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
