JohnK, regarding rear speaker placement...a sofa is against the back wall. There is floor space on either side of the sofa. Wall mounting is not an option at this time for several reasons (not the least of which is spousal approval).
regarding your 3.1 HT comment: I agree and you have hit on the nub of my questions. Is a 3.1 set-up going to give me what I'm looking for (enhanced movie watching) or should I just back off the HT idea and concentrate on a stereo system for my music listening.
thanks, jerry
Having quality front speakers and a good sub will already enhance your movie experience. If you are not intending on having surround, I would stick with a 2.1. The center will make the dialog clearer but you can get similar results if you seat at the sweet spot. One day if you decide to go 5.1, you can always get the center then.
