Good to hear it, Mapman.
Finsup, nothing I sent you is private info, so feel free to share.
I did indeed install some absorbing foam panels at a first reflection point. This has greatly evened out the sound from the L/R channels, which had been very different in my asymetrical room. I also placed foam pipe insulation along some sharp edges that drop down from my ceiling. Along with some careful dialing in of the speakers, I am hearing a significant improvement in the sound overall. The forwardness that had bothered me on piano passages is greatly reduced. More treatments will come, but I am too busy and too broke right now. Overall, I am pretty pleased.
A succession of audiophile buddies have passed through my listening room. Although there was some limited criticism (these are very critical listeners!), they all have been fairly impressed, and amazed at the value the 2000s represent.
Last night, I listened to disc 2 of Danny Elfman's Music For a Darkened Theater, #2. Fantastic dynamics, long sustained tails of musical notes, startling percussion that made me jump, and a huge soundstage. And that timbre, always that true-to-life timbre. Perhaps it could be a little better, but I was hard-pressed to put my finger on exactly how.
One more audiphile friend is stopping by tonight (and his system cost him easily $40K). Unless he thinks I can do better with a specific speaker for $3K or less, I expect to be keeping the 2000s (just 9 days remain in my trial period).
