Hello Gurus

Am torn between the two configs -

My budget for spkrs - $1500.
Reciever - pioneer elite 53tx
Room size - 12 x 15 ft

config 1 : 7.1
epic midi system + extra pair of qs4
Price 1379

config 2 : 5.1
vp150,ep125,m22,qs8
price 1600

Do i save 100$ and have a 7.1 system or stretch by 100$ get a 5.1 system. My best buddy has a 7.1 built around klipsch and he is hell bent on me buying the 7.1....his opinion is that the 7.1 config is good enough for the reciever i am planning to buy.

Config 2 is more powerful interms of watts/sesitivity/freq-range.

So My questions are

1. is config 1 a compromise on sound QUALITY compared to config 2
2. If i move to a much bigger place, with tv room being 20% bigger than the current, will sound from config 1 suffer?

Your answers are greatly appreciated.

Thnx
Raj