Good Analog EQ

correction to my last post: it should read "optimized setup".

Ok, so we're talking Aerial 9's. Close, but not quite up to my 10t's. ;-) Ixnay the L-paday. You don't want to mess up what Kelly has done at all. I can guarantee you that those dips you mentioned are room interactions, not the speakers.

It is all about placement and amp control with these upper end Aerials. The 9's aren't quite as tough as the 10t's to site in a room because of the difference in port location but the same rules of thumb apply. Some of this has been covered by other posters.

They need to be at least 5' from the back wall and at least 3' from a side wall. Personally, I would spend the money on the better Aerial speaker stands before I would put any more components in the chain. But that's just me.

The most important issue with getting the most from Aerials is amplifier control. The amp has to have a vice-like grip on the woofers or you get boomy, muddy bass. I would not use less than 250 watts/ch and probably SS.

Another issue is speaker cables. I would not use any of those fat, high capacitance cables. You can hear that in the bass as well. A nice tight thump becomes more like ttthhhhuuuuummmmppppp.

Your room dimensions are similar to mine, except that I also have a L-shape so there is some more volume in my room. Anyway, I found that the 10ts worked best for me on the short wall, firing down the length of the room. This allowed me to get the speakers about 7' from the back wall, and 3 to 4' in from the side walls. From there you can play with moving your seating position but about about 8 to 10' back from a line drawn between the speakers should be close.

I've heard the 9's in my family room and they sounded MUCH better. Unfortunately, I cannot make them work in my (theater) room. I've tried them 5' from back wall & 3' from sides (had them far out as 8'). I can barely hear singers the midrange is so recessed. And to be clear, I have the stands; they just make things worse (raising them opens the port to allow more bass).

My listening position is around 13-14'; can't change this (riser behind). I use Theta Citadel 1.5 400 watt monoblocks. I also have Bryston 7B 500 watt monoblocks. I don't think power is my problem.

Any other speaker I've tried has not produced the same bass problems (Von Schweikert, Genesis 6.1, Dynaudio C2s, Rockport Miras). Four bass woofers per speaker is just crazy.

Thanks for your thoughts just the same.

Rives might be the heavy artillary you need. They do good work.

Well, I never got the 10t's to sound as good in my listening room as they do upstairs in the theater system either. So I moved on for my 2 channel system. As for the woofers. I don't care what anyone tells you, IMO, 4 seven inch woofers do not do bass as well as one large woofer. ;-)

Good luck!