I'm trying to decide if I want to get another speaker and stand to go to 6.1? Currently, I have a Polk/Velodyne system and am extremely happy with the front 3 speakers and sub - but my rears - Polk FXi3 - bipole/dipole designed for surround sound - are only good. I don't get the "Wow" feeling that owners of QS4/8s seem to get. So the question is:
Does 6.1 make that much difference? Or even would having another speaker in the rear make the 5.1 stuff sound better (meaning does the receiver split the two surround signals to send to the rear - or does that speaker just sit quietly when watching 5.1 stuff)? If so, what type of speaker should I use for the rear? I've heard of using center channels, regular bookshelves, and surrounds... Any advice is appreciated.

People with more insight on this will ask you for room size, etc for more information about your room and so forth. In my case, I have a lot of air volume to fill, but my room front-to-back is only 12 feet, so it was pointless for me to go anything more than 5.1. I would need a deeper room, and then the debate would be on the "it is worth it" part. From what many people (not all) said, going above 5.1 in many cases is not worth the cost and config. I don't remember why for each of the cases, but many just said that they didn't notice much of an increase in the sound field sounding more "enveloping." To me, I thought that it would, but again, I am at 5.1, so I can not speak personally to it, and I am just relating my research results from about 6 months ago.

Good luck, and if you do get Axiom surrounds, you will wonder why you ever put up with your Polks for so long.

Before getting my QS8's I also had some Polk f/x di/bi-pole surrounds. I too was less than impressed.

I'd suggest getting a pair of the Axiom surrounds to replace your Polk's and stick with 5.1.

If you do decide on 6.1 go with a QS4 or QS8, any other direct radiating speaker placed directly behind you will leave you with the impression that the sound is in front of you.

"I'd suggest getting a pair of the Axiom surrounds to replace your Polk's and stick with 5.1."

I had that thought also and figured someone would suggest it. For some reason, it is psychologically distasteful to admit failure on the initial research and purchase. I have no use for a pair of surround speakers so I would have to conclude that I wasted the money spent on the Polk surrounds.

On the other hand "Upgrading to 6.1 to improve the sound" seems like a very attractive option :-) Plus it is only 1 speaker so it is half the cost....

I can't afford it this month anyway, so I'll mull it over for a while.

How big is your room?

Or, you could upgrade to 7.1, putting the Polks as rears and QS4s or QS8s as the side surrounds. You'd get better results than one QSx behind you and two Polks on the sides...

Foghorn,
I run a 6.1 system, and my current rear speaker is a crappy little JVC surround (QS4 for side surrounds). I really only notice the difference is 2 scenarios...1) when watching a 6.1 channel source, i.e. Dolby Dig EX or DTS-ES, like the Lord of the Rings, and 2) when watching Dolby Surround TV using Dolby PLII or Neo:6. (I don't use any of the modes to "mix" a 5.1 signal to produce a 6.1) But the difference really is nice!! I can't wait until I get another QS4 for the rear.

PLII and Neo:6 seems to mix some of the front center and surround info into the rear surround. The modes work best on programs with good Dolby Surround mix.

As for DVD's, there's not much out there (at least, not much that I'm interested in!!) for 6.1 channel movies, except LOTR and a few others. But that back channel does make difference when mixed well.

I think the change is noticable...but I wouldn't rush into it just yet. As I've told many friends...you'll be happier with a good 5.1 system than a bad or mediocre 6.1 system.

I like that idea Engine Joe....

"How big is your room?"

It is a very acoustically unideal loft that is 15' X 30' and is open over a rail on 2 sides - and we only use 1/2 of it (about 15' X 15') for the home theater - and to make matters worse, we have the TV in the corner because we really like the view out the windows at the one closed end. So the functional area is essentially a 15' square that is open on 3 sides with a TV in the corner, windows on the wall to the right of the TV, loft rail and open space to the left of the TV and seating on the other two sides of the square. The surround speakers are in the corners (cheated a little further back) and the 6th speaker would go diagonally across the square on the opposite side of the room from the TV if I were to add it. I'm technologically challenged so I can't offer up a good diagram on here like many have done - so I hope this helps...

Lemme guess... you live in San Francisco, don't you?

San Antonio. Why?

Oh well. Never mind... Just going by the name and the type of place. Lofts are pretty common 'round these parts.