What can I do to improve my 2nd system?

Hi, Erik, I will try those excellent suggestions after I get home and embark on the miniDSP journey including room measurements.  I like out-of-the-box thinking and approach doing things.  Also thank you all gentlemen for the advises. 

Doesn't the Parasound need more space for air flow?

one sub can work fine, if you have a single listening position, and the flexibility to place the sub where it needs to go...

Remove any flexible footers from under any and all of your speakers. You want the speaker to be held firmly in a fixed physical position. Otherwise energy put into the speaker by the amplifier is partially being used up to move the speaker, rather than to move the speaker cones. This results in smearing. I know there are many who like to put cushiony devices like Springs and sorbothane, etc pillows under their speakers, but in my opinion this is plain wrong. The practice is encouraged by dealers and manufacturers, because of course it sells product.

The above principle is another reason to get better speaker stands, and when you get them make sure your speakers are firmly anchored to them. I’d even put some lead weights on top of the speakers.