Optimizing TNT, Triplanar, Transfiguration Temper


I'm writing because of a combination of frustration and potential in my turntable set-up. I have never gotten the sound from the system that I expected, but feel that I am beginning to glimpse the potential of achieving it. I have made some changes recently that have led to more changes that have brought me closer to what I have heard from other systems with similar components. I am hoping someone can guide me toward finally obtaining the basic qualities that I'm looking for and I can fine-tune from there.
What I have heard before from lesser components and am not getting is the sound of the transients jumping off the record. I thought this problem was merely from the characteristics of the Transfiguration Temper Supreme, but with some modifications of the table I am beginning to hear it and wanted to see if I could bring it out further.
Let me back-track and tell you my components and what modifications I have made so far. I am running a VPI TNT upgraded to 4 (w/ the rectangle cutout for the motor), with the original motor and just added an SDS (which made the biggest improvement), a Wheaton Triplanar tonearm upgraded to VI, and a Transfiguration Temper Supreme cartridge.
When I upgraded to the SDS, the timing and solidity of the sound improved dramatically. I then found that using a single belt directly from the motor to the table actually outperformed the three-pully design originally designed for the table, perhaps with some trade-offs, i.e. voices sound clearer and better-defined, but piano may have a little less air and realism.
Finally, the table sits behind the speakers, particularly the left speaker. Moving the speaker forward a few inches seemed to significantly clean up the sound, so vibrations from the back of the (B & W 803) speaker may be muddying the water. My other components are Spectral DMC-20 and DMA-180 and MIT/Spectral reference cables.
Like I said, I am glimpsing the potential of this setup, and the music is starting to clean up and jump off the record, but it's just not quite there. I feel like I'm missing something simple and would like advice before making a lot of changes. I think I've set the cartridge up properly with regard to alignment, azimuth, VTA and no anti-skate. I have not removed the damping trough yet, and that is the next thing I was thinking to try. I am planning to try to further isolate the table from the speakers - the cable lengths prevent me from totally moving the preamp and turntable. I was also considering using different belts or string/dental floss etc. Another possibility is investing in a single-motor flywheel, which also would not use the three pulleys included with the TNT turntable. But, I feel that there is something simple and straightforward with the front-end that I am missing. Any advice?
128x128ctlphd
>>12-27-11: Ptmconsulting
Read my explanation on how to set AS properly (above). When set correctly it will sound better than with nothing<<

Incorrect.

I have 6 tonearms here and employ anti-skating on only one.
Ctlphd,

There is (should be) a small metal eyelet attached to the black shield on the arm cable. This eyelet should be fixed to the tonearm mounting plate with a screw, using the small threaded hole in the plate. Stabilizing the arm cable there stops it sliding around.

Once you've locked the shield end of the cable down, dress the free wires between the shield and the hole in the armtube so that the arm swings to the spindle and back with no drag or tautness and without the wires snagging.
Once you've locked the shield end of the cable down, dress the free wires between the shield and the hole in the armtube so that the arm swings to the spindle and back with no drag or tautness and without the wires snagging.

What do you mean by dress the free wires?
<
I have 6 tonearms here and employ anti-skating on only one.>>

OK, I stand corrected. Anti-skate seems to make a nice improvement on my tonearm without any loss of detail. In fact, it seems to bring out more detail and clarity. We all know all things are not equal in the audio world and all ears hear and prioritize things differently. I should know better than to make any absolute statements after all this time :)
That last paragraph from Ptmconsulting rang a bell inside my head. When I was dialing in anti-skate with a gimballed arm(not unipivot), and I tried to equalize the sound in both channels, I lost my excitement for listening to music. I then put the anti-skate back where it was(these were extremely tiny adjustments.). This situation was confirmed with some very obscure research I found on the internet. It makes sense, though. Should you be using anti-skate to adjust for tiny differences in turntable levelling, acoustics, slight differences in driver makeup, etc.? I believe in listening enough to determine just what anti-skate actually does(when you just slightly change it, both in increasing and decreasing it). Now, of course, you have to have it very close to it's optimum setting, before you do this.

Note: I am not saying that Ctlphd's problem is anti-skate.