Small Room. Go for it or forget about it?

Bob_reynolds......., in totally non-technical terms, a first order crossover is just a type of crossover circuit design.

Basically the poster is saying to get speakers designed for "near field" or "close up" listening. You could use any speakers if you like, but the image, soundstage, etc, will not be very good in speakers that are designed to focus at a distance in a large room.

Some people prefer close up/near field listening. In a small room it is obviously the only choice by default.

You will have to do some research or start of new post asking for suggestions for near field speakers. I probably would not bother asking about the crossovers. Most people won't know.

I am not even sure the use of "first-order cross-over" is correct. B&W uses first order crossovers in a lot of their designs, including the largest Nautilus speakers that won't even fit in a small room. There are also small bookshelf speakers that are obviously for a small space that do not have first order crossovers.

Bob,did Sugarbrie answer most of your questions? This situation would be best served by a two-way design.Though squaring the number of drivers can still allow for a two-way to move large amounts of air in the low-freqs.Though it then becomes a line-source,as opposed to a point-source.
A 6db/crossover is the simpled way to design a crossover,as long as the drivers have adequate response through the crossopver range.Some manufacturers will stae a minimum seating distance (that allowing the drivers to re-integrate the soundfield).

I have a 10'x12' bedroom with a system built around a pair of Celestion SL700s. My SL700s work great in this space. I just noticed that there is a pair of SL700SEs listed for sale; the 700SEs were the epitome of that design and can be positioned close to the front wall. Another suggestion is Audio Note speakers that are designed to be placed in the corners.

Loving all the info guys. Thanks!

If you have the patience to explore the benefits of room treatments and the wonders they can do to one's system, I'd say go for it.

I've seen Marten Coltrane speakers($50k retail) in a space of 9'8"x13' heavily treated, and since you have monitors I believe you shouldn't have much difficulty setting them up in your own room.