I had a pair of Impact Monitors. They were not my cup of tea. I heard none of the magic that others report from the seven driver array. But that's ME in MY room with MY electronics. Hats off to others that love them.
On the modification of professionally designed speakers... I worked for one of the big upper mid-fi brands in the 80's and 90's. I spent a lot of time with the engineers because my job was to translate the technology to the lay person for marketing and training purposes. These engineers would sweat all manner of things - tiny details in every aspect of materials, design, and manufacturing. And they had anechoic chambers, and various technologies to help them.
The idea that the average person can take a finished, well designed product, and buy a random component off the rack and expect it to improve the product is kind of strange. I like to make the analogy to the motor oil additive industry. Take Quaker State, Castrol, Mobil, Shell, etc. They spend an enormous amount of money and manpower on R&D. Folks with Ph.D.s in chemistry, etc. They come up with a formulation for a specific application. What's the chance that an average person can walk into a Pep Boys, buy a random additive, and improve the performance of their motor oil? Possible? Sure. Not likely.
My guess is that if you want to tinker, buy a kit and build some stuff on your own. It will be more rewarding and productive. I did and it was a blast! But I still have professionally designed speakers in my main listening space.
On the modification of professionally designed speakers... I worked for one of the big upper mid-fi brands in the 80's and 90's. I spent a lot of time with the engineers because my job was to translate the technology to the lay person for marketing and training purposes. These engineers would sweat all manner of things - tiny details in every aspect of materials, design, and manufacturing. And they had anechoic chambers, and various technologies to help them.
The idea that the average person can take a finished, well designed product, and buy a random component off the rack and expect it to improve the product is kind of strange. I like to make the analogy to the motor oil additive industry. Take Quaker State, Castrol, Mobil, Shell, etc. They spend an enormous amount of money and manpower on R&D. Folks with Ph.D.s in chemistry, etc. They come up with a formulation for a specific application. What's the chance that an average person can walk into a Pep Boys, buy a random additive, and improve the performance of their motor oil? Possible? Sure. Not likely.
My guess is that if you want to tinker, buy a kit and build some stuff on your own. It will be more rewarding and productive. I did and it was a blast! But I still have professionally designed speakers in my main listening space.