Suggestions on improvement

@maxdukecapone & @samssa, granted aids that are worth a uck cost more than $1K....but I only posed the query "Do you....?"etc.

I can't and won't consider aids as 'strictly audio items' since in one's daily life they've got more functionality and sheer 'quality of existence' perks.

(...although my audiologist hinted strongly that I should have my spouses' ears tested, since she's 68....that 'goose/gander' thing....

That'll be a 'pleasant interlude', sure....)

TOL Phonak  '90's....RIC, 'ninja level' hearing....+/-.....B/T'd. so under headphones isn't really necessary....31 bands of eq if I opt for that sort of input....

Both spouse and self tire of me going "What?!" when she mumbles at the other end of a room, under the AC and beyond the fans.....

..and how you relate to your sig other is your own conundrum...

Imho and existence, @scott22 ought to get more 'bang/$' with room eq and aids if the latter exists or no....

Reluctance to swap stuff for potential nil value, room treatments off the table, limited budget, cable tweaks of high cost with a potential of limited 'value' to the situation....coupled with *sigh* the 'failures of the flesh' involved....

Yeah, yeah....I'm an outlier when it comes to things audio....

(I heard that....fu2)

I have a limited budget, F'd ears, a space that suks....so I focus on that which can work v. 'sky pie'....

First and foremost a thank you to everyone who responded. I will purchase an EQ to play with and I will start the hearing aid purchase process. Nonoise optical cables are in use,I can't recall brand and currently immobile so can't take a peek. 

Larsman, asvjerry and others thanks for sharing your hearing aid insights, its time I accept them as a solution.

Thanks again

I think you have fantastic components. I would only play with the speaker placement and perhaps the speakers. For that $, I would buy smaller, more musical speakers. But since I never heard them, I have no idea what I am talking about - just what I like.... boutique shop, smaller range (with your SVS subs) more fine tuned speakers

https://speakerchoices.com/ 

I would agree with those noting that digital room correction could be a good 'non-invasive' route.  If you can get somebody to do a home demo with a dirac enabled integrated, some prefer room perfect on Lyndorf, personally I have tried both an favour Trinnov in both a "ST-HiFI" and an Amethyst pre-amp, but those would not fir to budget.  I use the  Trinnov (and have used Dirac / Room perfect) to integrate the  two SVS 16 Subs I have with Focal Viva's and its seamless on bass, bot more importantly the time base correction right through the mid-range will bring those female vocalists into sharp focus from your primary listening position, with a second program for when there are multiple listeners.   I suggest the home demo because you might find it provide an improvement you cannot 'do without'.  But perhaps more importantly it will show you what your system is capable of in your room.  If you then go for the trials with an EQ you will have something to measure it against.  I would suggest that with the speakers and twin subs, unless you have been very fortunate about where your wife has allowed for position, then time bas e correction will help.   The other 'virtually zero' cost option, if you can move your subs / speakers slightly forward / back relative to each other. Is to get hold of a copy of the Sneakers film soundtrack on CD and use track 4 to test if at your listening point your speakers or your subs are aligned or one is ahead.   You can find articles on the net on how to use these including one on the REL website.

@signaforce the 6000cdt was very nice in my system. But rather than spending on cd transport I would suggest to just rip your cds, and just the ones you can’t find on streaming services, to a decent SSD drive and upgrade the DAC. Your Qutest is ok but you can do better.