On 9 Sep 2003 17:34:42 GMT, Bruce Abrams wrote:

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message
news:ST47b.396981$uu5.73518@sccrnsc04...

Appearance and to deter the poking fingers of the curious. Otherwise,
unnecessary.

Not so fast. There are a number of loudspeakers, Paradigm Reference
speakers among them, where the frame of the grill actually forms part of the
front baffle thus having a significant effect on the dispersal and radiation
of sound. My speakers (Paradigm Studio 100s) sound significantly better
with the grills on.

That's not the reason they're there. The reasons are as above but, in
order that they do not compromise the sound, Paradigm (and many
others) design them to work as if they were performing the work of
correctly-designed front edges. Surely, the same dispersion can be
effected without a grille but, of course, without the protection it
affords. Simply responsible engineering.

Kal