Best speakers for a small room

I put Thiel CS3.7 floor stander into a 12 x 11 x 9 room. I needed to spend $700 to get acoustic treatments from GIK to make this work. I also needed to move reflective surfaces as far away from the speakers. I also do not have anything large in-between the speakers, just an amp. A bookshelf with books behind the speakers also helped.

Since I am a ROON user I was able to use DSP via professionally crafted CONVOLUTION filters. That can make almost ANY speaker work in my space. However, after rearranging the reflective items and adding 1 additional acoustic panel in front of my CD rack I was able to disable the CONVOLUTION filter. I think I am hearing the best possible sound in my room. A bigger room will get more out of the speaker but what I have now is satisfying.

Even though I no longer use the filter, the company that remotely did my DSP filter was this one. 

https://accuratesound.ca

They give you step-by-step instructions on how to measure your room using REW software and a mic. You give them the output files and they run that data through some very complicated software resulting in the DSP convolution files. 

The Charney Audio Maestro is designed for smallish rooms. An 8” full range single driver designed from the tractrix theory. Can be placed against or near the front wall and corners. Depending on driver and finish they run from $2800-$6500. 
 

http://charneyaudio.com/the-maestro.html

Any of the Sonus Faber Guarneri models will work well.

Vandersteen VLR CT is perfect for a small room. They are designed to be placed close to wall and will not eat up much space. 

Several great options... these are some of the better ones:

1. Harbeth 3PSR

2. Triangle Comete EZ

3. Wave Touch Audio Antero

All of these sound superb.

I have the Harbeth 30.1’s, which I got because they have such captivating sound with the right amplifier. But, they’re more expensive. And require a properly matched amplifier (SS amp like Hegel).

I do not have the Triangle Comete EZ - but, they get some very good reviews by a lot of reviewers, who have reviewed them highly with some good tube amps.

I also have the Wavetouch Audio Antero’s - which also sound amazing - perhaps as good as these others, have a room filling sound, with great transparency and resolution. These are efficient enough to be driven by a good tube integrated amp - such as a Line Magnetic.

Hard to choose one set over the others... Though, the Harbeths have a big brand name, and are easy to resell... and... tend to sound a lot like the venerable Quad ESL-57’s with the right amp. But, they are much more expensive.

So... you have quite a choice...