5.1 newbie - rear speaker position questions

If you are using the system predominatly for music, do not mount the speakers high...at all. Keep the position the same as the rest of the speakers, ear level. 3 to 5 feet above the listening position is the textbook answer for using dipole speakers.

Using rear speakers is ESSENTIAL for surround sound. Not just for ambience, but for soundstage depth, imaging and frontstage localization. Do not get tricked into thinking its only for echo. Thats a farfetched tale. If your rears sound horrible, its more than likely user error. Something is not correctly set.

Meridian's Trifield is great. However, its leaning more to the side of ambisonics, which is another beast in itself. Chazzbo is right; really worth the listen.

Pzuckerman has given you a very consise intro. These are the keys to get you started. A lot also has to do with processor settings too; compensating for the difference between the physical speaker distance to listening position and how it can effect the soundstage in relation to main speakers that are at a lesser or greater distance.

If you want to get surround for music right, you have guidelines that you must abide by. When you start adhering to the guidelines, you will understand why they are so important. There are many others on audiogon that listen to music (2Ch and MC) in surround sound. They hold a wealth of information. I'll email you soon!

I have a room that won't permit the proper placement of the surround speakers. I hung them 10" from the ceiling and on the 90 degree axis,this is a solution but a barely acceptable one! Getting the proper "feel" with this dosen't happen. I have an Onkyo NR 905 with Audyssey MultEX XT which helps make it liveable. Read Kam Rubinson in Sterophile Jan. 2008 he was impressed by the Audyssey.

Slightly behind(1-2 ft) rear most seating position of room and about 5-6 ft high pointed at listener.