Lacking Soundstage - Vandersteen 2C

Livin, some excellent observations above, especially that your room is too small to expect to achieve really excellent soundstaging.

A couple of observations, things that I have done successfully in the past. In addition to triangulating a speaker listening position set up, as close to equilateral as you can get, you need to kill (deaden) those first side wall reflections. You can use deadening materiels but they may not be nearly so successful as using extreme toe in, that is toeing in the speakers so that the axis of the speakers cross well in front of your listening chair. That and pulling your speakers out into the room at least 3 ft, more if possible, should help a lot with imaging. It wouldn't hurt a bit if you put something on the side walls to quiet down (breakup) patterns from continually reflecting side waves as they try to bounce about the room. BTW, using this extreme toe in also gives you a broader usable, but not ideal, off center stereo listening for someone sitting in a chair next to you.

Try it!

Try a screen on the wall less side. As others have mentioned, your room maybe too small.

Had them years ago,tilt them otherwise they sound terrible.

Thanks Daverz, Newbee, Buconero117 and Yogibiy, for all the great tips. I moved the speakers about 6ft apart this morning but have not had a chance to listen yet. But will do over the weekend. By the way 6ft apart put the speakers about 1 ft from the side walls. Before I go for the acoustic treatments, I'd like to try toe-in suggested by Rich. Also, Yogiboy, did you follow the tilt instructions from the 2CE manual?

You people are very knowledgeable.

Thanks Again!

Hi Livin,
No, you should start by putting a book under the front to raise, then add another if needed till you get the sound you like. I had to tilt any Vandersteens I have ever owned. The closer you are the more tilt. I hope it works for you. I got tired of placement of floorstanding speakers so I went the route of monitors.
Hope it works out for you.