7.1 speaker placement

Looks like this article doesn't recommend 7.1 in your situation. Where are your current DS7's positioned, and what's the rest of your system?

Prior to retiring, I sold and supervised install of HT systems in new and existing construction. Only used 5.1 when seating was against back wall. Occasionally, to satisfy a guy's wife that didn't want to see speakers, I would position rears low behind the seating aimed up the back wall toward the ceiling. Actually sounds OK. Never liked back wall mounting, as I thought side wall or ceiling seem to sound better.

Current DS7's are in the typical suggested surround position - on the side walls aligned with the rear seating and between 2-3 feet above ear level.

I think that's two votes for ceiling -if anything.

Craig

System is an a Anthem d2v driving a Theta Digital Dreadnaught II, B&W N803's, HTM1 center, and Velodyne DD12 sub.

There is so little value to rear surrounds that I wouldn't, and in fact, don't bother. My rear speakers are 9' behind the main listening area and driven by very good amplifiers that I rarely power up. I also removed the center channel, so I usually run a pair of mains, a pair of surrounds, and a pair of subs. That's with the Oppo BDP-105 that I use for music and HT. The Sony XA5400ES and vinyl are stereo without subs.

db

I agree with tls49 and Dbphd. 7.1 should be used in large rooms, since this is the main reason it was developed. In Floyd Toole's book 'Sound Reproduction' it is mentionned that 'a large number of channels are not necessary to provide excellent facsimiles of enveloping sound fields'. The size of your room does not require the 7.1 setup IMHO. Over and above this, there is so little surround information available (if any), that it is not worth putting a lot of money on surround setup.

Better off putting your money on the quality of your front channel gear, since these are on 100% of the time. Surround effects are on 10-20% of film viewing time at best. I have a similar sized room and using only 4 speakers (no sub, film no center channel) and this system rocks and is very coherent. Your Anthem processor should provide the flexibility to use a 4.0 (my system) or 5.1 setup.