Thank you all for your input. In our previous home, I had a separate listening room that allowed me to position the Maggie’s in the optimum manner. That worked for eighteen years. My/our new listening room/living room is set up the only way possible. No alternative except for moving the speakers back and forth ( three feet or more for the Magnepans). I would rather keep the 1.6’s rather than lose sonic quality. Maybe that is the way it is meant to be, but I will investigate other options that you have recommended.
Recommendations for Speakers that can be used close to the rear wall.
I am looking to replace my Magnepan 1.6 speakers with smaller speakers that can be placed close to the rear wall. Due to a move to a new home my listening room does not allow me to place my speakers the recommended distance from the rear wall. I am limited to just a few inches at most and I do not want to move them back and forth as I now do with my Magnepans. My room is large (17’ x 26’x 9’) with more open space next to it. The speakers are placed along the 17’ wall. I use a solid state Belles 150a Hot Rod amp with Sonic Frontier tube preamp, Dac and phono. I would like to limit the cost to $3,000/pair. I want the speaker to be no more than 48” high. I listen to various types of music ( rock, jazz, classical) and don’t play my music loud. I do not need a lot of bass for my musical enjoyment. I like the sound of the 1.6’s especially the way they play jazz vocal music, but am open to considering other types of speakers. Any recommendations would be appreciated.