Speaker Placement Info Needed

I'm afraid I might sound like a commercial but go get a copy of Robert Harleys "Complete Guide to High-end Audio." There is some good specific advice about speaker placement.
Speaker placement is a two man job but I will try to relate to you the system I heard about and have used.
First, get a CD will lots of good acoustic bass. Second, while playing this CD (or LP) turn the balance to the left speaker. Third, have your friend(?) move the speaker forward or towards you at 1/2" intervals. You will find places where the sound is much better than others. Mark these areas on the floor. Fourth, move the speaker back and forth between these marked areas and determine which of them you like best. Fifth, locate the second/right speaker to match the left. I hope this makes sense to you
I could be wrong about this but it sounds like your speakers are too far apart. I would suggest moving them closer together and see what happens to your soundstage.
I have heard this tecnique work very well in the past. Good luck and have fun!

Well since you are a "Bigkid" you can handle what I'm about to tell you. The Matrix II Series of B&W 80X all sucked. They had slow bass, gluey midrange, and terrible sounding aluminum tweeters. My best recommendation is to upgrade to B&W Nautilus 802's.
But, if you absolutely love them and can't part with them, then try this. Contact George Short at North Creek Music Systems ( http://www.northcreekmusic.com ) and ask him if he can put together all the parts for an upgraded crossover...new 8 ga. or 10 ga. coils, new Zen or Crescendo cascaded capacitor ladders and upgraded wire to go from the box that holds the new outboard crossover to the drivers. Also, order his book "North Creek Cabinet Handbook" $5.00. Replace all the crappy foam inside with Deflex or spray on "Road Kill". Fill the bottom couple inches with sand and glue mixture and remove the binding posts on the back of the speaker; it will go into the crossover box. Cover up the hole.

If you do all this, they should be 100% better everything but looks...they will still be ugly. But at least they'll sound good.

The proper speaker placement is whatever sounds best to your ears. It's simple in principle, but perhaps difficult in implementation. Patience will get you there.