A series of underperforming setups...Solution?

I hate to say it, but Newbee is right.

Newbee and Aball; you guys oughta just rent a hotel room and get'er done ;-)

Good on'ya Foster_9 for giving such a thorough accounting of your system and room for others to respond. I'd agree that clean power is not the answer, though it is a positive step, I don't think it will clear things up. Beyond that I think the positioning advice is good. I'm just not familiar with the gear your currently using so won't comment there. I think, for what you are looking for that the match between amp and speakers would be where I'd look. From what I've read about the Modwright I don't think the problem could be there. You mentioned AZ cabling throughout - which of their cables are you using..specifically, what is the link between your front end and amplifier? I like silver everywhere else, and this is a broad generalization, but in the link between source and amp(pre) I found that copper IC's really made a big improvement in bass quality and quantity, and I preferred the strongly over silver. This has come as a very recent revelation upon changing DACs. YMMV. I've preferred silver in every other connection where I've found copper softens things a bit too much...at least in the very limited number of cables I've tried (relative to what's out there). Anyway, if you try altering cables, I've found that source-amp link is critical.

Good luck!

Marco

Thanks for the advice Marco. I have AZ Matrix Ref II for the front ends and Satori for the speakers. I spent more for these cables then I ever thought I would when I started in this. I feel they are quality, so I plan for these to be my last cables.

Just a few summing up suggestions:
1) Spend no more money at this point EXCEPT on music.
2) Put on music with bass content (try classical with basso continuo for example), and start moving the right spkr forward and inward AS YOU DESCRIBE ABOVE by small increments. At one point you SHOULD hear low frequencies start to appear out of nowhere -- at least SOME low frequency.
3) Leave right spkr as per 2, and start doing the same with left spkr. Stop where bass content starts to appear out of nowhere.
Note: although I mention "bass content" what you'll be really hearing is midbass. You want to find a point where there is SOME at least, midbass energy coupling b/ween the two spkrs.
4) Adjust with both spkrs and try to mark to positions in 2&3 above (use masking tape & quickly remove same after set-up --- or the wife will remove you altogether:) ).
5) If 4' apart is what it takes, you'll have to live with it. DOn't toe in the spkrs, it may work. Listen nearfield (you probably are already).
Don't worry.
Smile at the family and play their favourite piece when you're done.
Cheers

$1000 spent to have Rives audio assess your room/setup may be the best money you can spend to fix your audio

Having just moved in to a similar-sized room (last week in fact), I've found that one of the advantages of a smaller room is being able to get great sound through smaller electronics and speakers. I seriously considered VR4jr's for my new room until enough folks here told me there were better options.

I'm currently using Totem Model 1s and so far, although it's only been a week, I'm encouraged with the results. With the Totem's size, I'm able to move them around quite a bit and I'm slowly getting them in to position...20-inches from the back wall and 18-inches from the side at the moment. They'te toed-in about 10-degrees and the soundstage is locking in nicely.

Just last night my son and I were listening to Spencer-Dickinson on vinyl and on several tracks he mentioned how the sound was wide and deep, with some drum whacks sounding outside the speaker plane. That's what I want.

May I suggest smaller speakers? IMHO you don't big equipment to get big sound in our similar sized rooms.

Good Lock!