Help, my system sounds lifeless!


Hi, this is my first post.  I rushed putting my system together when i emigrated from the UK to New Jersey.  In fact this site was partly to blame as i was attracted to the amazing  "used" deals!  I bought a pair of Dali Helicon 400 (mark I)  as they passed the WAF.  The rest of the system contains a Belles Soloist Integrated and Simaudio Equinox SE CD player, wireworld platinum eclispe 6 interconnect & Audio Art Cable Classic SC-5 Speaker Cable.  My room maybe partly to blame but generally the system sounds lifeless, with little soundstage (better when i play vinyl).  I am not feeling/falling in love with the speakers and do not like the bass response (which is often reported).  I would like to change the speakers and was wondering if you could help.  I have an extremely large cd collection (and have recently bought a used Lumin D1, but unfortunately not set up yet) covering all kinds of music.  I am thinking 8ohm with better sensitivity would be a better option.  Looking to spend around $3000-4000 used.  Some contenders include Revel F206 or F208, Tannoy DC8 or DC8T, ATC SCM40, JA Pulsars (maybe too much $), PBN Liberty, Aerial 10T (never see them used) but they must have grills as sometimes kids go in the basement.  Maybe Monitors with stands would be better option?  I am hoping the flickr link works so you can see my room (excuse the feet!).  I want to fall in love with my large music collection again!  Looking for good bass & soundstage and speakers that can play all kinds of music (sometimes I'm partial to deep electronic music).  In some ways because my taste is so vast i am not particularly looking for ultra revealing speakers (Nora Jones speakers i think you call them!).  Looking forward to the NY audio show so i can hear some systems.  Thanks for all the help, cheers Paul  https://www.flickr.com/gp/97665913@N06/a5G6d9
spoutmouzert
Well if Trump gets elected he will round you up and send you to the UK! 

Could save on moving costs.

Well, I'll go against the grain as usual. IMHO, you have lifeless sounding electronics. Try Exposure, Naim, perhaps Rega or Heed. The life will come back.
Speakers should go on the long wall with NOTHING between them. Re-do your
room with this in mind, and it will sound MUCH better
I just viewed a video on http://www.myspeakersetup.com/ which heartily recommends speaker placement on the long wall, and if this works, which I suspect it will, my audionut world has been changed for the better and forever.
Well I enjoyed my first audio show and found it very friendly. The only room i couldn't get into was the audio arts room. Maybe it was quieter on Sunday as the marathon put a few folks off. A lot of the brands i wanted to hear were not present but highlights were the GamuT, Mola Mola/YG, Technics, Prism/ATC, & Sonner rooms. Oh and some big horn speakers (Volti) were great.  I was hoping my jaw would drop at my first audio show but it didn't quite happen unfortunately, maybe i am more of a sound snob than i thought! That or the famous small NY hotel rooms! Still I did get a few music requests in! 

Well its finally Thanksgiving so I am hoping to put the Dali speakers up for sale, set up another router for the Lumin and play with some new cable.  I am starting to finalize my monitor list (so far the Tannoy DC8, Proac Response 2, Harbeth Compact 7 ES3, Revel, Focal) so please let me know if you have any tips.  As mentioned I play all sorts of music, so they need to sound fantastic with Kate Bush as well as Trentemoller!  I will try and find a tape measure and provide room dimensions.  Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving.  Cheers Paul