Hello,
I have a pair of M80s and a pair of M22s, the latter on a pair of 22-inch stands, the M80s outflanking the M22s, in a room somewhat larger than yours.
I prefer the M22s (which run with an EP500 subwoofer) to the M80s, but only because the M22s are easier to ideally position for a really good soundstage, width and depth. Both sets of speakers are musically very neutral, of course, and with the subwoofer running, it's hard to distinguish between the two pairs using the A/B switching, except that I prefer the M22s because of the soundstage placement, which is higher than the subjective image from the M80s, which seems closer to the floor (I'm particular about the soundstage height.)
When I used to work for Axiom, I use to advise against getting M80s for smallish rooms, only because they are big and heavy and harder to ideally place than bookshelf speakers. It would seem there's something amiss in your installation, because the M80s set up properly and ideally placed, are capable of a very wide deep soundstage, something that my M22s yield but my M80s do not because of their less-than-ideal placement in a room thats 13 x 20 x 9 ft. I sit about 8 to 10 feet back from both sets of speakers.
I do think you're sitting too close to your M80s. They don't really "open up" until you're well back from them, so I'd experiment with other placements that let you sit 10 or 12 feet back from them. Otherwise, you may find a pair of M22s on stands would deliver the soundstage depth and width you're searching for.
REgards,
Alan
