So, I'm installing the rest of my speakers this weekend to complete my 7.1 setup. The problem is, I'm not sure if the side surrounds are going to work or not. So I really need some advice on placement.

Setup:
Fronts: Polk Audio Monitor 50's
Center: Paradigm CC-170
Sides: Polk Audio FXi3's (dipole/bipole)
Rears: Polk Audio R150's
Sub: Polk Audio PSW10
Receiver: Onyko TX-SR606

Below is what I was thinking on layout. Center Channel is below the tv. Forgot to add it.

http://www.needmoreboost.com/wes/ht.jpg

Now, here is the problem/question. The Sides, as you can see is where I'm worried. The South Side speaker, is on a pillar of sorts between two openings that pass through into the kitchen. I am worried that the sound will get directed into the kitchen rather than around the room.

Since the sides are dipole/bipole, would one setting be better than the other?
Should I just move the FXi3's to the rear speakers and put the R150's as sides?


Also, do you think that having the one side speaker ~2ft from the person setting on the northern most part of the couch would degrade the sound listening? I.E. That seat would have too much side sound rather than the full experience?

I am planning on using the SR606's built in program (Audyssey) to tune the channels.


I've also thought about shifting everything according to Dolby's recommendations.

Front speakers equal distance from the walls, tv in the middle, sides slightly behind and 2-3ft high, rears ~135degrees behind and sub in the corner of the room (nw corner). Now, I can do this, but that would place the southern surround on the wall above the opening. How bad would this effect the ambient "space" sound?

Thanks in advance! I'm trying to get the best sound possible with the equipment I have and space I have.

Anyone? I'm playing with placement now, would like to get some advice and stuff ran/setup today.

Thanks!

What you have in the picture for speaker placement is probably what I'd do given the space (for better or worse). Just be sure to run your receiver's auto calibration software. I might also move the love seat closer to the sofa.

Is that a window or sliding glass door on the north wall? If it's a window, can you move the love seat to that side? You can then move the couch away from the north wall and put the small end table in that space.

I would spread the front speakers further apart, to get a wider front soundstage, and re-centre the TV. For the side speakers, use the bipole setting; dipoles primarily use walls to reflect sound, and there's not much wall for the left side speaker. I would also spread the rear speakers further apart, making it easier to hear stereo separation behind you (basically move the left rear speaker to the other side of that wall object that it's next to).

Seats outside the sweet spot will not have distance and levels calibrated for their location. Naturally, whatever speaker those listeners are next to will sound louder to them. There's no way to avoid this; you just have to live with it.