Hello, I'm trying to figure out whether to use direct radiating speakers or the QS series surrounds (quadpolar?) for my rooms 5.1 setup? I drew up a rough diagram of the room below. Would appreciate any input. Thanks!

Welcome, "Wall":
In my opinion (and, I think, you'll find from most here) a diffused surround source is always superior with the one possible exception of multichannel music (though even there many such as myself think the QS-series does a great job in that case as well).

The QS series are considered by some to be the best surrounds out there, irregardless of price, specifically because they diffuse the sound so well!

Wallboy - I'm in Mark's camp. I prefer diffused sound from my side/rear speakers, but I listen mainly to home theater in my room for the sense of immersion they provide. When I do listen to multi-channel music, I find the QS8s do a very respectable job, but to be fair, I have not compared them side by side to direct speakers.

Jason

The quadpolar design simulates what you have in movie theaters where a bunch of speakers are put along the side/rear walls of the theater. Direct radiating speakers won't envelope you in the sound as intended by the engineers of the movie track.

I would also slide the Q's further up the side walls, so the rear tweeter is bouncing off the back wall behind the couch, maybe slightly in front of the couch. The way you have it, the right surround will be hindered by the hallway.

Welcome Wallboy, I'm with the others as far as the QS8's go. I've used direct radiating towers (Paradigm Monitor 9's) as a 7.1 setup with my M80's as my front l/r speakers and I much prefer the QS8's as they are more enveloping.

Just a suggestion, but is there any possibility that you're TV etc. could be placed along the 12 ft. wall and your sofa in the middle of the room? That way you could have a 7.1 setup with your rear speakers located on the wall where your right subwoofer is currently located.

I suppose I am going to throw a monkey wrench into this whole conversation and go against the grain of all thought on this subject, but I use FOUR L/R surrounds which consist of TWO QS8's mounted approx 6 ft. up on the wall with Axiom speaker brackets and TWO M22s on 36" stands(along with two QS8's for rear surround duty). I have had this configuration for a number of years even with other brands of speakers, but for someone who listens to some multi-channel music(SACD and DVD Audio) this set-up, to my ears anyway , is the ideal. It is quite amazing what you get used to, but when I experimented by removing either pair, re-balanced the volumes and listened to both music and movies, it just didn't seem the same without all four going at the same time. If you have the space(and of course the money for the extra speakers), give it a try and see what you think.

QS8s, there outstanding speakers.

+1 for QS8s, I couldn't believe the difference they made/continue to make in my room.

Wallboy,

I strongly suggest that you turn everything 90 degrees. Set up your room so that the speakers are firing into the longer dimension. Also, you want to have a good 4 to 6 feet behind your couch so that the surrounds will sound their best. I had a room about the dimensions of yours and was never quite happy with the surrounds in that setup. I turned the room the other way and put the couch near the center of the room and it made a huge difference. I have the qs8's.

- Nick