What are the speaker placements for 7.1 HT setup?

You'll do well enough with just Dolby Prologic II, go into dolby's web site and if you have any doubt come back here.

..."Go to Dolby's web site, and they explain the various set-ups for 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and PLII.
www.dolby.com"
Teonyc

This is not bad starting advice, as a good point of reference and suggestions. However, to be true, each setup/room is different, and there's A LOT OF VARIABLES TO CONSIDER! If you don't know what you're doing, you'll be getting hodge-podge sound from all your speakers. Placment is a balance of getting a properly scaled soundtage perspective, and simultaneously getting basically "flat frequency response"(and even response) from all the speakers! Anything else will give you lackluster performance for certain!(what everyone ends up with doing it themes, themselves sadly..I know Basically, as I've been doing this for years for a living)
All the other variables will then need to be considered, like proper toe-in, "aim", and acoustics considerations.
Basically, you're better off(especially since you spent all that money on gear) haveing someone consult you for best. Otherwise, spend years learning and studying, tinkering and tweaking. Bottom line, much more info is needed to recommend for ANY ROOM/SETUP!
Telling someone to stick your speakers at such and such a distance or location in your room is all relative. Also, each speaker is different, and reacts differently in the room. It all must be considered, as the room/setup/acoustics/tweeking/etc, all add up to easily 2/3's of the performance...no joke!
You spent hard on the gear...I suggest considering spending even wiser on the more critical setup/acoustics proceduress if you want anything remotely resembling world class sound!
Yes, equip makers would love you to think that simply buying gear is the answer to world class sound...seasoned audio experts know different. And you'd be amazed at how many (guy's especially) people think they can buy some fancy gear, stick it in a room, and think they have the best sound!...they're wrong....most end up with poor sound, I garantee it, sadly.
As for your gear choices, your gear is fine. You could alwasy tinker with power sources and wires and such. But otherwise that's good stuff. However, like most, the speakers really should be chosen first, as they're the most important in the gear. You then should match gear to match! That's correct normally. But, it's all workable if need be. Good luck

Basically, it is needed to know your room dimmensions, layout, basic acoustical properties, and all the variables in the room, seating locations, etc. All this will make it easier to point out speaker options really.

Kee_tan

My comments are focused on the question of a 5.1 vs 6.1 vs 7.1 speaker system.

My recommendation is to go with a 7.1 speaker system, unless you have a physical layout that just will not support 7.1. If you cannot do 7.1, then I recommend 5.1. I do not recommend 6.1. The general layout for 7.1 speaker placement is a guide. The best implementation in your particular room can vary.

If you do decide to go 7.1, and want to maximize the 7.1 listening experience, then I further recommend you have surround processing that can generate 7.1 outputs from the various input sources available (2.0, 5.1, etc.). This is needed, in my opinion, because:

- There are no 7.1 sources available at the present time

- You do not want to simply duplicate the surround information in the side and rear channels

The two best choices for 7.1 surround processing are Dolby Pro Logic IIx (DPLIIx), which is available on a variety of receivers and PrePros, and Logic 7, which is available only on Lexicon products, some/all Harmon Kardon receivers, and I think a JBL PrePro.

Dolby Pro Logic II (DPLII), the predecessor of DPLIIx, will only generate 5.1 outputs. If you are using a 5.1 speaker system, then DPLII is fine, but if you use a 7.1 speaker system I highly recommend DPLIIx instead.

Thanks
Bruce

The point of my exercise, which has been blessed by the
numerous contributions from you fine gentlemen (of which
I'm most grateful) is the following;

I have contracted the professionals to design and build
a dedicated none commercial theater as an extension to
my existing home. And the contractors have with the aid of
variety of services provided by their networked
consultants at their disposal, constructed a semi-buried
enclosure of the dimension (in the imperial unit) 45 feet
wide, 60 feet long and with a floor that inclines towards
the front resulting in the maximum height of the enclosure at 19 feet and the minimum at 9 feet. The inclination
stretches both direction from the middle, hence leaving two flat levels at the back and in the front. The size of the
front level ground is 45 feet wide, 40 feet deep and 19
feet from ground to ceiling. The size of the rear level is
again 45 feet wide, but 6 feet in lenght and 9 feet in
height. The seating area (the inclination) measures at
14 feet in horizontal length, composing of 3 sitting rows
each accommodating 5 separately reclinable chair. The
complete SLOPE length (not horizontal) of the sitting
area is 17 feet, the height difference between the last
row and the first is about 10 feet. The sitting allevation
from the one before is about 3.3 feet when upright, 1 foot
when fully reclined. The space in between each sitting
row is about 2.8 feet when upright, 1 foot when fully
reclined.

Now the entire conclosure including ceiling and floor is
completely padded with sound proofing material. There is
nothing protruding, except the (rather cumbersom)
crt projector --barco Reality 812-- attached to a sliding
rail, lighting is purely yellow down light completely
hidden in their respective enclosure.

Back to my task at hands, above contruction is completed,
I have on loan (from dealers) few set of speakers, they
are ;

From Wilson Audio
=================
Watt/Puppy full size --4 pairs
No center speaker, the dealer advises me upon the actual
fact that I should have exactly the same speakers all
round given my current theatre design.

From Dyaudio
============
Dynaudio evidence temptation --3 pairs
Dynaudio evidence center --1 pair

From B&W
========
803D --3 pairs
HTM1D --1 pair

My paid professional services are
more than willing to accomodate me while
discharging their duty to explore ALL
possible combinations in its entirety so that
I, as the paying customer could arrive at the
point where to add or remove, to pivot or turn
will result in no gain in sonic performance but
only degradation! But they can't help me to decide
what I like, I have to make that decision my self.