Sopra No. 3 speaker grilles - on or off?
 

I'm curious as to whether you folks listen with the speaker grilles on or off. I find the sound of my new Sopra No. 3's is noticeably more transparent with the grilles removed.

with them off. I noticed it when I had the 1038be also. Midrange cover off. I always left the tweeter cover on because i was scared something would happen to the driver so Im glad the Sopra cover is made to stay on the tweeter.

My lowly ARs sound noticeably better without grilles in place. As I see it, covers are for convenience (of dusting etc), not quality sound.

Depends. The situation is not the same as was in the past. Some covers are quite transparent and, of those, many are voiced to perform with the covers on.

In the past I had the 1037be, Tweeters/Mid range, I took the covers off, for the woofers I kept the covers on. Sometimes I thought I heard a difference in favour for the covers off, but difference was marginal (at the time)

My decision to keep the covers off was mainly based on a review where they did measurement with the covers on/off --> advise was off (I will see if I can find that review again with the measurements)

Aesthetics-wise, grills off. All day, everyday! Not a fan of hiding these gorgeous 'W' cone drivers!

My grilles never came near the speakers, they look too good as is.

I’ve always listened to my 1028be2 with all covers off.
My Sopra2 with midrange and woofers off.
Haven’t removed the Sopra tweeter cover yet but the day might come soon.

As with Harbeth 3.2 Anniversary speakers, per Mr. Shaw.

That said, I preferred my 1008Be IIs with the grills off. Tweeter included.

Rumor has it the Sopra was designed/voiced with the tweeter grill on.
Decide for yourself, I plan to try both ways for comparison.