Skidmarks Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 A bit of a silly question, but I am a new owner of the RF7 line , and I like the look with the grill covers off. However I have a friend who instructed me not to leave them off? I asked him why , his response was in general you should never leave the covers off any speakers , in time it will weaken the foam and rubber? Not that he has any prior expirience with Klipsch, in fact he had never heard of them, just all speakers in general was his reply. I just thought I would ask the pros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M6 Driver Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 It would be in your best interest to leave the grills on. The woofer cones are very acceptable to creasing and denting from folks that get just to curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 IMHO the only reason to remove the grills is because I have never seen or heard of any grill which is truely 100% acoustically transparent. I always seem to be able to hear some difference althought IMO any differences are usually extremely marginal. In the 30+ years I've been involved with audio, as well pro musical instrument amplifiers/speakers I've never heard anything about it affecting the "foam and rubber" (surround/suspension I suspect is what he's referring to). Sounds like someone's unqualified "personal theory" to me. However as previously mentioned, they do provide some damage protection to the drivers, to a certain extent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbflash Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Leave them off if you don't have little kids running around or a big dog that wags its tail alot. I have the grills off all my speakers. I guess I just like looking at the horns. Every once in awhile I'll take a T shirt and wipe the dust out of the horns. I could see if your speakers were facing a window and gets alot of sunlight it maybe an issue. I leave the grills on my speakers in the car. I have also read some reviews on different kinds of speakers that also said that they liked the sound better with the grills off. I can't hear any difference, just like the look. Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artto Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Yeah, the sunlight exposure might have some impact Danny. I forgot about that. Although I must admit, the foam surround of the Nakamichi & Infinities in my old S10 Blazer eventually deteriorated to virtually nothing. Maybe it had to do with the heat & cold too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.4knee Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 I agree with arto. Those grills do not seal any part of the face of your RF-7. They are open on the top and bottom. Either leaving the covers on or off will have no effect on the "Foam surrounds" of your speakers. Tell your friend to put the bong away for a while and do as you see fit. I would recommend leaving them on because it keeps foreign matter from bumping into you cone and damaging them but other than that its up to you. Assuming you keep them out of direct sunlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwatkins Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Weakened rubber and foam - nope, not enough to matter. Your friend is most likely just misinformed. I like the look of 'dressed' speakers (being raised Baptisit and all) so Aestetically I like the covers on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidmarks Posted May 21, 2004 Author Share Posted May 21, 2004 LOL to the Bong comment. I do not have little kids running around "yet", so I will leave them off ..I get tired of taking them off every time a friend asks to see the horn and cone materials. Besides they add something to the crib, I figure if Im gonna take up that much space in the entertainment room , it might as well look good. Thanks guys for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scp53 Posted May 24, 2004 Share Posted May 24, 2004 I actually asked Kipsch a while ago for my SB-3's and they said light won't lead to premature wear of the cone or surround. So light won't affect them but I m sure that heat could. If your speakers are close to a furnace vent you should probably move them . the heat could dry the surrounds out over time. scp53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Mandaville Posted May 26, 2004 Share Posted May 26, 2004 The grille cloth prevents the bombardment of excessive photon energy which, over time and with increased molecular activity and friction, may begin to loosen the surrounds (are they foam or butyl rubber?) As all have said, it's not going to do anything to take the grilles off. I used to do that before each listening session, and put them back on again to keep dust off (my mom taught me that dust is a bad thing to have around!). Older drivers used to use untreated foam that would dry out over time, but most modern speakers use improved materials. I agree that speakers sound better without the extra bit of fabric as an obstruction. I'm contemplating the same thing with my Klipschorns, but just haven't been brave enough to remove the vintage factory cloth and logo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyKlipschFan Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 No kidds or critters? LOL Take them off, and enjoy em. Just keep your friends from touching them, and your ok!! They might sound just a "tad" brighter. Enjoy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted June 3, 2004 Share Posted June 3, 2004 The better the tweeter, the more noticeable the grill, the better the wide angle dispersion, the more noticeable the grill, the younger the audience, children included, the more noticeable the grill Take them off for critical listening, leave them on for protection, what he said about aging is bunk though where in Fla? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidmarks Posted June 3, 2004 Author Share Posted June 3, 2004 I live in the Tampa Bay area. Seminole to be exact. I like the way they look and sound, I have not even taken the grills out of thier boxes.lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milton10 Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Milton in Tampa here! Premature aging of rubber surrounds due to air exposure is a myth. However, direct radiating sunlight WILL break down the surrounds much faster. If your speakers are away from any direct sunlight source, you should be fine. Milton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidmarks Posted June 28, 2004 Author Share Posted June 28, 2004 Thanks Milton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doudou Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 taking the grill off could give more high frequencies. not a lot but it can be ear.but as you said then your speakers are nude against all agressions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwb157 Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 skidmarks,when i built my cornerhorns in 1976 i put the top grills on for awhile ,but i took them of to see if i could hear the difference,big time!!! anything directly in front of a horn will have a tendency to reflect sound waves back up the horn !!!grill cloth is mainly for looks,i ended up tossing mine out ,if you like the sound that way ,its because ,they sound better that way,i say leave them of,good luck and rock on ,mike/mwb157. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 If you so much as breathe heavy on them, those metal cones will dent or crease. Grilles on please! Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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