned to the huge live venue ambiance of the soundstage, as I can easily visualize the musician and singer placements, spacial clues, and physical presence in the deep and wide holographic presentation that the 2EX portray! What I See (stereo & small room) vs What I Hear (Stepping Into Carnegie Hall) is simply...Mind Blowing!!! ;)

Ted

[curtis]

You know what works great for dusting speakers? Good ol' swiffer wand. Works great for gloss finishes and dusty speaker grilles too! I can dust my whole front stage in about 2 minutes and never worry about micro scuffs and scratches.
Got it. But what's better is if you have no reason to dust it. :D

OK...I hate house cleaning!

[petmotel]

When it's just music, I get so caught up in it, I often close my eyes and imagine the venue and the musicians.

Of course when a movie is playing, not looking at the speakers then either. Clothed or naked I love how my Ascends look and especially how they sound, stunning either way!

Jay

[briand]

Grill off if kids-pets-spouse aren't issue. Shows more finished cabinet and just looks nicer. In fact, I only considered speakers that were finished in the front since I think it looks nicer.

[loafer]

Amazing how important aesthetics are. The basement is supposed to be "mine" but it is still subject to spousal design standards (SDS). I think the Sierra2EX speakers look very sharp with the grill covers on. They look a bit more "industrial" with them off, even with the new woofer, but that would not pass the SDS. Regarding sound quality, I am going to try an A/B test just for fun, but I am predicting that I will not be able to tell the difference. +1 to Pogre for swiffer idea.

[davethedyer]

Amazing how important aesthetics are. The basement is supposed to be "mine" but it is still subject to spousal design standards (SDS). I think the Sierra2EX speakers look very sharp with the grill covers on. They look a bit more "industrial" with them off, even with the new woofer, but that would not pass the SDS. Regarding sound quality, I am going to try an A/B test just for fun, but I am predicting that I will not be able to tell the difference. +1 to Pogre for swiffer idea.

This was the my favorite response thus far. I too am subject to similar SDS's. The kitchen is not subject to my SDS though LOL.

[petmotel]

Doesn't anyone like the look of the bronze colored aluminum phase plug on the midrange?

Probably a more relevant question would be who in their right mind wouldn't like that elegant bullet in the middle of the Tower/Horizon mid range driver or the EX woofers? EVERYONE loves those things, they are so sophisticated, they just say "I pity the driver that doesn't have a phase plug"! A bit over the top?

Jay

[curtis]

Probably a more relevant question would be who in their right mind wouldn't like that elegant bullet in the middle of the Tower/Horizon mid range driver or the EX woofers? EVERYONE loves those things, they are so sophisticated, they just say "I pity the driver that doesn't have a phase plug"! A bit over the top?

What cracks me up are drivers that have fake phase plugs.

It reminded me that I was involved in this thread 15 years ago..
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/drivers-with-stationary-streamlined-phase-plugs.721421/

[theophile]

What cracks me up are drivers that have fake phase plugs.

It reminded me that I was involved in this thread 15 years ago..
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/drivers-with-stationary-streamlined-phase-plugs.721421/

Cool Thread, Curtis! :cool:

[mikesiskav]

What cracks me up are drivers that have fake phase plugs.

It reminded me that I was involved in this thread 15 years ago..
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/drivers-with-stationary-streamlined-phase-plugs.721421/

How did you find that thread after 15 years? :)

[curtis]

How did you find that thread after 15 years? :)
LOL!

I had remembered, and decided to see if I could google it. I think I just googled "fake phase plug" and it showed up.