redoing my HT for projector 119" screen.

I have 7.1 system and currently have the sides and rears at the same height.

I want to raise them 2 feet to 6 feet off the ground (9 foot ceiling) as we bought new furniture that has higher backs.

I have a step up platform for the second row, should I install the rears higher to match the 12" step up ?

I have all B & W speakers the rears are 805's and the sides on wall mounted CD-SNT's .
The rear seats are about 3-4 feet from the rears and the side speakers are level with the front row.

any thoughts, Greg

Yes, you want the rears higher otherwise the front row will miss the action. I have my rears going in at 6' high to the center of the tweeter. The sides should be just above ear level.

The answer depends on the type of speakers you are using and the size of your room. Movie theaters move the surrounds up as the seating moves up. So, if you have a large theater, this is probably a good idea. My theater is 13x18 and the position of the equipment rack forced the side surrounds to be between the front & rear rows of seating so this question was irrelevant to me.

In addition, part of your decision depends on whether you are using direct radiating speakers or di-poles. I used di-poles which are meant to be non-directional. With di-poles, the vertical position is not as sensitive so long as it is above you. This is why all of my surrounds are at the same level.

Click on the signature block of many of the people posting here to see there theaters. Most position the speakers at the same height for all rows except for the lucky few who have truly massive theaters.

6.5 feet from the ground or if ceiling/soffit height will not allow this, 1 foot down from the ceiling/soffit. That is one of the resident forum acoustic guys told me.