I don't worry too much about the listening distance. My guideline is to listen no closer than a distance equal to the height of the array. For example, 6 feet tall array so listen 6 feet or more away. Near field arrays designed per my NFLA guidelines will have drivers close enough to integrate in the near field. Of course line arrays sound great in large space but they can also work in smaller ones as well. B-G is being too conservative in my mind.