Bookshelf speakers that sound good on a SHELF or SIDEBOARD


No room for stands; rear wall is very close, less than 6 inches. Shelf (it’s actually a sideboard) height is 36" inches from floor to shelf.

Any thoughts on monitors/bookshelf speakers that sound good in these sorts of applications?
mjmch2003
I would recommend a front ported speaker.....or sealed acoustic suspension like Helo mentioned,  but not many small speakers aren't ported.
In this same situation I have used both Rogers LS3/5a (also available from other manufacturers as noted by yogiboy) and Allison CD-6 (available on the used market from time to time, but you must be patient). Price points are very different including the variations of the LS3/5a. ZuAudio also makes a couple of speakers for this purpose - Cube and OmenBookshelf; but I have not heard either of these.
The LS3/5a and its successors have been the classic choice. For years I happily used the LS3/5a as my desktop speaker, and only recently replaced it by the far superior Harbeth P3ESR. Both of them have suffered a bit from bass boost as a result of the proximity of the desktop surface. I have cured most of this by raising them some 8 inches using little isoacoustics stands. In my case that had the additional advantage of bringing the tweeter up to ear height.
The remaining lump I cured with an equalization graph in REW and uploading that into the Equalizer APO software on my desktop PC (used as a source). Traditional tone controls will also do this, to some extent, and not as precisely. I do not think you can avoid using a bit of equalization, and the more precise the better. But with it, you should be fine.
My room is the same as yours. I am using a Pass labs integrated mated to NHT c-1. These are very small and sealed. I am also using a Bowers and Wilkins DB3D sub. Speakers are mounted on the wall and my room is treated. I can tell you that there are not many full size speakers that sound better. I have been into audio since I was 12 (73 now)  and I have the best sound I have ever owned. I’ve owned NHT 3.3’s and Krell.