Nearfield listening - once more


I have a small nearfield pinpoint satellite speaker system, as well as a large floorstander speaker system, at home. I am intrigued by the fact that the small system does some things as well or even better than the big system. How can that be. A few questions:

1 - how can big speakers be tuned /positioned towards optimal nearfield listening?

2 - what are the main things to consider, to get optimal nearfield sound, with smaller speakers? (I already know that speaker stands and positioning are key elements).

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Near field open baffle in my small 12x11 room is amazing! Full range 15" drivers and the music never feels overbearing until I really crank it up. Normal listening levels though are like being at a live show at times!

I use Quad ESL57 in a relative nearfield position. See Virtual System. Imaging is excellent. 

I know that with a two (or more) way speaker you have to move the listener position so that the two drivers blend well. With my single driver speakers that problem is smaller. I can sit closer to the drivers and yet get quite full range and time-coherent sound. Even if my Fostex submini is limited it keeps up and enlarges the performance from my Arche fr2 speakers. 

I also wonder, is there such a thing as a "nearfield speaker" or is this mostly words? All speakers are nearfield if you sit close enough. The ideal speaker should sound good from the near, the mid, and the far listening zone. But attempts to improve nearfield sound are interesting.