Something just isn't there

So Kevin,

Make sure when you listen  your speakers are away from walls as much as you can. :)

What you described is typical of a room that is far too lively. By pulling the speakers away from the walls and you moving towards them you change the ratio of direct/reflected energy allowing you to hear the system more than the room.

If you have a pair of headphones, also good to use them to see if you hear the same muddiness.

Best,


Erik

1. sit 38% of the way into the room from the front wall, directly in the center

2. run some pink noise thru and walk into each corner of the room
- find some corner bass traps that your wife loves (her favorite material, etc.)

3. evaluate 1st reflections & treat with your wife's favorite art work (over the top of some panels)

IF you are using subs in particular, be leary of floor interactions as a primary culprit for muddy or obscured sound. Could occur with mains as well. Bass may seem muddy or fat and obscure details higher up in midrange. Suspended plywood floors are most common and susceptible. Auralex subdude platforms or similar isolating platforms are very effective addressing that when needed.

In this case what you seek may in fact be there but is obscured by your floors acoustically  acting as a part of your speakers and/or subs.

Hey lobster - Looked up your Josephs.  They resemble somewhat (2 way, lower sensitivity, driver dimensions, similar size cabinet) the Totem Forests I am running.  All the speaker placement and room treatment advice you got is worth pursuing if you are able.  I wonder if your wife would accept GIK 244 Bass Traps placed behind the speakers temporarily during listening sessions...prop 'em against wall right on the floor.  Maybe reflections in an active room are "gumming things up" sonically? i.e., depriving you of clarity in upper octaves???  

Placement was critical to getting good sound from the Forests.  Consider some plinths for the Josephs.  I have the Forests elevated almost 6" off the carpeted floor (large area rug over engineered hard wood).  Still have huge bass with nice extension on treble.  Toe-in and distance apart are other variables to experiment with.  

How long have you had the Josephs? Did the system always seem kind of "boring" to you (apologies if I'm misrepresenting your complaint about it!) What ICs are you running?

I suggest you go to a live music concert of the type of music you enjoy and would listen to at home.  When you know what you're missing you can then find the link you need.