Integra processors good?

Congrats and enjoy

I think your salesman gave you good advice - you will be plenty happy with 5.1 especially if you can get it on the side walls instead of the back wall

If you want you can set the Integra up to bi-amp your speakers - meaning that it will split the signal into high and low then output each on a dedicated RCA. Sort of but not really an active crossover. Anyhow if you have enough amps lying around, give it a try - I am pleased with it.

Should the rear speakers be close to where we would sit or much behind us? I have room to put them a few feet back so they would be on the side wall but a few feet behind where I would sit. They are floor standing speakers so they will not be wall mounted.

We have 4 parasound amps so I figured bi-amping would be the way to go up front. Do you know if I can bi-amp the rears? I want to get a Bryston amp (I think 14b st... used) for the front mains then I thought I could bi-amp the rears. Not sure if I can do that though.

The Integra does not have a provision for bi-amping the rears. I guess if the speakers are set up that way you could just have at it - maybe vertical biamp - and see if you like it.

As far as speaker placement. There is a lot of information here on the Gon in the HT Forum. But as an overview:

The 5.1 surround format assumes a L,C & R across the front. Then two speakers on the side walls of the listening area firing across the seating area at each other. And of course the sub.

The 7.1 format adds a pair of speakers on the back wall firing across the audience towards the screen.

The only sure way to sort this out is to spend some time trying different positions. Every time you do a major change run Audyssey - it will measure the distances and adjust the delays.

I have found that the main trick is to get as much distance from your sweet seats to the surround speakers. In my case (5.1) there is no way to place the speakers on the side walls. Instead I have them on the rear wall above the seating area and about 30" behind it. Audyssey does a fine job of balancing them out. Unless you are playing material with exaggerated panning you are not particularly aware of them - like the sub they just expand the sense of presence.

For useful help in using Audyssey, you should look at the links provided here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=795421&highlight=audyssey

Kal

Sure, they make a good processor. I would say it's probably either the top or next to the top of the line in it's price range.

On a personal opinion note, though. Here is my favorite at the moment, the Marantz AV8003. I feel it sounds better than the Integra's.