Best speakers for near-field listening?

You should only consider speakers specially designed for near field use. Typical audiophile speakers are not tonally balanced for the type of close up listening you are intending. Look at pro oriented speakers. Tannoy, JBL, KRK and Genelec all make outstanding quality near field speakers. These products are not audiophile speakers -- they are monitors intended for professional use. They are accurate rather than euphonic. I would normally hesitate to recommend this type of product, but your situation is extreme. Good luck.

The venerable Rogers LS3/5A would be very difficult to beat in this application. Afterall, was it not designed to operate within the confines of a BBC broadcasting van? Buy really solid 4 point stands, spikes on bottom and use Navcom tile on top to stablize. Unbeatable at that price for that application. Good Luck.

You will get good sound from the MMG's. I have spendor BC-1 which work fine in nearfield but my magnepans work nearly as well. Plus if you get in a space that is larger, you are set up. One other advantage you have is the 30 day home trial that magnepan offers. You won't be sorry.