So with the advent of my new house, I bought a 32" LCD.  Lovely little TV - it will soon go to the bedroom for a bigger one in the main room.  Long story short - my old receiver was completely analog and I quickly realized I needed to upgrade.

I purchased a nice mid-range (for me) Yamaha receiver (HTR-6160...same thing as an RX-V663)...so can put up to a 7.2 system in the main room.  Due to the size and my wife (common theme I see!) - I am looking more along the lines of a 5.1 setup.

We listened to the Quintet III speakers at Best Buy along with a SUB-10, both seemed very nice and the equal or good upgrade to my older Bose Acoustimass-3 system (yes...3).  So I start researching and find the RSX-4 and 5 speakers, the RW-10d...and assorted other goodies.  To clarify, it has been a LONG time since I have read/researched any AV product at all.

So I have three questions!  This will be for movie/TV watching as well as Music.  Probably more music...but just about equal.

1. I am on a budget of sorts, but want good sound.  Both the subs above are within my budget...was going to try and do a 5.1 setup for around $800-1200.  Am I looking at the right stuff?  Keep in mind the WIFE factor means I need to keep them small-ish...yet cool looking and good sounding.  Easy, eh?

2. Can I mix and match in-ceiling back-surround with the RSX size for front speakers?  Do I even WANT to go that route?  It would be purely for aesthetics and I could talk my wife out of that if it does not work out.

3. Placement.  Below is my living room with the couch as the assumed "focal point".  Assuming a 5.1 setup, let's leave out the sub and center (easy).  I can get away with in-ceiling, wall-mounted, and if I need to choose something else - the front CAN be on the floor...but beware my Media cabinet's side-swinging doors. (picture attached).  To clarify the below:

1-3-5-6 are all in-ceiling spots.

2-4 are alternate "wall" placements for 1 and 3

7-8 are on top of my 6' tall media cabinet (it would place them 5' apart)

9-0 are potential floor spots.

I just need any advice anyone can offer in terms of what I should be looking at...or if I am on the right track. 

Hello, and welcome to the Klipsch forum,

First some questions back to you.(1) Have you researched price of in-ceiling/wall mounted Klipsch speakers? If the answer is no, then I suggest that, as a major first consideration given your budget. A question in the same vein would be how many in-ceilings/wall mount total speakers towards a 5.1 system would you be able to do. Are you doing the install yourself, or would you be paying for installation? It falls under a more custom installation than otherwise, whether doing yourself or paying for custom work over and above a basic install. If in ceiling is eliminated in part or in total economically speaking, then we can proceed to other considerations, such as pro vs. con of in-ceiling/wall mounted. One thing is certain, once placed and the work done, you might have to live with the costs and consequences of not being readily able to exceed limitations your decision has placed upon you.

Thanks!

http://www.klipsch.com/products/details/r-5650-s.aspx

http://www.klipsch.com/products/lists/reference-in-ceiling.aspx

I actually have looked at pricing of various in-ceiling speakers versus the Reference line, versus the good ole' Best Buy Quintet III boxed set.  Cannot say any of them have really turned me off price-wise.

I am worried more about sound and proper setup, the wife is worried more about big speakers hanging from the upper corners of her main room - and if we can get 1 out of 2 solved by spending more money - so be it.  Not a huge stickler on the budget thing - I would rather spend a bit more and get it right.

THAT being said - I am not overly a fan of the in-ceiling idea...that was her bright idea.  I can run the cabling, do the install, etc etc - none of that is an issue either way.  My original thought was to get RSX-4 speakers for the back surrounds and wall-mount them close to the ceiling.   Use RSX-4 or RSX-5 speakers for the front as well and either place them atop the 6' Media cabinet about 5' apart - OR place them on the floor next to the cabinet (not ideal, I have read).

OR I could actually put them IN the cabinet with the TV and Receiver - but would have to place them as forward as possible so the sound does not "tunnel" out of the Media Cab.

However - I didn't know what sort of mixing and matching I could possibly do, or if there was actually a good speaker choice to place on the floor next to the cabinet.  My only restriction would be the speaker height - as the cabinet doors swing out.

I definitely want to do it right the first time, and would prefer to be able to tell the wife "sorry babe, in-ceiling is a bad idea for good sound".  While that may not be 100% true, it would be my preference to stay away from in-wall and in-ceiling.  Too hard to upgrade in a few years!   

And thanks! 

OK then, just for argument's sake, and forgetting momentarily in-wall,etc., please have a look at this page below for idea and price ranges on dedicated systems within your budget/room size considerations, allowing for the spirit of "do it right the first time".

http://www.klipsch.com/default.aspx

*Under Home Theater go to Recommended and Bookshelf systems!

A big problem from what I can understand is lack of good locations for your FRONT speakers.  If you put the L&R on top of the cabinet, they are too close together and too high. Put them on the floor, and they're still too close together and will suffer even more due to floor reflection and absorption if the floor is carpeted.  One goal is to have your front three speakers at nearly the same height or when a sound pans across the front it will "jump" up and down as it moves from a low (or high) left to the center and then to the low (or high) right speaker.  This is especially a concern with the L& R placed close together.  It's very unsatisfying. 

As for surround spots, I usually shy away from in ceiling models, but in the case of your room, I prefer spots 1&3 over 2&4. 

RSX-4 will sound quite a bit better than Quintet.  You migh also look at the brand new Icon XB-10, XL-12 adn XL-23.  They are more $ and better sounding/looking.  See them on the product pages starting here:  http://www.klipsch.com/search/default.aspx?search=icon+xb+10

*You should now have read **BobG's post above, which you need to keep in mind. I am going on without you now as briefly/abstractly as I can, because I may have time constraints, so whenever I can I will reply, if you direct to me. There are more than enough very capable forum members here to bounce your ideas off of.

You may now also, have looked to the systems I mentioned to  review, as to their features price etc. You have asked several questions. Let us start with the rears/surround. If not made for floorstanding but bookshelf, I like your idea as to placement near ceiling on wall mountings, exact location, I feel you have good idea, but if in corners, leave room for speaker's ability to be moved adjusted. If floorstanding rears then set on floor, with flexibility of position. Same thing with suggested speaker stands. You will have ability to tweak in these cases better over in-wall, etc.

To the front, looking at your room size, I see no reason that a floorstanding speaker cannot be placed on either side of ent. cabinet, doors fully opened along with sub, as you do not want fronts too close to center anyway and they can be towed in or out slightly for placement. If floorstanding then you should consider having center near same level (as was mentioned) by placing center inside cabinet. Looks big enough to me, maybe wrong. If you go the small speaker route as first suggested as an option, you have the ability you have said of mounting speakers for rears, so fronts can apply in the same way on wall mountings, keeping in mind the ability to adjust without hitting wall. In which case then you could as a resort(not ideal) place speaker center on top, skewed toward sofa/focal point ears/ear level when sitting,etc. Another, is center in cabinet and speakers on sides at same level on stands. Best is floorstanding, front/rears, center, fronts at ear level to begin with, but sometimes compromise, with eyes/ears to future. 

Just remember you have options and I like the 5's better than the 4's, and the speakers *BobG provided links to is better,bigger still. Think about it, discuss with forum, discuss with wife, ask questions. HT is basically the same as music as per sitting ear level settings of physical speakers. Hope any helps! Remember you have to live with your decisions, when all is weighed.