Asked this before in another thread, but need more info.

Just got two ceiling speakers Polk Audio RC80I. My equipment is:

Mitsu 65734
PS3
Denon 1909
Front speakers: JBL S38's
Center: JBL
Subwoofer: NHT
Surrounds: JBL satellite speakers
Ceiling surrounds: Polk audio RC80I (new)

My problem:

large sectional sofa backing into a wall (facing tv apprx 15')

At this time, I have a 5.1 setup with the JBL's as surround on each side of the main seating area facing tv.
I've been told to add the RC80I speakers to ceiling as a 7.1 system or just add the ceiling speakers and keep a 5.1 without side surround. Not sure which way would be best?? Denon and JBL recommended a 7.1, while few people here says will not work.. Which way is best??

I have a 10x16 HT, with the sofa against the wall limitation. I have experimented extensively with several setups, and the thing I found works the best is to skip the rear channels and use some of those di-pole/bi-pole dispersing surrounds on the side surrounds. I picked up another set, and am going to experiment with using them as rears and mounting them on the back wall overhead (I have heard some people get decent results with a 7.1 setup this way).

Yes, I heard dipole or ceiling speakers should work.. But, since I have the ceiling speakers already, not sure if 7.1 will work?? I'm going hook it up anyway, and the worst it can happen, is I get a 5.1 system with new ceiling speakers.. Should be better than what I got now..
Geo

Ps.. Walksindarkness is what I do alot.. (My hobby is astronomy) LOL

Stick with 5.1. 7.1 is pointless in this scenario.

Something else to chew on, FWIW, is moving up the couch from the back wall. Of course, most wives would not allow this, but moving the listener position from the boundary will relieve you of muddy bass, and also when up next to the wall, the reflection arrives so quickly in relation to the speaker's direct audio, that you cannot distinguish between the two. Which makes for smearing rather than ambience.

The de facto recommendation in a rectangular room is to have your ears at 38% of the room length, with only slight variation depending on the room. Just an FYI, so you know what to shoot for if the occasion ever arises. And you'd have space for 7.1 to boot. ;)

Yes, I heard dipole or ceiling speakers should work.. But, since I have the ceiling speakers already, not sure if 7.1 will work?? I'm going hook it up anyway, and the worst it can happen, is I get a 5.1 system with new ceiling speakers.. Should be better than what I got now..
Geo

Ps.. Walksindarkness is what I do alot.. (My hobby is astronomy) LOL

Define "JBL satellite speakers". Unless they're really some mickey mouse htib speakers, I don't see how the in-ceiling speakers would be better.
Any case, with the seating up against the rear wall, 5.1 system would be best.

JBL SCS500's satellite speakers... They are good speakers. What would happen if I hook up the ceiling speakers as rear surround and leave the JBL's where they are. Why would that not work?? or, hook up the ceiling speakers as side surround and the JBL's as rear facing the front. Perhaps that may work better.
Not sure if I mentioned, but my living room, opens into the dining room, so I do not have a side wall. Back wall, and window wall open to DR. Perhaps this makes a difference how the setup should be made.. Also, the sectional is too big to be moved up front, and changing it, would get me in the dog house...

What would happen if I hook up the ceiling speakers as rear surround...Sounds intended to come from behind you would instead come from above you. my living room, opens into the dining room, so I do not have a side wall. Back wall, and window wall open to DR.In that case, can you mount the in-ceiling rear speakers several feet rearward of the sectional? Also, do your in-ceilings have pointable drivers or tweeters that can be aimed at the listening area?

Sanjay

Yes, the RC80I has aimable tweeters... The back part of the sofa (facing the tv) is against the wall, and I have no ceiling area behind it. The wall is about 8 feet. The only possible way, is to mount the speakers over the sofa, and aim the tweeter to the front. Don't think the driver is aimable..
Geo

ps. I believe I still could exchange these speakers for dipole speakers and install over the back wall.. Although, I'm told ceiling speakers should have the same effect..

Generally speaking, in-ceiling speakers should only be used as a last resort, when no other speaker position will work. And having speakers directly above you is not a good thing, imo. I'd use bipole/dipole speakers on the wall.

The back part of the sofa (facing the tv) is against the wall, and I have no ceiling area behind it. The wall is about 8 feet.Then do as others have been suggesting: stick to a 5.1-speaker set-up (better than doing a poor 7.1 layout).

Sanjay

I picked up another set, and am going to experiment with using them as rears and mounting them on the back wall overhead (I have heard some people get results with a 7.1 setup this way).Works decent
Give it a try

Then do as others have been suggesting: stick to a 5.1-speaker set-up (better than doing a poor 7.1 layout).

Sanjay


I gather with the side JBL SCS500's rather than ceiling speakers.. The setup is like that right now..

Ps. My wife usually sits on a chair in front of the sofa, and she does not hear too much the surrounds...

I gather with the side JBL SCS500's rather than ceiling speakers.Yes, that would be my first choice. As 4DHD said, in-ceilings should be reserved as a last resort.

Sanjay

I have three HT systems in my home. A 7.1 in the true HT and two 5.1's in the office and the downstairs "Family" room. I have B & W equipment for both 5.1 systems. Sig 7's in the front with the 37-inch 1080p LCD as the center channel and CCM65's in the ceiling of the office. These also have directional tweeters like yours do. They work VERY well and there is no point in adding an additional set of speakers on the rear wall of that office. My Family room is similar to yours but I have no wall behind the couch. Rather, it opens up to the Kitchen. Again, I used the CCM65's in the ceiling there and have DM602's & a CC6 (center channel) and a VERY good 5.1 system driving each of these and 5.1 is PLENTY for those areas.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do appreciate and like the 7.1 we have in the HT room but IMHO there really is no place for a 7.1 model in the other rooms nor is there really any reason to do it in your layout (other than to say you have a 7.1 system). 7.1 systems only REALLY works when you can give it the space it needs to perform to it's potential.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do appreciate and like the 7.1 we have in the HT room but IMHO there really is no place for a 7.1 model in the other rooms nor is there really any reason to do it in your layout (other than to say you have a 7.1 system). 7.1 systems only REALLY works when you can give it the space it needs to perform to it's potential.

I've been saying that for quite a while now. If the room is very shallow (short) it makes no sense to add the back channels. I've been in HT shops, that had short rooms, with the back speakers either right next to or directly overhead of where you sat. In both cases the surround was more irratating than useful.