Cost no Object but Small Room

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!

The best "without consideration of value" are some of the non-gigantic Wilson speakers.

you are already in kharmaville...you will be better off not changing speakers, and spending the unlimited funds on other stuff.