Carlos Alden wrote:

I do mostly acoustic music so don't need the gut-wrenching bass and volume
that some folks do. However, i want it loud enough so that a guitar sounds
like a live guitar, and I want clear midranges.

No, you need bass extension too. And the reason you need is is so that you
know when there is unwanted low end material there.

So here's my question: Am I correct in thinking that monitors with 8"
woofers are just too damn big for my little space, and that I will get
better clarity and accurate imaging from smaller boxes? I'm not asking
whether this or that make of monitors is better, but rather am I going to
encounter problems with any mid field monitor when what I should be looking
at is slightly smaller nearfields.

I don't think so. I don't think you can have clean enough and accurate
enough bass, even if you're recording material that isn't bass-heavy.
Maybe especially if you're recording material that isn't bass-heavy.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."