What to do next . . .?

"Let me get this straight ... you own both the Denon and Cal audio, and yet you ask which is better to a bunch of folks on Audiogon."

We'll - yes. Last night I tried the Denon unit. I can't say I heard any really noticable difference. I think the Denon was a bit more laid back and thin vs. the CAL, but remember I've been listening to the CAL for 15 years! The CAL sounded a bit more full. And in this sport there isn't a lot of other people around here to hear their systems for comparison. My listening room is only 12x12 to top that off so that isn't helping. Not to mention I've had the whole system in a closet for the past 5 years boxed up. So while the design and technology has been improving Im not sure just how it has improved and which components would match my others. I read the posts on this site and man there are ALOT of differing opinions, add to that all the mix of different equipment and how it acts on one another and you have another quagmire to sort through.

So I thought asking the question would get me pointed on the right direction.

Well all it good in the world. I convinced my wife to let me move the system into the living room (approx. 16d x 22w x 10h). Sounds much more open, though I've lost a bit of bass. Speakers are on the long wall. So i'll live with this a few weeks and just listen to the system again and "get to know it" again.

"If your wife shows you enough mercy to install the system in the living room, remember you will need to distance your speakers from the wall to get the best out of them, unless they were specifically designed to be at the wall.That should test your wife's patience further more. Show her pictures of set ups here on Audiogon. Don't aggravate her by purchasing expensive equipment that don't improve anything ! At least have her shop with you, if she loves music of course! Otherwise, refrain from this last advice. A divorce is much more expensive than an audio system."

We I did indeed convince the wify to let me put the system in the living room (see my post just above yours). Im on the long wall about 32" from the back and 8+ feet from any side wall. I sit about 4' from the back wall. I dont have much more flexiblity than that though.

Also for those with an Iphone, its probably been mentioned before, but download a level on the iphone and set all your tilting axis to a tenth of a degree. My speakers are set to 1.1 degree back lean. The sound is more open for sure and the sound stage deeper, not so much because of the lean, but just being in a right size room. But I always have issues with angle of the speakers to the sitting position. I find that if I keep the speakers square to the room to sound stage is broader but less focused. Right now Im about 3 to 5 degress tilted in, But these Vandersteens have always been a bit tempermental on placement.