Expanding to 9 dot 2 for DSX/PIIZ... FXi3/A4 height, mounting questions, + more? PICS

B Feelgood

My current setup is as follows:

JVC DLA-RS1
Da-Lite high power 133" screen
Yamaha RX-Z7
Onkyo TX-NR3008
Polk RTi8's
Polk CSi5
Polk FXi3
Two MFW-15 subwoofers

ROOM DIMENSIONS: 21L x 12w x8h


So I just picked up an Onkyo TX-NR3008 to replace my Yamaha RX-Z7 and I am intrigued by expanding my current rig to 9.2. Unfortunately I cannot do the "wide" speakers for DSX as my front mains are already pushed all the way out to the side walls. Therefore I am planning on doing the front "height" speakers and the rear/back surround speakers.

For the front "height" speakers I was thinking about the RTi6's. Yesterday I picked up a set of FXi A4's to add for the rear surrounds. I was thinking that since more sound comes out of the side surround speakers, should I move my current FXi3's to the back/rear wall and use the new FXi A4's for the side surround duty or are they pretty much the same speaker? I also have been reading that Dipole seems to be better for side surrounds and Bipole seems to be better for the rear/back surrounds. Is this how I should have the switches flipped on the speakers? Is there a different speaker that would be better then the RTi6 for the front "height" speakers such as the RTi A3?

As you can see in the pictures above, I currently have my FXi3 side surrounds about 2 feet above seated ear level. I want to mount the speakers on the wall as the small table/stool setup is pretty ghetto and unstable looking. To keep these speakers directly to the left/right of my ears I would have to literally mount the speakers directly connected to the ceiling which would make them 4 feet above seated ear level as shown in the pics with the green boxes. Would this be to high causing the sounds to never reach the seating position? Also, should the rear/back surrounds be mounted at the same height as the side surround speakers? How far in along the rear wall should the R/L back/rear surrounds be mounted if the wall is 12' long and seating is directly in the middle?

Lastly, how are people mounting these bookshelf speakers to the ceiling? I found these two options below. The first one says it has an adapter to be used with the keyhole mounting plate on the back of the speakers. The second one does not. How would this work? Any other suggestions for mounting the front "height" speakers to the ceiling?
http://www.amazon.com/Peerless-Unive...6157478&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/OmniMount-Stai...ref=pd_sim_e_1

Yes I know there is a BED in the middle of the room This room WAS a spare guest bedroom but I have been slowly turning it into my media/theater room. Unfortunately I won't be able to complete the transformation for a little while longer.

B Feelgood

Well, I just bought a set of RTi6's for the front "height" speakers. Anyone care to comment on the placement of the FX's and mounting of the RTi6's?

kuntasensei

I'm running 9.2 off an Onkyo 1007. I recommend dipole sides and bipole rears for the most theater-like sound. Dipole depends on the listener being located in the null between the two driver arrays, so while your listening position will likely be square within that area for the sides, you will be outside of the null for either one or both rear surrounds, so stick to bipole for those. Ideally, you want the entire rear soundstage mounted at the same height.

As far as the heights, both Dolby and Audyssey recommend direct radiators, NOT dipole/bipoles, so the RTi6 would work well for that. I'm running older RTi28s for heights and rear surrounds, and my heights are currently just mounted using the keyhole mounts, but as Audyssey and Dolby recommend angling them down toward the listener, I do plan on using some B-tech mounts that grip the speakers from the side so I don't have to screw into them.

Hit my system showcase here:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=13126
The heights in the pics are Monitor 10s which I've since swapped out for the RTi28s I was using as side surrounds, since I bought some old FXi30s for side surround duty. Guess I need to update my pics... but you get the idea.

B Feelgood

Thanks for responding. How do you like the newly added height speakers? Are you using DSX or PIIZ? How far apart should I space the fxi3's on the back wall for back/rear surround? Also, what about mounting the side and rear surround speakers 4' above ear level? The top of the speakers would literally be pressed right up against and touching the ceiling.

kuntasensei

I was using PL-IIz at first, but lately I'm using nothing but DSX. It seems to bring a fuller sound to everything, even when there aren't height effects, and works very well with video games.

The distance between the rears isn't the issue, it's the angle to your center listening position. Your side surrounds should be at 90 degrees and the rear surrounds should be at 135-150 degrees. Given how close you are to your surrounds, I'd lean closer to 150 degrees.

As far as mounting height, mine are pretty much right at the ceiling out of necessity because my side surrounds are mounted over doorways. Honestly, I would experiment with placement first and see what sounds best. Most it'll cost you is a few screws. I mounted my speakers in various locations before deciding on final placement, but then I was about to paint... so this may not be the best idea for you. But if I'm being completely honest, you're so close to that wall that I'm not sure how well any placement is going to do for you.