Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions 5.1 or 7.1 as well as surround placement

If you all don't mind another post from me:

As I am starting down a speaker upgrade, I realized I should maybe step back and offer some consideration.

I was planning to maintain a 5.1 versus a 7.1 (my AVR is 7.1 capable) due to the room it will be in.

The viewing area is largely against a back wall (There are some chairs to each side about midway between the backwall and display wall). The distance viewing wall to display wall is 15.5'. There is no side wall on one side (there is a counter that separates another room). The other side wall is largely windows.

Doesn;t seem conducive to anything other than a 5.1 with the surrounds above and to the sides on the back (viewing) wall.

Thoughts?