Quads 57 -

Set-up will be tough but can be done. While the speaker is technically a dipole the rear wave is well damped internally. From say 500Hz up there is little output from the rear. Some but not much. More of a dipole in the lower region.

I have local client with a pair of ESL63 in a room that is about 8'X 13'. I stated right up front I did not think the match be would good but since she was local I said lets give a try. The sound is amazing in the room. Nearfield yes, but the speaker sounds best in nearfield anyway. Once they were installed I was told they were not leaving!

Will set-up in that kind of room be ideal? No. But few of us are lucky to have ideal rooms or set-ups. Of course I am biased but I would take a Quad, in most situations, that is in a less than an ideal room than speaker X in the ideal room. They were designed for smallish British living rooms in mind. I see no reason to reject them outright just because the room is smaller than might be ideal.

If HP could shoehorn the IRS in his bedroom size room back in the day and proclaim it Valhalla I think one can fit the Quad in a small room with good results. Being a smart a** here but I think you get the point!

"Music sounds good, but no soul"

Can you tell me what soul is to you? When I think of electrostatics "soul" is not the word that comes to mind.

I also have had B&Ws and moved on because the mids had an odd coloration to them and the bass was lacking.

James63 is so right...anyway, I've owned the who's who of equipment and speakers, both electrostatic/planar and dynamic. My favorite speakers for actually enjoying the music and forgetting about the gear is Totem. I have owned The Winds, Forests, Hawks and Arrows. They all move your soul and have an uncanny ability to mezmerize a listener. 10x11 is not large but it is problematic for sound, as a square box is the worst shape for acoustics...you should have speakers along the long wall and your back against the opposite wall for starters. Totems are easy to place as well.

See photo below. It's not a square. It's got a cathedral ceiling ....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reevesm24/5466835210/

When I mean soul, I mean the music feels "alive". As in your eyes start to peal away the hollow boxes (speakers) to reveal fingers moving over strings, mouths gasping for air and looks that give a new meaning to improv's.