This is one of the problems with point source speakers. If you go line source the problem diminishes by an order of magnitude.
SPL Surprise!
Recently during a listening session, I got the idea to use my Radio Shack SPL meter, (C-weighted, fast response) and got a reading of 84 dB peaks at the listening seat about seven feet from the speakers. Curious what the reading would be closer to the speakers I held the meter a couple inches from the tweeter, midrange and woofers.
108 dB at the speakers!
24 dB difference over a distance of seven feet.
Wasn't expecting that much difference.