Opinions on why this system is uninvolving

Before you start replacing cables and components, give some more thought to your speaker placement. You should try near field listening to eliminate some of the problems with the side windows. Try moving the speakers to about 6 feet from the back wall, and move them in to about 8 feet apart. Put your listening position so that it forms an equilateral triangle. This should firm up and fill-in the center image and increase the sound stage. Play with speaker toe-in and the tube traps to work the center image and sound stage. I believe that George Cardas (cables) has a speaker method that may be of benefit. Good Luck

Zank,

So what you are saying is that you got your gear at a dealer? Even though I love AGON there is no replacement for a good dealer, yes, we pay more but we get more...A LOT more.

With this in mind, the speakers are probably not that old right? If not, I would go back to the dealer and tell him you are having problems with synergy and suspect the speaker is at the heart of the whole thing. Ask 2 things:
1. Can I try the Vandies, or whatever else you are interested in, at home? If the answer is "No" there is a problem. But from what you have said, I assume they will be cooperative. My dealer buddy has driven 3 hours to drop off equipment and has mailed out Lamm ML1s and Art Audio Mono blocks for a person to test in their system - at the same time no less. So hopefully your dealer will work with you.
2. My dealer will take your current purchase back within a year and give you the full price you paid toward an upgrade. This is not unheard of (though I am afraid it is getting much rarer). Either way, I would ask if you can trade them in on something simliar and you pay difference if they are more and he gives you a credit if you trade down.

Now, before you go that far I would:
1. Make sure your equipment is REAL broken in.
2. Get that first reflection issue taken care of.
3. Insure your speaker placement is optimal (dealer should help if you are stuck) if you are confident in him, do some research to get at this. People on AGON can help.
4. AFTER 1-3...Now this is going to sound like I am talking out both sides of my mouth but I am not. I would get your dealer to lend you cables (broken in cables) that are warmer - usually solid core but not exculsively and try out different combinations to see how much impact this has. If 1-3 moves you in the right direction, a fair amount, then this last step would probably provide the answer of changing speakers.

You can still toy with different speakers while you go through 1-4.

good luck, it sounds like fun,
charles

Bbtuna. Thanks again for the info. The local dealer I bought the Revels from (they were his demo pair)is a small dealer in the sense that he doesn't carry many products. He doesn't carry the Vandersteens and the closest dealer for them is about 3 hours away. Not insurmountable but I doubt that I could hear them at home simply because the dealer won't sell the demos (which is probbly the only way I could hear them at home)because it takes about 16 weeks to get a new pair, according to him.

I doubt the dealer here would take back the Revels, but it doesn't hurt to ask; its just that he has nothing to replace them with and probably can't buy them back.

In any event I will certainly try your suggestions.

Znak m- Your MFA 200 uses octal base front end tubes 6SL7 or the mil spec version 5691, if I remember correctly. If
you've never replaced these tubes, you should try some new ones. They last longer than the output tubes, but they do
wear out.

As I posted above, not all tube preamps can drive long
cable runs. The Hovland's high output impedance of 2500 ohms can cause interactions with long cable runs, unless
it sees a high input impedance on the amps. Their amp's
input impedance is 680K ohms.

I'm not suggesting you replace your 30' cable run with another brand of cable, just try a shorter run between the
preamp/amp and see want happens.

If you need help with the MFAs, suggest you contact Scott
Frankland.

I haven't read any posts because there are too many and I'm too lazy, plus some of them are most likely worthless, sorry, I had to say that. If I'm being redundant, I apologize, I would get rid of all conditioners, especially the power wedge and go directly to the wall provided you have dedicated lines. Anytime I've used any form of conditioning except power cords it is exactly as you describe.