References available on real life room "tuning"?

Finding different ways to change or eliminate the problems isn't the problem at the moment. Determining what and where to do is. I thought with the incredible amount of desire for better audio there would be a mass of literature, and maybe even some websites dedicated to the subject.

I'll look up Get Better Sound and take a gander at it.

Natural fibre fabric behind the speakers. Try thick wool carpet pieces.
Some kind of sound absorption at the first reflection point.
Nice comfy sofa to absorb sound at listening position.
If your couch is positioned against the back wall, all the better as your head is close enough to the back wall for your brain to not process reflections (it's what they do when in caves-get against a wall to eliminate echos and fix on actual sound source).
Hope this helps.

All the best,
Nonoise

Some high WAF options here: ( http://www.audimuteacousticpanels.com/home-soundproofing ) (http://www.audimuteacousticpanels.com/acoustic-panels) Regarding your listening position: Against a wall may be great in a cave, but it's the last place you want to sit, listening to music(very bad for accurate bass reproduction, via peaks/nulls). Some good guidance here: (http://www.realtraps.com/art_room-setup.htm)

I don't know about that. Due to room constraints, my head has been against the back wall for over 15 years and I get great bass reproduction. Tight, taut, and tuneful. Could it be that I also listen in the near field?

Sounds like something else is at play with your setup but mine is at the best it's been.

Doggitter, try some different footing approaches and set ups as no one thing is going to solve your problem. What is thought to be reflections can be a host of other things combining to make your listening pleasure not what it should be. I mention this because I recently experimented with some footings for my speakers and was surprised at just how much it affected the sound.

High end sibilance and other irritants can be easily judged to be due to reflections when it can be tamed by different footings, spikes and bases for your speakers.

All the best,
Nonoise

Mr N: Yes, near-field listening could be making all the difference. Especially in a small room. Also, you may have a null(narrow enough or at a low enough frequency), against that back wall, that doesn't affect your perception of bass reproduction. (http://www.realtraps.com/art_small_rooms.htm)