If you are only 3’ from your listening position, there will be very little difference from your current listening configuration as the VRXs should provide a good surround field with that small of distance behind you. In my own experience, I've found that a good set of surrounds in a 5.1 configuration will do the job for most setups unless you have 8 feet or more behind the listening area, any less than that won't open up the rear surround field much, if any.
If you're planning on upgrading to BD or HD-DVD sometime soon, maybe then the 7.1 discrete soundtracks will make a difference, but I'd give it a few years until there are several titles offering Dolby TrueHD and/or DTS-HD along with the receivers and players fully compatible w/these formats before considering this. Another set of VRXs would be ideal for the surround back channels, but any of the bookshelfs from the CR series (55, 57, 65 or 67) would also work just fine and can be had pretty cheap on eBay, AudiogoN or sellers unloading their old stock of these. From a mounting perspective, I'd perform some testing before deciding on a location. Based on the listening environment, you may want to spread them out 8-10' or keep them a bit closer around 5-6'. Listening tests w/some 6.1 soundtracks should help you decide if/when you go this route... -TD
