Yamaha owners: Rear surrounds or presence?

[Jacksmyname]

Hi all. I'm building a new house, and while it won't be ready for about 7 months or so, I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row.
It's in Florida, and typical of Florida construction: an open floorplan, with a "great room" that has a vaulted ceiling and is open to the rest of the main space (dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook).
I have the Yamaha RX-V2700, and have a few options for speakers.
I was planning on 4 ceiling mounted sats for surrounds and rear surrounds. I can also wall mount the 2 rear surrounds and ceiling mount the 2 surrounds.
Or I can wall mount the 2 surrounds and go with the 2 front presence speakers. The wall mounted sats, be they surrounds or rear surrounds, would be 4-5 feet behind my seating position and about 8 feet high. I know if I use them as surrounds as opposed to rear surrounds, that they'd be further back than is usually recommended. I'm not too concerned about this because, as you all know, the receiver provides adjustments for each individual speaker.
So, what would you do and why?
Also, I'm 50/50 with music and movie soundtracks.
Thanks!
Jack

 

[Nomo]

It's doubtful you'll get a definitive answer on the presence vs rear surround dilemma. Everyone has their own opinions. Personally I prefer the rear surrounds.
Seeing as you have the option, and assuming money is no object , why not wire for both? The Yamahas allow internal switching between the two. No wire swapping required.

 

[Jacksmyname]

It's doubtful you'll get a definitive answer on the presence vs rear surround dilemma. Everyone has their own opinions. Personally I prefer the rear surrounds.
Seeing as you have the option, and assuming money is no object , why not wire for both? The Yamahas allow internal switching between the two. No wire swapping required.

That's probably what I'll do, but was wondering if the presence speakers really add anything.

Thanks Nomo.

 

[mnnc]

When doing research/auditioning for my 2500 a couple years ago I read more than one review concerning rear surround vs presence. The choice leaned towards presence which created a larger soundstage concerning on-screen dialogue. Makes sense to me as the rear surrounds are only matrixing the surround tracks with just a bit more delay. I could see them being useful in a quite large theater with rows of seating but other than that...I'm not convinced. I don't own the 2500 anymore however, I could wire all the speakes in and make a choice as to which ones to utilize. In other words I could choose between presence or rear surround but not both( which would be 9.1) Your recvr should allow you to do the same and then you choose upon listening preference.

 

[abboudc]

If you're ceiling mounting them, go rear surround. If you are wall mounting the fronts, and can mount the presence speakers significantly above/below the main fronts, i'd go presence.

 

[Jacksmyname]

When doing research/auditioning for my 2500 a couple years ago I read more than one review concerning rear surround vs presence. The choice leaned towards presence which created a larger soundstage concerning on-screen dialogue. Makes sense to me as the rear surrounds are only matrixing the surround tracks with just a bit more delay. I could see them being useful in a quite large theater with rows of seating but other than that...I'm not convinced. I don't own the 2500 anymore however, I could wire all the speakes in and make a choice as to which ones to utilize. In other words I could choose between presence or rear surround but not both( which would be 9.1) Your recvr should allow you to do the same and then you choose upon listening preference.

Yep, I'm pretty sure I'll do both. It would be nice if Yamaha could design a receiver that would at least have a presence speakers signal available for pre-out that was active even with rear surrounds activated.
Thanks mnnc.

 

[Jacksmyname]

If you're ceiling mounting them, go rear surround. If you are wall mounting the fronts, and can mount the presence speakers significantly above/below the main fronts, i'd go presence.

Yep, I can wall mount the presence speakers high enough above my mains.
Thanks abboudc.