I would work on the room before I started working on the Hifi to warm things up with one exception. Have you ever tried very neutral interconnects and speaker wire on your system? Some times interconnects attenuate otherwise great gear in the wrong direction.
It does sound like some room treatment is in order from your explanation. Weather you use Hifi stuff or just room decor stuff.
Do you have a rug with a good pad in the center of the hardwood floors? Natural fiber is preferred especially if speaker wires or for that matter any interconnect may come in contact with it.
ASC tube traps at front corners (at the very least) of your listening room should help.
Drapes or dampening panels on the front wall behind the speaker are good.
A live room is good. Be careful with dampening. Too much of a good thing is just that!
ASC offers some good acoustic principal basics at:
www.asc-hifi.com/acoustic_basics.htm
Enjoy!
