If you have a Yamaha RX-V1400 or 2400 with YPAO, the auto cal includes several things: speaker wiring check, individual speaker volume level and characterization of each as "large" or "small", room size, distance to speaker (aka time arrival), and parametric equalization of frequency response.
The level and time arrival adjustments can compensate to a degree for one speaker being further away than another. However they can't fully compensate for a surround speaker at a vastly different angle. IOW if the speaker is behind you at 140 degrees from straight ahead, it will still sound like it's behind you, not beside you.
That said the QS8 throws a nice wide pattern and after a while many people adjust to whatever speaker placement they have.
However in my back-to-back testing, 90 degrees (surround to left and right of viewing position) was a lot better than having them significantly further back. But maybe I'd adjust in time to a more rearward placement.
The great thing is Axiom makes QSS stands for the QS8s, so you usually have the option of floor mounting them in a more ideal location. There are even flat, under-carpet speaker wires that may facilitate this placement. You can always try your current surround position and if it doesn't work for you, reposition them.
