nice setup grunt, do you think the added costs for upgrading to 10.1/11.1 is worth it for the added sound effects? Also I was thinking the same thing about using qs8's or qs4's for the heights even though audyssey recommends using direct firing speakers. I also noticed your heights were positioned to the top left-side of the room as opposed to the top of the screen. Did it not matter because of the qs8's or was their other reasons for doing so?
First, unless you need a new receiver now I would wait until a reasonably
priced one ($2,000 preferably closer to $1,500 for me) becomes available
that can do both height and wide channels at the same time as both are IMO
worth having assuming your room can handle their placement. However, I
wouldn't run out an buy a new receiver just to have the height/wide
capability unless you have some room issues you think it might help with.
I think QS4s are more than enough for height speakers as the only thing
coming out of them is ambient sound. The wide speakers need to be a little
more robust and also closely timber matched to the mains because they share
a lot of audio information with them. M22s work fine as wide speakers for
the M80s but I suspect M2s would also. Assuming I order a pair of M2s as
rears I will test that theory out.
My height speakers are on the side walls because that is the angle suggested
by DSX. I know the pictures usually show them above at the outside edge of
the screen but unless you have a huge screen and sit really close there's no
way you can get them at the suggested angle off center. I think Audyssey
also shows them on the front wall because the recommend only using direct
radiating speakers so you would want them pointed at the seating.
