Is it even possible to set up a system in 12x12 room?


I am moving next week and there is an extra room that is 12x12 with 9 foot ceiling. This will not be my main system but I have an extra gear I would like to use. I have never set up a system in a square room and definitely not this small of a room. I have a couple pair of 8 ohm 87 db monitors that go down around 40 to 50hz and a pair of 6 ohm 87db floorstanders that go to 27hz with ports in the front. I have a el84 tube amp that is 25 watts and a 150 watt solid state amp with a tube Preamp. The couch will have to go directly on back wall and may be able to pull speakers 2 to 3 feet off front wall and maybe a foot or so off side walls. Is there anyway to make this enjoyable to listen too? I know I'm going to have to treat room but where would panels perform best or am I wasting my time?
paulcreed
Most people never have the 'ideal' imaging triangle, their listening position, like mine and most of my audiophile friends, is further back than the width of the speakers, by a few feet or more. Usually that is combined with the rear wall being farther back than you will have. 

I have equal triangle in my office, and using small B&W bookshelf speakers with a powered sub, it is quite enjoyable. I get just a bit from the sub, you should only notice it when you turn it off.

Your room will force the near perfect triangle. It's problem is square and rear wall right behind you. You will definitely need to strongly reduce reflections off the rear wall. Less bass from the speakers helps.

Using the smaller speakers, toed in a bit away from side walls, perhaps tilted back a bit (not parallel to floor and ceiling), and only going for 40hz, no port is my suggestion. Then, tame the rear wall. Then, if you want, try a small powered sub, but don't go overboard.

Tweeters at seated ear height, bass below that.

Small size speakers and small size sub to enable alternate positioning. NO PORT!!!!!!
I have a small system in my computer room which is about the same size as your room.  My computer desk is right up against the front wall, so I'm very near field.  I have the speakers in the front corners of the room, about 1 foot from the wall and angled towards me at a little less than 45 degrees.  Wood paneling, no treatment (yet, hoping to pick some up this weekend), sounds great!  It doesn't have the sense of scale of my main system, but in terms of sound quality and clarity, it sounds as good, if not better.  Speakers are Harbeth P3ESR and I have a small SVS SB12-NSD sub on the floor next to my desk.
I don’t agree that in a small room speakers always have to be toed in. IME, that is not always the case, and in fact, in my room, I prefer the speakers to be placed straight ahead. (https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/4100) Experimentation is the name of the game here also. The design of the speaker has a lot to do with this aspect.
Also, I do believe that if the equilateral triangle placement can be accomplished, that is preferable.
Lastly, I think that getting the speaker more into the room and off the back wall is going to give you the most depth and imaging precision. Near field listening is the rule in this size of room, there really is no getting around that...which I actually believe is beneficial anyhow.
Rule of thumb...small rooms and small speakers...horses for courses.


I have a 9 1/2 by 14 feet room with 9 foot ceilings so I too am interested in the advice and example setups in this thread.  My speakers are going to be quite large and honestly too big for the room but I'm hopeful that when installed I can get them dialed in as best I can.
Went by new house yesterday and looked at 12x12 room, damn it's small. I have some room treatment from long ago in a box somewhere, can't remember brand. It's not rigged, it is covered in material with reflective on one side and non reflective on other side with some type of batting inside. It has 4 triangle corner traps, 4 4'x1' corner traps and 4 2'x2' panels, never really used them so don't know if they are any good. I have some Corning 703 DIY panels but they will be used in other system so I'm going to make some more. Has anyone ever found a place to buy 703 local, shipping on it is as much as the panels themselves. Does anyone have an idea of how many panels I will need in a room this size. This may sound crazy but I was going to put a leather couch in there but is that reflective also would I be better off with a chair also taking up less air space. I know this is going to be trial and error but I'm guessing this is going to be harder than a normal size room am I correct.