Surround speaker placement height

I prefer surrounds higher (6 feet up) but it is largely preference - it makes concerts sound very real as that is usually where rear sounds come from (above you, from the side and behind in the stadium or hall).

Ideally they should all be at equal height with the mains and center - giving the optimum perfect sound while seated. But I think this ideal configuration requires an enormous room - or else only one listener gets the right sound field. I suspect that dipoles mounted on side walls are the best option in a small HT (I don't have dipoles).

So I have also placed my L and R surround well back (almost in the proper place for rears) and consequently I have them directed aggresively outwards to reflect sound off the side walls to the seated listeners - this is far from ideal (in correct) but I really don't like speakers in the middle of the room pointed right at your ears at the listening position (it really limits the sweetspot to ONE person in the middle of the couch and anyone on the side just gets too much of earful on one side - overdone surround and it becomes distracting, IMHO!!).

Take a look at my setup on the virtual system - far far from ideal but I find it acceptable and most WAF friendly.

I've had them in all three position and all work fine. Install however makes her happy and enjoy.