Ok, I had my HT built last summer and my current (audio) setup is as follows (7.2 channel setup - IN THEORY!):

Integra DTC 9.8
NAD M-25 7 channel amp
Klipsch THX Ultra2 System (3 KL650 L/C/R, 2pr KS-525 surrounds, plus subs)

When my installers put in the system, they arranged the 2 pairs of surrounds on each side on each of 2 rows of speakers. However, as wired, the back pair of surrounds are tied to the "rear" speakers of the preamp. Thus, when sitting in the second row, the only sounds that come from that row's surrounds are the "rear" surround sounds. My installer's response when I recently inquired was "wait til the 7.1 mix blu rays come out and see what you think then". I think that won't make a doggone bit of difference!!!!

I have 2 extra KL650's and have been considering doing the following:

1. splitting the side surround outputs to the amp and wiring BOTH sets of surrounds to be true surrounds.
2. adding a 2 channel amp, connected to the "rear speaker" outputs of the preamp and connected to the extra 650's positioned behind the last row of seats to act as true "rear" speakers.

IMHO, this would give a more true surround setup than what I currently have, and would only cost me an extra 2ch amp, some wiring, and speaker mounts. Am I crazy/missing something?

If I am understanding correctly, both pair of surround speakers are currently on the side walls with the most rearward pair wired to the rear surround channels. Correct?

How long is your room? Do you really need 2 pair of side surrounds? People do that for a really long room, but if your room isn't so long I would just move a pair of speakers to the rear.

I'm not sure how you are proposing implementing another amp. It is for the duplicate pair of side surrounds where you'd need the other amp. Not for the rears. You'd have 4 side surrounds which would mean you'd need 2 additional amps for the side surround channels.

It is possible that your current amp would not have a problem driving 4 side surround speakers with only 2 amps. What is the impedance of those Klipsch surrounds?

An issue with two pairs of side surrounds is calibration. Depending upon your calibration rationale, the balance of the surround speakers may not be correct at certain seats. Of course, you can have that issue with only one pair of side surrounds, too. But I think you may complicate things with duplicate pairs.

I would take the first (forward) pair of side surrounds and place them in the rear. Then take the second (rearward) pair of side surrounds and make them the lone pair of side surrounds. This would get you as close to the Dolby rec's as possible with out the need for another amp.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

See the 7.1 speaker layout guide. Using the suggested layout, your side surrounds would be at about 120 degrees to the front row and 90 degrees to the back row. Your rear surrounds would be good for either row.

Craig

Thanks to both of you for your responses!

to answer the questions from above from sivadselim:

1. yes, you understand correctly.
2. room is relatively short - about 18' screen front to back row (23' total, last 5' at back of room open space for concessions)
3. The Klipsch speakers are 8ohm, so yes, the NAD probably would drive them without issue if I were to double up the speakers on the 2 side channels.
I hadn't thought about the calibration aspect with the 2 pairs of side surrounds IF used as "dual" side surrounds.

In all, I wasn't fond of the installer's reasoning to add the second surround pair (I actually had to buy the extra pair, as my initial speaker purchase only had the 1 surround pair with the "rears" being the other 2 KL650's). I really should have stood my ground and made them setup in 7.1 normal configuration.

Craig John, I do like your suggestion. I think that would easily solve the problem, with minimal re-wiring and drywall/paint touchups.

One question for you guys - specific to the Klipsch THX speakers - when moving the speakers to the rear, would you use the KS 525's (which are designed to be surrounds) or the KL650's (which are generally used as L/C/R). Klipsch's "system" configuration uses a slightly smaller version of the 650's instead of the side surrounds, so I'm tempted to just sell the extra pair of surrounds and use the 650's as the rears. Thoughts?

Thanks to both of you for your responses!

to answer the questions from above from sivadselim:

1. yes, you understand correctly.
2. room is relatively short - about 18' screen front to back row (23' total, last 5' at back of room open space for concessions)
3. The Klipsch speakers are 8ohm, so yes, the NAD probably would drive them without issue if I were to double up the speakers on the 2 side channels.
I hadn't thought about the calibration aspect with the 2 pairs of side surrounds IF used as "dual" side surrounds.

In all, I wasn't fond of the installer's reasoning to add the second surround pair (I actually had to buy the extra pair, as my initial speaker purchase only had the 1 surround pair with the "rears" being the other 2 KL650's). I really should have stood my ground and made them setup in 7.1 normal configuration.

Craig John, I do like your suggestion. I think that would easily solve the problem, with minimal re-wiring and drywall/paint touchups.

One question for you guys - specific to the Klipsch THX speakers - when moving the speakers to the rear, would you use the KS 525's (which are designed to be surrounds) or the KL650's (which are generally used as L/C/R). Klipsch's "system" configuration uses a slightly smaller version of the 650's instead of the side surrounds, so I'm tempted to just sell the extra pair of surrounds and use the 650's as the rears. Thoughts?

I have a friend with your exact system. He uses the KL 525's in all surround positions, and they sound terrific. He tells me they are dipoles, but I've always thought they sounded like bipoles. Personally, I don't prefer dipoles in the surround positions, but THX's spec's call for dipoles. Reading the Klipsch website, it says they use Klipsch's Wide Dispersion Surround Technology, (WDST):
http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/ks-525-thx-specifications/
and that is probably why I thought they sounded like bipoles.

Dipoles have a "null" that faces the listening area, and they bounce their sound off the front and rear walls. However, the Klipsch's, with WDST, should have a broad coverage area with a small "null". They'll be less directional than the 650's, but more directional than standard dipoles.

Bottom line, I suggest the 525's, two on the sides and two in the rear.

Craig

As soon as I have a few free hours (in a row), I'm going to try the front pair of 525's in the back and see how that sounds. I'll probably go ahead and play with the 650's as well, just to see how it sounds in my room, but I do understand your thought process on the surrounds and those will likely sound the best.

Again, thanks for the helpful insights!