Speaker positioning?

Audiotomb has it right on suggesting the 2 inch change then do a sound check process. When the speakers were along the long wall you probably were at a reinforcining node (the bass is a wave function that adds at subtracts). Putting the speakers in, or near the corners usually increases bass. With the speakers 4 to 5 feet out like you have them you have avoided this reinforcement. The same thing will happen if you experiment with the long wall placement. Since the short wall placement puts the speakers closer to the side walls you are probably getting more first reflections reaching the listening position within the time frame where the brain hears them as coherant parts of the music. that could be causing the brightness/harshness. On the long wall the first reflections reach the listening position much later. I have my speakers on the long wall. There is a glass door on one side about 5 ft from the speaker and a glass bay window on the other about 8 ft from the speaker, both without treatments, and the first reflections are not unbearable. Treatments would be better but there is the WAF.good luck

You may want to try tweeter rings. They are felt rings that you adhere to the tweeter flange. they really help.

also you may want to experiment more with cables. Select a slightly warmer sounding cable such as Cardas.

Hope this helps,

Johnny

Hmmm....
I too have a 14x25 room, but it's a bit asymmetric, and because there's a 7' grand in the front, I've been forced to set up a 7.5' triangle about 10 feet out from the front wall. Sidewall splatter is tamed by stuffed furniture with throw pillows propped on top to stifle window and fireplace reflections. Wall-to-wall with a pad is absolutely CRITICAL
(train the damned puppy and get one of those child barriers for the doorways in the meantime if you have to!).
I like the short wall placement, as with a nearfield setup the room is less involved, and the stage is incredibly deep!
You may be able to get away with a throw-rug in front of and between the speakers if you set up in the nearfield, too. I just think your room is WAY to live for any other placement. The brightness is due to all those reflections and resonances. A warm cable won't help much, although it's not a bad idea.
Alhough I don't fully ascibe to the acousticians' "deader is better" rule fully, I find it's a better starting point then a "shouty" box! Good luck.

If you use the short wall, find the area on the side walls where the sound is reflected from. This is the spot on the wall that you would be able to see the speaker on that side in a mirror from your listening position. Place a large plant or some kind of furniture that will diffuse the sound instead of room treatments.
If you cant use a rug or carpet, you might not be able to tame the brightness caused by floor reflections. Maybe something you could roll out when you want to listen?
Good Luck

Thank you for your comments. To start, I tried sitting about 6 feet closer (about 8 feet from speakers that are 8 feet apart). An amazing difference, I can hear all sorts of detail that was lost further back. Still bright, but bright isn't as annoying when it gets you detail...

My wife and I argued today about the new CD player I want; maybe she'll give me some flexibility in the room if it means putting off the purchase...

Thanks again...

- Eric