Rear Surround Help: Swan Diva R3 vs. Paradigm ADP-190 vs. Def. Tech. BP2X

What position will you be mounting your surrounds in.....To the sides of the seating position? On the rear wall?
This answer would help narrow down your choices, as the Paradigm ADP-190's are very picky as to mounting position. They love to be on the side walls directly in line with the seating area, but hate the rear wall (from what users have told me).

I just got done with almost a week of surround speaker research between the Paradigm ADP-190's and the Axiom Audio QS8's.
If you aren't afraid to raise your budget a little more....can I suggest the Axiom Audio QS8's, at least to test out? They offer a 30-day in home trial, where you can return them for a full refund at anytime. They also have rave reviews all over the Internet.
My LCR speakers are all Paradigms, so I obviously had to make a tough call choosing the QS8's over the ADP-190's, but with the in-home trial, there is nothing to lose. If I don't like them I will know to settle on the ADP's....but if I do like them, well than I keep them


Also, be sure to realize the difference between bipole and dipole speakers. The Swan and Paradigm speakers you listed are dipole, while the Def Tech and Axiom speaker are bipole. Hence why, at least for the Paradigm ADP's, position is key because the dipole design is less forgiving to room layout.....whereas with the Axioms I ordered (which are bipole) are said to be very forgiving to room layout and position.

Judging from the sketch you were probably already planning on side mounting whichever surrounds you buy, correct?
That's what I would advise (rather than try to mount them high up on the rear wall to clear any entrance/doorways).

After reading more information, I would further stress looking at the Axiom QS8's because of how big your room is, especially with cathedral ceiling. The QS8's have better sensitivity and power handling than the original three you were looking at, which would be beneficial in such a big space.

Or I might even suggest looking at direct radiating surrounds altogether. My father has a room the exact size as yours, with cathedral ceiling and a larger doorway opening to our dining room, and he too also has Klipsch LCR speakers. Because of the size, bipole/dipole speakers didn't work as good as a pair of direct radiating Klipsch speakers, which he mounted on the lower part of the cathedral ceiling, near the rear walls. They are angled to "hit" the seating area, and because of his receiver, they have plenty of power to create an effective surround field, yet are far enough away they don't ever draw attention to themselves. Plus they look pretty dang good up on the angled cathedral ceiling.