I would try a quilt or thick blanket over the TV just to see what the reflections off of it do. If you just want to listen to music throw something easily removed over it.
Yes, that’s on the list but I’m looking for something that’ll look good and be convenient — so far no dice.
Thanks for your detailed and very worthwhile answer, which obviously took some time to write. I’ve done some of these things and will be getting to the others. One of my difficulties is that I have no friends who “have ears,” that is, who are audiophiles with experience. I’m in Athens, GA, and although the live music scene here is quite active, I’ve not encountered or heard of audiophiles here in town. In the Atlanta area, yes, but here no. Sometimes another person’s perspective is valuable, especially if they have an extensive basis for comparison.
If your speakers are locked-in place, then you have to move the seating position to neutralize the bass balance. Bass is too long a wavelength to “fix” with room treatments. You’ll always lose to the room. Just get a light chair and start as close as you’d want to sit and move back a foot each time. Use the same couple song initially and see if it agrees with the SPL meter playing test tones.
Some feel the sound improvement isn’t good enough for the inconvenience of the seating position. That’s fair in a real world living environment.
No one can hear for you. You will always have to do that part so experiencing what tools you have to use will go a long way to making it sound good. That’s as you can “see”, harder than looking good. Make sure paid for treatments, if you go that route, are backed-up with measurements…and not the pretty pictures we all see.
Best,
Galen
Just dive in. It is a learn by doing process.
You will do fine on your own. 
One thing that comes to mind is checking how much the large amount of glass on that front wall may be contributing to the room’s sound. Framed pictures with glazing are no different from TV panels as far as reflectivity. I’d take all that framed artwork down and see how it sounds. Depending on the rest of the room’s characteristics, it may or may not make a difference. I’ve tried covering the tv screen in our second system’s location with GIK panels and the difference is quite subtle, not really worth the effort. That said, the room also has lots of thick velvet black out curtains, very sound absorbing furniture, and we sit far from side and back walls. In our main system, one quite noticeable improvement came from getting rid of the coffee table in front of the sofa. We replaced that with two fabric upholstered ottomans and that made a very obvious improvement in sound staging and spaciousness. Getting the rack out of the middle will be an improvement but how much so could be testing by temporarily putting the components on the floor and moving the rack.
I guess I lost track on this sub-thread as I’m unclear as to which MPD-8 review you are referring to.
I have a SPL meter, but I’d not thought of using it in the way you suggest. Are there bass test recordings that should, in theory, have each pitch play at the identical volume? It seems such a recording would be useful in taking your suggestion. Thanks!
I was responding to a suggestion to use a sound pressure meter at different bass wavelengths as I move a chair back and forth (toward and away from the front wall). There could be a spot where the bass response is relatively better, meaning there would not be as many peaks and nulls. This sounds like a great suggestion to me, and I wondered if there are bass test tracks that are designed so that they all play at the same volume level.
I was none too clear, Sunday morning fog I suppose. My comment was directed at Al Angen, and his mention of the Playback Design MPD-8 review.
Please give us all measurements.
Length width height location of speakers, listening position, space available to move the prior listed locations.
On the 11Stereo website posted a few messages above mine.
Yes there are bass EQ tones. I use Vandertones warble tones that are easier on your speakers. Go here and download them;
Best,
Galen
Thanks!
Wish I would have known this before I setup my system. Now I’m stuck, mostly because I can’t lift the amp (and I’m lazy.)
Thanks, I’ll check 'em out.
What exactly is the problem? I mean, what is wrong in your opinion in terms of sound quality? Image, soundstage, sibilance, fatigue, accuracy, tonal balance? What is missing currently and what is desirable to you?
Honestly, all of the above, even though it sounds great now. But if I had to pick one thing: Bass.
What is wrong in your bass in your opinion? Walking around the room while playing music, do you hear better bass in some places?
How far apart are the speakers?
Oh, I want perfect bass (kidding!). There are a couple of peaks in the bass I’d like to smooth out; shortly I will identify at what frequencies they occur, and moving my listening chair around to see if that will help. Otherwise, I’d like the bass to be more focused: I’d like the pitch of each bass note to be clearer, as they sometimes smear. The speakers are almost 8 feet apart, and the rear of each speaker is about 22 inches from the front wall. I’ll also be removing most of the art work on the front wall to see what effect that has.