Gulf,
I’ve been following the evolution of your speaker placement for some time and have taken some inspiration from it. You convinced me to go near-field. I can confirm that your choice of using the diagonal is a great one I picked up from a couple of guys in the acoustics circle. I see a number of advantages in a small room:
1. It takes almost all early reflections out of the equation. This allows me to save money on room treatments and keep the room livelier.
2. If I use monitors (I do) I can easily move them into this diagonal position for critical listening and to a more out of the way position for normal room use.
3. The diagonal increases the total available listening distance. Every foot counts when you’re trying to position speakers and the listening in the front 38% of the room.
4. The increased visual depth into the corner behind the speakers really helps increase the illusion of depth, something I really value. This effect persists to a degree even when an equipment rack is in this position.
Overall I am a big fan of this layout. It is even possible to have both speakers and equipment almost flush against the walls and the listening chair the only object in the room’s free space. Being able to easily turn a reading room into a listening room is a great advantage to those of us struggling with space.