I'm currently running a 5.1 setup but would like to switch to a 7.1 setup to "future proof" and to take advantage of my PS3's Blu-ray and uncompressed 7.1 audio. I've included a diagram of my setup and would like some knowledgable opinions on the locations of the extra two speakers, or if it's even an option in a room of that size. Thanks

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/Noah981/Livingroom.jpg

Where did you get this drawing of my living room? ;)

Seriously, If the full overall length is about 30' - you've pretty much described my house, and my situation, very closely. I plan to put the 2 rear speakers on the wall at the far end of the dining room.

Interesting to see some knowledgeable comments on this.

I'm currently running a 5.1 setup but would like to switch to a 7.1 setup to "future proof" and to take advantage of my PS3's Blu-ray and uncompressed 7.1 audio.If you switch to a 7.1 set-up, it will become useful right away. Sounds that currently phantom image between/behind your two surround speakers will be extracted and sent to the speakers behind you.

See the attached diagram of a 7.1-speaker layout. Your current surrounds are already in the perfect location for side speakers. To mimic the diagram, the rear speakers should be mounted on the side walls, placed roughly 10 feet behind the side speakers.

Placement doesn't have to be exact. If you want to place the rear speakers a little further back or in the back corners, that will work too. The main goal is to have distinct localization at your left side vs your right side vs behind you. That won't be a problem for you, since the rear speakers will be placed well behind the listening area (those sounds can't come from the wrong direction).

Good Luck,
Sanjay

From the diagram, it looks like the rear speakers would not go on the side walls, but on the rear wall. Or am I reading it wrong?

I guess if you go by the degrees listed, you could end up on either wall. Does it otherwise matter? Is it better if the rears point forward, toward you, or to the sides behind you?

I guess if you go by the degrees listed, you could end up on either wall.Exactly. As long as the speakers end up at the correct angles, it doesn't matter which wall they're physically mounted to.

In this particular case, in order to get the 60 degree seperation between the rear speakers (like in the diagram), they should be on the side walls roughly 9-10 feet behind the side speakers. But even further back they'll be fine. Is it better if the rears point forward, toward you, or to the sides behind you?I like to point all the speakers towards the listeners. More critical with the fronts than the surrounds, which I just aim aproximately towards the main listening area.

Sanjay

Thank you again.

I though that putting the rear speakers on the back wall would be too far back. Now that I look more carefully though, I see that the fronts and the rears would be almost equal distances from the sides/seating area so that may work. Thanks for the input.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r122/Noah981/Livingroom1.jpg