I have already done the requisite room LEDE wall treatments. Live end is behind my listening chair and dead end is in front behind speakers. Side walls are diffuse with built in bookshelves on one side and a bar area and opening into the formal dining room on the other. The floor is carpeted.My speakers are pulled back away from the wall a few feet and are angled in towards the listener.
How 'sterile' does the furniture between the speakers and the listener have to be? Can I have a coffee table or will that screw up the imaging? How about the stereo rack. It is between the speakers far off axis. Will that matter?