Best Speakers Close to Walls

S,
Just a side note: I purchased a Tact Room Correction system recently, and since the software corrects for errors in time and frequency domains, TACT actually suggests placing all speakers close to walls to ease reproduction of bass. I have tried two sets of speakers, both of which were very boomy close to the walls without the TACT unit, and with the TACT they were great, no boominess at all. Mine doubles as a volume control/pre so it is cost effective as well.

a dealer once told me that some of the older classic Klipsch designs (Belle, Lascala, Cornwall) are made to work up close to backwalls. Experience has shown that this assertion carries validity.

NHT-3.3s against the back wall.

The Audio Note Js and Es are designed to be against the wall. You can go to the reviews and read my review of the E.

"musikat" is mistaken about his assumption that "speakers wiht ports in the front" will work better closer to walls! The usually difference in acoustic space is "NEGLIGABLE" and usually fairly insignifican't to the frequencies that are applicble! The wave lengths are so long in the bass that most traditional designs aren't going to put the port far enough away from the walls to make a difference in most cases! The result is still going to be boomy, thick, dominent, "one-notey", "peaky" and uneven bass response! fOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, in smaller domestic rooms, the speakers will have to be designed to be closer to the wall, Be significantly "re-EQ'd", and you can forget about listening with a chair up agains a wall for sure!!!
So far, the Thiel Powerpoints are the best I've heard for "onwall" or "near wall" applications! (they use 45 degree angle on front baffel, and crossover manipulation I think). OTher than that, bass extension limited designs are going to be your best bet usually...leaving bass to the powered subwoofer.

See the post "whatz up with hi-end speakers near walls? " below. Lots of good suggestions.

I had a pair of the Vienna Beethovens...
they were fine sounding close to the wall..
I had them running with a Macintosh MC 2100
ss amp. The only thing is that they are very
picky regarding placement. It took a long time to
dial them in. They were aproximately 1 foot from
the rear wall... I found that moving them in and out
didnt affect the depth or soundstage that much...
Overall, build quality was very nice... drivers seemed
tight and the only downside is a single binding post..
although I believe Vienna doesnt recommend biamp or biwire.
Good luck
Happy listening,
Joe
Custom Audio LLC

Look at the Englsih speakers mentioned above and include Naim.
-Vik

Linn Speakers work well close to a wall.
Most any front ported speaker works also.