Surround placement with wall close to seating

[D a v e]

My theater room is not ideal, but it's what I've got. I am needing help on where to place my surrounds, because they seem either too far away on the side walls, or too close on the rear wall. Hopefully this question isn't dumb, but I can't seem to find any advice on how much wiggle room you have with placement. I've included blueprints of my room that are for the most part pretty acurate as far as distances and size of furniture and everything. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

I have Polk LSiM 702 F/X for surrounds to be used in a 5.1 setup.
Dolby setup guide says to place rear surrounds between 110-120 degrees.
The polk guide says to use side walls for 5.1.

If I place the speakers on the side walls, one would be 12.5 feet from listening spot and the other would be 15 feet. I know the receiver can adjust for distance, but it seems to me like this is a long way to place a speaker, considering the front speakers are only 8 feet from listening position.

If I place the speakers on the rear walls, 110-120 would place them nearly on top of my seating position.

I guess my question is, can I get away with placing them on the rear wall but further apart since the 702 has the angled tweeter and mid range pointing towards the seating position? Moving the seats is not an option, moving the wall is not an option. (I built the TV wall in-between the support posts).

 

[nathan_h]

I would use the side walls. Not only is that more correct but it will also prevent your surrounds from pointing at the front of the room, which can make the surround channel output bounce off the front wall and sound like its coming from the front speakers.

The distance should not be a problem.

ps if you can exchange those speakers for some LSiM703 that would improve things too.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

I agree better speakers would make sense. But in any case, I would either put them on stands to the sides of the couch a few feet, or the side walls. The problem with the longer distances is those speakers are small and they might not like being pushed. The back wall could work, if the speakers could be mounted at 90° pointed towards the MLP.

 

[D a v e]

Thanks for the replies. I will look at side wall mounting. Changing the speakers at the moment is not an option, but when I do it wont be polk anyway. I have been very happy with my SVS subs and will probably go SVS when I have funds to change out my speakers.

 

[nathan_h]

The back wall could work, if the speakers could be mounted at 90° pointed towards the MLP.

This is very true. Important caveat.