Hi Zimm,

Thanks for your feedback. Look, I'm not saying that in-ceiling surround speakers can't work. Of course they can; in fact, part of the reason for the QS8's excellent delivery of an enveloping surround sound field is the top-firing woofer and the off-axis dispersion of the two tweeters--a good chunk of the radiated energy from those drivers is reflected from the ceiling in a side- or rear-wall mounted QS8. It's also why QS8s installed about three to five feet above ear level can create a very convincing sense of height on helicopter flyover effects.

However, I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to movie and music playback and the way our hearing system operates. If ceiling-mounted surrounds worked well, they'd be used in Dolby Digital and THX movie theaters--and they aren't. I understand if there's no other solution than using some type of ceiling mount, but I always advise side and rear-wall mounting if at all possible.

Cheers,

Alan

Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)