Thanks for the suggestions. Here's a typical home entertainment center:
Sterling Vista Wall System - Entertainment Centers at Hayneedle
My wife is a pretty solid 'no' on the wall hanging speakers, and I agree. As a result of the big fireplace and home entertainment center in that room, she won't have much room to hang her paintings.
My wife is being reasonable on this stuff, I think. So, for example, we'll be getting a cabinet that will allow room for a center speaker. We may end up getting stands for the l and r if we absolutely have to. But I told her that I'm going to do my best to find speakers that would work well when placed in those side cabinets.
I read a review of the MB Quarts which referred to them as being near field speakers?
The risk of boomy base in those cubicles is easy for me to understand. It makes sense to stay away from rear or up or down firing ports. But is there a general characteristic of speakers that would send up a red flag when it comes to the possibility of getting a harsh or 'over bright' sound in that highly reflective room?