I'm looking to build my home theater, and the way that my room is laid out, I don't have a back wall (it leads down stairs.) Because of this, I don't have the true option of putting on-wall satellites for the surrounds. My question is this: Will I get as good a sound from in-ceiling satellites?
No.
Are you talking about SURROUND speakers (which could/should be to the side of the listener) or REAR speakers?
If your installation and budget allow, I'd hang the QS8's from the ceiling using the ceiling bracket Axiom sells.
Yep...for 5.1 you would have "side" surrounds, and for 7.1 you have "side" AND "rear" surrounds. The Q's can be ceiling mounted with ceiling bracket and angled/pivoted. You want the surround affects crossing the room, not aiming downward unless you don't have an option.
That's good to know. I'm still trying to decide between a 5.1 or a 7.1 setup. But, I didn't realize you could hang them from the ceiling, so that is very helpful information.
A lot depends on your room, of course, but I didn't get the expected level of delight by going from 5.1 to 7.1. The QS surrounds are so good and so immersive that 5.1 can really be pretty darn satisfying. Do you have a place for them to the sides and slightly behind the listening position?
Randy found a DIY solution he liked. Axiom's bracket looks pretty great to me, although it's a little spendy.
http://www.axiomaudio.com/full-metal-ceiling-bracket
Happy Birthday Tom....yep in version 1 of the Plex I used a DIY method for mounting my rear speakers to the ceiling.... Since version 2 happened over a year ago, I know Nick I need to do pictures, I mounted all 4 of them around the room using this...
http://www.axiomaudio.com/full-metal-bracket
Don't take this the wrong way, but I simply can't stand ceiling speakers in a home theater environment. I've heard some really expensive ones and some mediocre ones. No matter how good the sound quality was, the position was always so distracting that it ruined the experience for me. It's just not a natural placement and the brain picks up on that.
That's not taken the wrong way at all. If I'm going to invest the time and money into a killer system, then I want to make sure I'm spending it wisely.
Unfortunately, I don't think, with the placement of the seating, there will be a way to put the speakers to the side of the listening position. I think I can get them mounted at an angled position behind and to the side, which might be for the best. Once I get the room completely mapped out, I'll see if I can put a schematic up here to get some more opinions on it.
Behind and to the side would be preferable to ceiling. Proper placement angles even allow for 20 degrees behind. If you still can't do 20 degrees, I'd personally still prefer more angle to the rear over the ceiling.
Someone will be along shortly to twist up the phrase "to the rear".
I'd personally still prefer more angle to the rear
"To the rear" by itself is only mildly funny. To take the WHOLE quote out of context is more better.
Someone will be along shortly to twist up the phrase "to the rear".
When it comes to all things rear, Mark is your man.
Well, really, I'm known more for boobie jokes.
But it's all equally infantile, right Doc?