Flatscreen between speakers

@richardbrand.

Your first sentence is correct. When audiophiles talk about stereo, they are strictly referring to the two front channels. Yes, stereo has not evolved over time. The format was invented and patented by an inventor. My best stereo recordings are from the 50’s and 60’s. Stereo is not in your gear, it is in your recording. I am using two mono amplifiers to play stereo and if something is wrong with them, I use two channels of my multichannel home theater amplifier. The term has been used loosely for the most part. 
Stereo is an illusion just like seeing your image in a mirror is an illusion. There is not two you in the room but the image is real. It is however happening in the optical domain just like a phantom stereo center image happens in the acoustical domain. It’s not a mind trick per se, it’s real but in the acoustical domain. 
I intuitively feel that the big glass surface of my plasma TV is affecting the sound of my stereo system. I should be able to assess this objectively in a couple of days. It’s in the acoustic domain and I don’t have the tools to measure it accurately. Stay tuned. 
 

@spenav 

The image we see in a mirror is virtual not real.

Surely, hearing a central image in stereo is a trick of the mind. The ears detect two equal signals in phase coming from the loudspeakers, but we interpret them as a single sound coming from a point midway between the speakers.

@newton_john. 
You are correct. My choice of words was incorrect. I hope my meaning wasn’t lost in translation. My point is that the image is not a magic trick but something that can be explained, manipulated and repeated. In other words, it’s physics not voodoo. 

I asked Google Gemini for treatment options. One of the options was using sound absorption to the left and right, behind and below the wall hanging TV.  I used 24x48x2 panels (thicker panels would not fit behind TV) extending behind by 3” & below by 5”. Gemini claims this largely mitigates the problem. 
It recommends experimenting with speaker distance (mine are 30” out) from rear wall and ensuring there is no resonance from the TV & mount. Since the bottom of the TV rests on the absorption panels, that should help mitigate any resonance. 
Lastly, it states ’if you want to go the extra mile’ try placing thin removable panels or dense velvet/felt over TV during critical listening. Hope this helps. 

@signaforce. 
Funny, that’s what I have now currently. It’s not doing a lot but seems to be better than nothing. I am very close to something (2 days tops). I will tag you when I get it up. Thanks.