David, there are no simple solutions that will actually give you what you want in your room automatically (it'll always be trial and error), but I will say this. For one thing, ANY room asymmetries (due to system position, or room shape) will ALWAYS be problematic. The physics of sonic wave propogation, diffraction, and reflection, dictate this.................For another thing, it is not my experience that ANY room boundary "dictates imaging" at all. The direct sound coming from the speakers is what dictates imaging, and a correctly TREATED room's contribution to the perceived sound at the sweet spot is what adds the complex sonic signature that...although still subtracts from accuracy, IS most often a plus for "musical satisfaction" due to many factors, most of which (but not all) are "psychoacoustic"...it's one reason why all experts who have listened to "stereo" in a big anechoic chamber NEVER like doing it (apparently, that experience is nothing like the positive delight it is to listen "in the nearfield" with small speakers, in a normal listening room)................................I AM NOT SAYING THAT COMPLETE ABSORBTION FOR THE WHOLE ROOM IS THE ANSWER, ONLY FOR ALL FIRST REFLECTION POINTS PRIMARILY ALONG THE SIDEWALLS (or in other cases, wherever the strongest reflection points are in the room, that will "see" the front, or direct radiation, of the speakers...that gets even more troublesome for dipolar radiating speakers like Maggies, so placement and treamtment must be combined in a "one-two" punch, to keep the rear radiation from overly contributing to the perceived sound at the listening chair).........................That is, unless you have a floor with no carpeting, then things get really complex, and the room is definitely going to have more contribution, no matter what is done with treatment...............................So, an inadequately treated room's "significant" contribution can only hinder system performance and imaging. That's why it is important to treat most first reflection points (especially sidewalls) with something that can AGGRESIVELY ABSORB those reflections...and not just diffuse them a little...........................Everybody will disagree with me on this, until they try it, and that's fine with me. What I am saying, is that the sidewall reflections are the loudest and EARLIEST reflections in any listening room (assuming you have carpeting on the floor, and a ceiling higher than 4 or 5 feet...and who wouldn't?), in an average given room volume. WHAT I MEAN TO SAY IS, the sidewall reflections must be REMOVED as completely as possible, for there to be accurate imaging. And room symmetry is also important, for the "complex secondary" reflections, which occur basically on every square inch of EVERY surface in the room (including floor, ceiling, walls, coffee tables and other furniture, etc.)..............................Also, I am wondering how you can love this new amp so much, if you have a "severe imaging problem"? Is it because you always knew you had the problem, but the Aleph is letting you hear the problem more clearly? I hope that's the case...
