Joel A.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I recently purchased a pair of Impact 40 speakers still in the original cartons....new and with reworked crossovers and an impedance change to 8 ohms for $500.00 for the pair to replace my old AR3 speakers. I found the sound first rank.....the tweeters are crystal clear and the base is powerful and tight. I added an eight inch Polk powered sub-woofer just to get room shaking base when playing classical organ music.I was in ecstasy the first time I played a Widor Toccata.My speakers would be able to break an apartment lease but also work just wonderfully with guitar,voice and piano at both normal and high volume levels.I am just so happy with my new speakers.

Strengths:
I consider the speaker's imposing size a plus....you expect wonderfully clear performance from a speaker this size and you get it in spades. The fact that I paid so little money for my purchase only enhances my enjoyment.One would need to spend thousands to match this performance.

Weaknesses:
The only weakness I can think of might be the flack you would get from a spouse who desires hidden tiny speakers.My wife has chilled out to the point that I got away with it, although I still get the old "that's too loud routine". I think that for many people the addition of a powered sub-woofer would be an excess given the base provided by the ten inch cones.

Similar Products Used:
The techs at Audio Pro (Watertown Ma.) where I purchased my speakers also restored my Marantz Model 15 amp and Model 7-T pre-amp as well as my Thorens turntable with a Shure SME tonearm. Everything works as well as it did when I first got the equipment forty plus years ago.Being that I am a lover of powerful base,the Polk eight inch powered sub-woofer only adds to my enjoyment but maybe not my wifes. I also employ a tape deck and a cd player which sound wonderful with the Impact 40 speaker

Price Paid:  $100.00

Summary:
For the price paid I was not expecting much. Didn't even give them a thorough listen before paying the bucks. They were in great shape...had been boxed for a few years so I took the gamble.

When I got them home and connected them up to my old Marantz equipment I was definitely not happy...the bass was muddy and the highs could hardly be heard.
For the first time in my life I actually used bass, mid and treble controls to get them to sound "alright".
A day later I decided they had to leave the living room area...fully carpeted and filled with stuffed furniture. I moved them onto the hardwood floors with area rugs.
Suddenly, I heard a different speaker. Everything I hoped they would be they became. Tone controls returned to flat...Bill Evans cranked and I was away...I was very impressed with the detail and imaging...bass and mids were clear and tight...the highs were clear and smooth..I fell in love.

Strengths:
Great sound...provided they are fed a good signal and a suitable room for them to be heard. Imaging and detail are the great strengths here.

Weaknesses:
Very fussy in their placement...if you have a small place that is wall to wall carpeted with lots of furniture, be prepared to be disapointed. Hardwood or laminate with area rugs...a largish room to crank them and they deliver.

todds7

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $265.00 from Hawthorne Stereo Sea

Summary:
Product Reviewed: Celestion Impact 40 I went shopping for used speakers on a tight budget and just took the recommendation of the owner of Hawthorne Stereo in Seattle. I knew England's Celestion because I own a 400-watt tube bass amp, a big 15-inch enclosure, and a 4X10 enclosure filled with British Celestion woofers -- I know Celestion's quality. Celestion woofers also fill my dad's Gale speakers, whose quality has also impressed me over the years. The Brits build great speakers (and tube amps! :) I have a great deal of respect for them. But I digress. But back to these Impacts. The price was right, and I was familiar with the product. I'm running them off my Philips SACD and Marantz 1250 integraged. For 12-inch woofers, they're not at all bass-shy. The detail is extremely accurate. Not overy warm, or cold analytical. Just right actually. But what incredible detail! I've clearly heard subtle nuances that I've never heard before in the music. (I was wondering what the hell a noise was and had to put my ear right to the speaker to verify that it was from the CD! It was definitely a "Wow, check that out!" experience. Pretty cool. For full retail of more than $1000 my review would be a little cooler, because for that kind of money you've got a LOT of choices out there. But for $200-something? I've spent that on dinner! For $500, these are superlative speakers. Mind you, I'm saving my sheckles for something better, but if you want instant upper mid-fi for cheap, absolutely and by all means, pay anything up to $500 and love the dickens out of these dudes. Buyer's remorse will be buyer's rejoice on this one.

Strengths:
Lots of bang for your buck. For the money I want to say something like the best on the market! No foolin'. LOTS of clean, hi-definition output. They rock if you turn 'em up. Cool vibration-isolating spike legs (removeable if desired). Small footprint.

Weaknesses:
Like many British speakers, you need a lot of skookum (watts) to drive 'em. That said, give 'em what they want and you're going to be smiling.

Similar Products Used:
Altec model 19s foolishly sold

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Affordable Audio, No

Summary:
Huge speakers! 92dB@1w@1m will make even the most weedy amp sound like a powerhouse. Watch that 4 Ohm impedence though. Not very good at low levels but really start to sing at high volumes. Ideal for movies or serious bass heads. Most comfortable in your average stately home where they can stretch their wings and fill the largest of rooms with that lovely beefy music.

Strengths:
Seismic and Deep Bass from that 10" Sub Woofer and twin port design. Looks good with silver streaks running through the black wood veneer. Brilliant in a large room where they can be cranked up.

Weaknesses:
Useless at low volume. Double useless in my little one bedroom flat. But put them in a large room (i.e my mates party), turn them up and they are transformed and supremely musical and danceable.

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy R2, Tannoy Mx3, Tannoy Definition 300, Tannoy 600's, Bose acoustimass, KEF Cara, Vintage HMV's. All run through NAD C370 (120 Watts) amplifier, Pioneer multiplayer with Cambridge S700 DAC. NAD

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
weak highs great mid muddy bass. i run two pairs it cost me $ 450. 00 for two sets. they cant compete with the better speakers

Strengths:
Midrange

Weaknesses:
tweeters are weak bass is muddy

Similar Products Used:
jbl 4410 canton fonum 200