Cost no Object but Small Room

i don't know if $9500 meets your definition of "cost no object," but for that you can own the most magical sounding speakers i have ever heard: the Auditorium 23 Solovox. Based on what you have said are your musical tastes, I highly recommend that you give these a listen. Look for links to reviews on tone imports website. i just ordered a pair to replace my Avantgarde Duo's.

How about something from verity. I have some fidelio encores and they are the best i have had in my small room and could be moved to a larger space in the future. They have a look and feel of the best and incredible natural sound that is very unfatiguing.

If you can, try to audition Verity speakers. They are really special with darTZeel amplification, and all but the largest models work great in smaller rooms.

Coltrane is a great speaker too, but it's not for everybody.

You might want to listen to the YG speaker too, the Anat Reference on stands (without the large bass module). Fantastic speaker, and I think that could work fine in your room.

And of course, don't overlook MBL 121. :)

11x17 would seem a perfect match for Merlins....good luck,Bob

Henry- Why not a pair of Evolution Acoustics MM1s or MM2s? With the MM2s you would have plenty of adjustments for the bass, and the mids and tweeter are the best I've heard bar none. The depth of the cabinet may present a problem, but the way it tapers and the small width I think it would work.

It sounds like you will have plenty of listening chair-to-speaker distance for the MM2s to integrate well. My speakers are about 9 feet center to center and I sit a little over 9 feet away and the speakers are totally coherent and disappear.

I think the MM2 is by far a much better value than the other speakers mentioned and would absolutely work in your room (use the extra funds to buy room treatments as mentioned below). About 4-5 feet off the front wall to the front baffle of the speaker, 7.5 feet apart center to center, and sit about 9 feet away. Use a Mini Trap HF to take care of the first reflection points on the side walls, some Mondo Traps and Tri Corners in all four corners of the room for broadband bass absorption, and some diffusion behind your listening position (not sure where the door and windows are). Use the controls on the MM2 for final tuning- enjoy!