[zmorris]

What's the purpose of the metal grate the covers some drivers? Is it there just to protect the diaphragm, and if I were to remove mine do you think it would improve the SQ? I ask this because I notice some drivers don't have a grate like Sony's headphones.

 

[ClieOS]

It is there to protect the transducer. Whether you can improve the headphone SQ by removing the grill depends on whether the grill absolves/blocks/reflects the sound wave. If it does, than may be removing it will reveal more detail. If it doesn't (or does but not as much), than removing the grill will do nothing.