Speaker grills on or off when listening?

[pyonc]

Hi

Do you leave them on when you listen to JBL speakers?
As for big studio monitors like 4343, for example, there are steel name plates on the top that I think might block the tweeter sound.
Cosmetically, they look better with the grills on, but I wonder if the plates really bother the sound from tweeters...
(If that's the case, why did the JBL engineers design that way?)
In my case, I've been listening with the grills on.
What do you think?

[BMWCCA]

I play my 4345s with grilles on but badges off. Even if there was an audible difference, I'd rather have the grilles on for protection and EQ any difference—but I don't hear one!

[grumpy]

Pyonc: What do you mean -or- ? Lol.

[pyonc]

I play my 4345s with grilles on but badges off. Even if there was an audible difference, I'd rather have the grilles on for protection and EQ any difference—but I don't hear one!

Thanks for your feedback. Actually for 4343, only one of the speaker pair is is the issue regarding the location of the badge plate.
I've checked inside the grill cloth and found the far left portion of the name plate on my left speaker actually positioned right behind the top of the tweeter, partially blocking the tweeter sound. To my pleasant surprise, I find the plate can be moved to the other side when you unscrew it. So, instead of taking the grill off, I'm going to move it to the other side, and that way I can listen to the music with the grill on, like you. :D

[pyonc]

Pyonc: What do you mean -or- ? Lol.

Taken from the Google image, not mine.
A closer look shows the 4343 badge name plate is positioned about the same level as the tweeter.
The one on the right, with the grill on, is the case in point, while the left one, naked, poses no such issue, with the name plate out of the tweeter.


https://smlycdn.akamaized.net/data/product2/2/9acd3be19d64b32217411701aa5fe23855e4c920_m.jpg

[Wagner]

For me? OFF while listening

They can do no good on while in use
(that is why they made them so easy to remove and re-install)

Grilles are primarily for some small degree of protection and an aesthetic afterthought and I doubt that the engineers had them in mind when designing the system as for sound
That's not to say that MARKETING didn't have them in mind when it came to selling them though! http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif:
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdQ27CCwM0J8JPnszKm-W3XjH2utYiOLXOSDL98SFKJGqLXUkB
Some are better than others (less intrusive)
Anything you put in front of a driver will change the sound, whether that's a problem for you (a negative), or you can hear it, only you can decide

Fine for protection and keeping dust and dirt away from things when you're not playing music (if you enjoy their looks)

Besides, who need grilles when you can have this!:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-4343-Lacquered-Black-Red-/261338179724

[pyonc]

For me? OFF while listening

They can do no good on while in use
(that is why they made them so easy to remove and re-install)

Grilles are primarily for some small degree of protection and an aesthetic afterthought and I doubt that the engineers had them in mind when designing the system as for sound
That's not to say that MARKETING didn't have them in mind when it came to selling them though! http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif:
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQdQ27CCwM0J8JPnszKm-W3XjH2utYiOLXOSDL98SFKJGqLXUkB
Some are better than others (less intrusive)
Anything you put in front of a driver will change the sound, whether that's a problem for you (a negative), or you can hear it, only you can decide

Fine for protection and keeping dust and dirt away from things when you're not playing music (if you enjoy their looks)

Besides, who need grilles when you can have this!:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-4343-Lacquered-Black-Red-/261338179724

Thanks for your detailed feedback.
Basically I've left them on for keeping dust and dirt from the woofers and drivers like you.
Now if the grills really affect the sound, I'd rather take them off while listening.

[Wagner]

Thanks for your detailed feedback.
Basically I've left them on for keeping dust and dirt from the woofers and drivers like you.
Now if the grills really affect the sound, I'd rather take them off while listening.
They will affect it, that's a fact
But as I said, whether it's a problem for you (diminishes your enjoyment or if you can even hear the difference) is something only you can determine/decide

Thomas

[pyonc]

They will affect it, that's a fact
But as I said, whether it's a problem for you (diminishes your enjoyment or if you can even hear the difference) is something only you can determine/decide

Thomas

Got it. Let me try it. Thanks again.

[JBL 166 Horizon]

Listening to Tony Bennett now and I always listen to the Horizons with the grills on.