Which Surrounds best with RTiA1's & HSU sub

[Windswell]

Help me choose and locate the left and right rear surrounds in my 5.1 system. Attached are a floor plan and photo of the 17x12x9ceiling room.

The left and right fronts (blue rectangles) are RTiA1 at ear height and angled toward seating position 2 (red number). As drawn, the right front will actually be installed through the sheet rock wall and stick out slightly into the room behind it. This allows the basement door to the left to open. The center is a CSi A4. Sub is HSU STF1, recommended and located by Dr. Hsu himself. Receiver Pioneer 819H 5.1.

The rear surrounds will probably be mostly for home theater as music is fine through RTiA1s and sub. And I haven't figured out how to expand CD's to 5.1 mode very well. Low to medium listening levels for music and movies, folk, celtic, light elder rock. We're not heavy action or horror movie people, more drama and comedy with the occasional light action movie. Music and movies with the girl friend has us at seat position 2. If alone for movies, I'm at seat 1 to be closer to the 47 inch TV.

Red rectangles are "idea 1" for L and R surrounds, putting Left at 9 feet from seat 2 and Right 5 feet. Height on wall- you tell me_________? Yellow boxes are options. R2 at waist height on an end table next to couch. R3 at ear height on a higher table but slightly blocked by the wall. L2 would be wall mounted above ear height.

RM8's or RM7's ? or Blackstone TL2's or TL3's. or VM10's. I understand that the RM8's will be a different surround effect from the TL2's or VM10's. I do have 12 year old Cambridge Ensemble3 surrounds and Mirage OMD5's to try to simulate the difference in effect. The TL3's and VM10s will stand away from the wall more than I'd like, unless there's a real good reason to go that big.

Which speakers and locations do you think would work best with the RTiA1's and CSiA4 ? Thanks in advance.

[Windswell]

I couldn't figure out the insert image url thing.

[cnh]

WELCOME TO CLUB POLK!

The best of the lot would be the new Blackstone TL3s (the highest model--I believe?). You have an AWKWARD space there. Placement of the sub behind the sofa is OK but I would add a second sub on another wall as well if possible? The space is VERY open! As for where your speakers are 'currently'....an Audyssey calibration should correct for that--you don't have 'many' options there. What you have seems fine once properly calibrated.

Enjoy!

cnh

[Windswell]

While reading about the TL3's, I started wondering about the TL3 center versus CSiA4 center. Again I have the RTiA1's, but the CSiA4 center is 7 1/8" high and 20 inches wide, compromising the shelf space under the TV. I also won't be able to see much of the cherry anyhow.

How would the TL3 center match up with the RTiA1's for movies ? Any big difference from the CSiA4?

[anilksharma]

While reading about the TL3's, I started wondering about the TL3 center versus CSiA4 center. Again I have the RTiA1's, but the CSiA4 center is 7 1/8" high and 20 inches wide, compromising the shelf space under the TV. I also won't be able to see much of the cherry anyhow.

How would the TL3 center match up with the RTiA1's for movies ? Any big difference from the CSiA4?

What did you finalize between both for center? What about the surrouds..did you also evaluate OWM3 for surrounds?

[Windswell]

I'm probably staying with the CSiA4 on advice of people here about it matching the L R fronts. I working on a redesign of the shelf system to accommodate the size of CSiA4. I haven't had a chance to try OWM3 surrounds or anything different for surrounds, but I'm leaning toward the TL3's probably without hearing them, but reading reviews of owm3 and tl3's. I don't want to mess with the look of my living room with surrounds (even subtle owm3s) on walls permanently. So I'll install the TL3s in a way that I can bring them out when I'm watching a movie, then tuck 'em away the rest of the time.