Hi, I just ordered a H/K 525 and I want to take advantage of it's 7.1 capability. Right now I am running an Axiom 5.1 setup consisting of a VP150 center, M22 fronts, and QS4 rears. I've never really experienced a 7.1 system, so I don't know the "proper" way it should be setup.

My options are:
1. Keep the QS4's in the back, and add another pair of QS4's to the sides

2. Keep the QS4's in the back, and add a pair of M2's to the sides

3. Move the QS4's to the sides and add a pair of M2's to the rear.

Suggetions? Also...I'm guessing M2s will match up the best with my M22s, anyone think going with M3's would be a better choice? Thanks for any suggestions you can give me!

Chad

I think you're a bit confused about these extra two channels.

The two surround channels in a 5.1 setup are supposed to be directly to the side of you. It's not until you get into 6.1 and 7.1 setups that a speaker is intended to be in the rear. With that in mind, you have two options (more depending on whether or not you'd consider replacing speakers I suppose).

1) Add two direct (both M22 and M2 would be great for this) speakers to the rear and move the QS4's up the side where they were intended to be.

2) Add a second set of QS4's for the rear.

Which you do is entirely up to you. In a 7.1 setup, I like the idea of direct speakers. Direct speakers tend to have better positioning while bi/di/quad pole speakers tend to create a more engrossing field.

I tend to think directs in the back and bi/di/quad's at the side is a best of both worlds scenario, but I didn't order a second set of QS8's to compare the M22's that are in the rear now to.

Another question. If you mount your side speakers 7 feet up, should you tilt them down towards the listening position, or should you align them facing straight? In my room, there is only about three feet of clearance on each side of the couch, so it seems like the side speakers should be pointing down.

Straight out. They're intended to fill the room with ambiant sound.