Thanks for the input everyone-

I agree that being below there would be MUCH better sound. The issue is partly the wiring (though moving the fronts would actually allow me to use better wire) and partly interference with furnishings... That tan chair in the corner is not permanent, and we're still not sure what'll be going on the wall to the left of the fireplace. Quite possibly a big fish tank that goes up to the window level. Or a big plant or something. Who knows.

Trust me... if there's a way that speakers can be made to fit down there, I'll get bookshelf models on stands or a thin floor standing speaker (I think either of those would look better than an onwall floating in that spot below the window, not to mention sounding better) and wire it through the (existing) holes on either lower edge of the fireplace. That, to me, would look better than those FMBs (which I hadn't noticed before). A smaller club chair in the corner would leave room for a bookshelf on stands too.

That said, this is just a secondary listening room, and if there's something that'll sound 90% good even way up top, it might look best to use the existing wiring and put it all up there. The surrounds have to be that high either way, so there's some small aesthetic benefit to matching that.

Hard to say. But I'd still love to hear the on-walls, just because if they sound good, I'll know things can only get better by using the FMBs or monitor or FS speakers.

Brian, I'm kicking myself now for forgetting to check this site in the past few days (I forgot to bookmark it). I was actually just out that far west last night. South of you, on 88, but what's another bit of driving when already that far. I was going to be picking up a pre-amp, but it turned out he wasn't able to configure it properly and get it up and running for me. So I drove all the way out past Aurora just to drop off those Bose cubes in the photos that I'm replacing. Took me all night because of the road work. I'd have gladly hopped up 47 or something. I may contact you at some point soon... if he gets it working I'm due for another long trip out there. It's worth it for the price to sound quality ratio I'd be getting for that preamp.