Verity Parsifal Ovation vs. Encore?

The encore could not be upgraded to the Ovation status because of the woofer enclosure that is larger.
Ovation deserve a much higher price and very rare on the used market if you ever find a pair of encore make sure that it is the latest version in asking the serial number and have an email at Verity Audio in Quebec city (very useful service)
The bass will be never boomy since you have a very good at least 100 WPC amplifier(SS) or even a tube amps (better match) also you could put your woofer in the front firing position

Thanks for the help. How is relatively-nearfield listening,
about 7-8 feet from front of the speaker? Thanks again.

7-8 feet poses no real problems IME and I once had them on the long wall similarly positioned to what you propose in a room very similar in size to yours. I'd agree with Roy, woofers forward. OTOH, I have had them in larger rooms and you do get a fuller soundstage.

Marty

My room is similar in size except we devided the room into two by have a couch in between. SO the speakers are about 3 feet away from the backwall, and the listening position is about 8 feet from the speakers. I set up the Encores with woofers firing towards the backwall per Verity's recommendation. 3 ft is just too close to the backwall, that the bass sounded boomy. I have not tried turning the woofers to face forward. What I did was to put my DIY room lens (made of those kid's foammy swimming noodle stick things) against the backwall right behind the speakers and the bass issue was resolved.

I have the Encores with the updated revelator tweeters.

FrankC

Frank--Thank you very very much for that valuable info.
I owe you a beer.