Help with HT setup in new home

[Olewen2002]

I just moved from a smaller apartment to a large house with the LR ceiling pre-wired for 5.1 surround (no speakers installed yet). I've attached an image of the room I'm working with, marking the approximate positioning of the ceiling blanks for the speaker wires, where the TV is positioned, and general room dimensions. It's an open layout, with 10' ceiling.

In an open layout like this, what's the general opinion of ceiling speakers as compared to a speaker stand approach? Do ceiling-mounted speakers help in any way, or is this room going to be easier to work with using traditional speaker stand layouts?

Also, can a hybrid floor/ceiling speaker setup provide adequate sound (using existing ear-level bookshelf front speakers & center channel, buying ceiling mounts for the rear right/left now)? Or will that create far too much contrast between ear-level front/center and rear at 10'? I was thinking about splitting up the ceiling speaker purchase over time, if it didn't completely trash the sound.

Thanks for any opinions and suggestions.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Hopefully RLA chimes in, as he's installed many systems. My take is that in-walls at or just higher than ear level are fine for surrounds, but for fronts and center, bookshelf/floorstanding is the preferred method. At 10' high, the line of sight to your ear may be a struggle. You may miss the surround effects at that height, but if that is the only option, it's definitely better than nothing. You must take into effect wiring, your wife's opinion (WAF), and room layout.

 

[AVRat]

In-room speakers really are your best option for the front sounstage, especially if you are using a TV type display closer to the floor. The sound image may be higher than your display image with the front speakers in the ceiling. If the displayed image were higher, like a projection screen, this would be less of an issue. The in-ceiling rear surrounds should be fine, even at 10'.

 

[mtrycrafts]

As buck is hoping for a chime from the real expert but, I have ceiling, 9ft, speakers attached to an intercom system for background music at such times.
I would not wish them on anyone for good HT/ music presentations.

If at all possible no ceiling mounts if a good presentation is the goal. Maybe you can set it up on stands and move it into position when needed?
From your drawings, it looks like you could have the fronts at least properly positioned.