Excellent summary, Sanjay. I originally set up a 6.1 speaker system in an 11'x19' space with matching dipoles on all three surrounds, but I've currently got a 7.1 speaker system with dipoles on the surround backs and bookshelf speakers on the side surrounds - which I definitely prefer. In both cases, the listening position was well off the back wall, as Sanjay points out is important to making it really work. The rear surrounds do make a difference. If your layout is conducive to rear surrounds, it would be worthwhile - and with the amp channels and speaker wiring already in place (which I'm assuming is the case since you mentioned that the installer wired it up for 10.1), the bulk of the work is already done.

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