Jeff Day, the reviewer, keeps his SHL5's in a 11′ L x 12′ W x 9′ H room:
http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/?page_id=521
I'd imagine your friend's problems are compounded by the fact that his room is actually smaller AND perfectly square, but the issues shouldn't be insurmountable...assuming there's not actually a bed in this spare bedroom.
Your friend might contact the nearest Harbeth dealer and see if the dealer can come by with both the C7s and SHL5's to audition in the space. Or, at the very least, get the dealer's input.
If the Harbeths won't work for him, he might switch gears and look into a speaker actually designed to be placed against a wall.
And if he can't get any speakers to work to his satisfaction, headphones are definitely not a bad option.
http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/?page_id=521
I'd imagine your friend's problems are compounded by the fact that his room is actually smaller AND perfectly square, but the issues shouldn't be insurmountable...assuming there's not actually a bed in this spare bedroom.
Your friend might contact the nearest Harbeth dealer and see if the dealer can come by with both the C7s and SHL5's to audition in the space. Or, at the very least, get the dealer's input.
If the Harbeths won't work for him, he might switch gears and look into a speaker actually designed to be placed against a wall.
And if he can't get any speakers to work to his satisfaction, headphones are definitely not a bad option.