Voice and instrument image bunched in the middle??

Hello Pc (my initials too :-). I don't understand how you want a "tighter focus" if all images are "bunched in the center"?? (but your statement makes sense if your polarities are screwed up) I think you should start at the very basics. Buy a "polarity tester", max $15.00. Check polarity at your wall outlet. Fix it if necessary as reverse polarity will have unpredictable-but negative- effects on sound.(It's interesting how everything needs to be correct to get the best out of a system.) Do your components have modern plugs with one prong wider than the other? If not experiment with reversing your plug(s) orientation in the wall socket and listen to which orientation gives you the "cleanest" sound--the ability to hear the attack & trailing edge of notes-perhaps try some simple guitar discs. You need to use a guitar disc that you have confirmed is itself in "correct absolute polarity". Your positioning is ok altho in this extreme case I would toe in the speakers so the center focus of the tweeter is just on each ear. All speakers measure flatest on the center of the tweeter--so hopefully that at least gives you the best stereo match. Perhaps call your preamp manufacturer and ask them if your unit emits "phase correct" or "phase inverted". I would call them if I were you. Discuss your problem. Let us know please.

"Perhaps call your preamp manufacturer and ask them if your unit emits "phase correct" or "phase inverted"."

That's not the problem here. First, the difference is very subtle. Even if you have a preamp or source that allows you to change absolute phase, its very hard to hear differences on a consistent basis. Second, about half of the recordings released are absolute phase correct, and the other half are not. So even though the OP can't change this, he still has a 50% chance of hearing the recordings properly in phase.

@Ptss and Everyone,

Thank you so much for all your advise. I really appreciate it. Gonna look at testing the polarity of my wall outlet, get 2 or 4 proper absorber panels (to treat 1st reflection points) and play with speaker repositioning. Will let you guys in on my progress soon...:)

Deal with the incredible reflections of small hard wall room will improve image dramatically. That "first reflection" from the side walls next to the speaker is bounced to your ears at a different length of time as the direct sound, partially canceling information and destroying the image. The later reflections (from the other end of the room) bouncing back to your ear at a different length will change speaker response dramatically as well. No speaker, no cable, no electronics can fix this.

In a small room, this is the #1 problem as there is so much energy confined to small space, so many reflections and if there is no soft surfaces at all, the energy never dies. Small rooms always have bass problems, for they are too small a dimension for the bass to "develop" (length of the bass waves is longer than the room dimension). So small rooms always have large acoustic issues messing up the best of speakers.

Absorption is your friend! At low frequency absorption is bass traps. At mid and high frequency its acoustic panels. These things are absolutely necessary to smooth out room issues changing the speaker response in a BIG way. Small spaces will never be ideal. The only way to sort of sort it out is lower the energy in the room (reduce level), sit closer to the speakers (the triangle of you and the speakers must be smaller) and get the spacers as far away from the side walls as possible. A larger space is needed to get ideal bass response.

Highly reflective surfaces like concrete, tile, wall board, glass- anything that is super hard or "rings" when you knock on it with your knuckle-make it impossible to get a good sound if a lot of energy is reflected, bounced or pointed at them. So even in a large space, speakers close to such surfaces are death to proper response and image.

To prove to yourself the dramatic effect of your room, take your speakers outside where there are no reflections and listen there. You won't believe it.

Brad