@sound_cycle
Frequencies below 150-250 Hz are omni-directional (if that's the right word). It is difficult for the human brain to place where it is coming from. This has nothing to do with boom.
Yes of course, where is the confusion in that, see this post for details. It is not restricted to 150 hz by the way
Boom is related to the speaker's LF response. If the roll off is at lower frequency say below 60-70 Hz place them away from walls as walls reinforce base. If the roll off is at higher frequency, the wall aids in base.
Absolutely Wrong.
Has nothing to do with your speakers and everything to do with the dimensions of your room. Look here for better understanding
I never said that speakers should be placed not more than 5ft apart. In a 11x14 room, placement along the long wall makes the distance between speaker plane and listening plane about 5-6 ft if one follows manufacturer's recommendation.
You did specifically say that "this leaves about 5' of space between speaker plane and listening plane". Now for an equilateral triangle arrangement (a very good starting point by the way) if you are listening from five feet away, you can have only five feet between your speakers, or thereabouts. Also curious where is that manufacturer's recommendation that says 5 feet separation is "good"
Reflections are more of an issue in India than in western countries; why? They build with wood, gypsum plaster and rough finish; we build with brick, cement plaster and smooth finish.
and don't forget to mention the flooring and missing carpeting
About listening fatigue; Dali recommends starting range of power to Ikon 6 as 25W and Ikon 2 as 30W. Let's assume that Dali put these numbers in because they feel this is when their products comes alive. Starting at 16W Ikon 6 is capable of producing ~100dB and Ikon 2 about ~97dB. This is at 1m. Lop off 10dB at listening plane (at 2-3 m). It is still at 87-90dB SPL. Ideal listening range is 75-85dB SPL. Louder than normal conversation; quieter than power tools.
Your point being ?
I don't feel it is game over in tight spaces; yes there are compromises and limitations but that should not stop one from pursuing the dream of a good music setup.
A small nearly cuboid room (like the dimensions we have been talking of 11x14) is too big a challenge, it will take considerable understanding, effort, trickery, measurement and expense to meet that challenge.
The proportion of budget apportioned to defeating the room is going to be quite high, and if not done, the spend on equipment was just CC swiping joy, with nothing else being realized. Period.
All that applies if the goal is neutral sound with good stereo, a/k/a HiFi listening.
(I can see the headphone wallahs smile, nod knowingly, and enjoy their music)
Some of the compromises are BS vs FS which may bring down the choice of brands that sound good to your ears. Limitations are on wiggle room for placement and the volume level one can play the music at.
Bookshelfs are NOT a compromise solution, nor are floor standers somehow "better". In many cases you are only paying for the cabinetry, or so I have read. See this thread (there is tons of useful gyaan on hfv, I have to say it again)
I am interested in b/s for better imaging. This was clearly recommended to me when I asked on hfv, and that is what I went to Chennai to audition.
That clever plan somehow went wrong when I heard the Zensor 5s 
. sok np, the chase starts again
Oh, let me hasten to add, all this staging and imagery stuff is not a magical property of a speaker (alone).
We just have to find a way to make it work in our individual situation knowing that it will never be the prefect solution. As I said earlier, tone/volume control is always at our reach without any extra cost.
You mean to imply that the tone control will do anything about combating your <non-ideal> room. I respectfully but strongly disagree. That is a teaspoon of water to a raging fire, and if at that
Passive room correction (curtains, deflectors) at some extra cost; active room correction (like the one you have) at some extra cost; they can and will help to a large extant.
You are correct, one should use all of these tricks and tools to get (closer) to the goal - "decent" imaging, and uncolored sound being mine.
