Small Room Surround Help

[Taylor0861]

I'm setting up a home theater in a very small room (8.5WX11.5LX10H) with a 60" plasma on one short end and seating approximately 8 feet away from the front and 2 feet away from the back wall. I'm planning on acoustic treatments, and understand that 7.1 is out of the question due to the small space, but I need help deciding on surrounds.

I have a Klipsch Icon WB-14/WC-24 front trio and want to add either another set of the bookshelf WB-14's as surrounds or spend a little more and get a set of Klipsch WS-24 surrounds. I'm wondering if the WS-24's will help since they have "Wide Dispersion Surround technology (WDST)" that supposedly provides a "high dispersion pattern for sonic detail and optimum performance within any configuration."

In small rooms, will technology like the WDST help, or should I just stick with the direct-fire WB-14s? Will one or the other be better for movies or music since I plan to use the room for both? Thanks in advance.

 

[agarwalro]

That room may be too small even for 5.1 and the surrounds will interfere with sound from main speakers being reflected off the back wall. IMO, forget the marketing mumbo jumbo and try to get a balanced 3.1 or 3.2 setup with carefully selected and placed treatments.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I disagree - you should go with 5.1.
Klipsch WS-24 Icon-W could be a good choice if placed correctly and provide additional surround reflections from side walls, but the only decent price I could find for them is on newegg and they are out of stock
Newegg.com - Klipsch WS-24 Icon-W Series Cabernet Surround Speaker

Since Klipsch WB-14 is still significantly cheaper I think it make sense to use them and use the saved buck to get better sub.
Rythmic FV12 would do very good in your small room.

Keep in mind since - you need to make sure to use pretty high crossover settings - 90-100hz and probably good idea to place the sub in the front of room

 

[Taylor0861]

I ended up finding a pair of used WS-24's online last night, so I went with those. Still more expensive than a new pair of the WB's, but probably worth it.

I forgot to mention in the first post that I already have a Definitive Technology Supercube II as a sub.

Now its on to acoustic treatments! The plan is to go DIY, so I will be searching the forum for advice there. Thanks for the input.