I wish I had found this forum months ago... Right now I'm in the wiring process of finishing my basement. I've got a dry bar area, a gaming table area and then a A/V theater area. The space is very asymetrical and kind of awkward but I'm trying to make it work. Currently my A/V equipment consists of the following:

(1) 52" XBR4
(1) STR-DA5300ES Sony Reciever
(1) PS3
(2) Polk TC265i's (Front L/R)
(1) Polk TC65i (Front Center)
(4) Polk TC80i's (2 for the rear L/R, but I don't really know what to do with the other two)

I'm planning on also placing an in ceiling stereo speaker over bar area, and over the gaming table. I was planning on using the other TC80i's, but they're not wired for stereo. I considered using them for two more rear surrounds but given the space I think it may be a little too much. Additionally I'm running Cat5e with baluns to convert it from and to component outputs over the bar. I don't have smaller flat screen for over the bar yet but I will when I can afford it... I'm really only framed out with most of my electric wiring done at this point, so suggestions on everything would be welcome...

Some of my current concerns are regarding the (2) TC265i's that will be left and right of the TV... The left will be within 2 feet of the corner. Also is there minimum distance off the edge of the TV that I should have the speakers?? I've attached a rough layout that I had sent off to crutchfield for some recommendations, but really all I got back from them was a $6,000 shopping list. I'm really new at this, and really don't know much... so fire away!! T

If it were me, I would partition it off like the attachment so that you can have a better area for viewing movies/television.

Thanks... didn't even think about that.... good call. The only thing I don't like about that, is that you can't see the TV from the Bar anymore... granted I'll be wiring the bar for a TV over it also, but I have to try and find that happy medium between the "sports bar feel", Game room, and home theater. Thanks again.

Additionally, I want to run everything in wall if I can... I have it figured out that I'll have 4, 2 gang outlet boxes framed behind the entertainment center... One of those will house the 7.1 speaker runs, one will have 4 outlets. I don't know what all to try and cram into the other 2... So far I've got an HDMI cable (running up to the TV from the reciever) a dual Coax (one running from the dish, another running from the unfinished portion just in case...) I was thinking a dual ethernet, and a phone cable, but I really don't know.

I like Brian's suggestion... Especially if you are going for a tv over the bar too. I would think people would migrate over to the big screen any way if they were interested in what was on.

Nice Receiver by the way... Way out of my price range. I'll take a stab at some of your questions:

Your Receiver does 7.1 so you can use your TC80i's for the surrounds and rears... OR leave it at 5.1 and use the other 2 for speakers in your bar area using the B channel on your receiver. You can then attach your Bar TV to your receiver via Component Video letting you play the same source on both TV.

Jroyv, thanks! Sorry it took me so long to get back... business trip out of the country. If I were only to set up a 5.1, then I could power the other two off of the same AVR... however, if I were to set up the HT to 7.1, I'd have to power the two speakers in the common area off of a seperate amp (or my old AVR) correct? Additionally, I think what I need is for the speakers in the common areas to be mono right? And that is something I should be able to do with my old AVR I think (mono). This might be an AVR specific question, but would I be able to run audio through zone's 1 and 2 at the same time (same or different sources) provided I powered the second zone with an amp or AVR?? I know I don't speak the AV language yet, but I'm learning on the forum! This place is great by the way... lots of knowledge.

I just took a quick look at your receiver manual. Unlike mine it does not look like it drops the rear surrounds when running the both A & B front channels. It appears to run both sets of speakers as if they were wired in parallel.

There is no reason I can think of to run your game area mono. You should be able to run stereo. What is your "old" AVR?