Adding speakers to a 5.1 system

[rlr]

I'm looking for a way to add two more speakers to a 5.1 surround sound system. Where I have the system set up right now there is no way to get the rear channel speakers behind the main seating. Unless they are directy overhead or behind the couch.
Would it be possible to run the rear speakers through a impedence matching distribution box, one source in and two out, and add two spekears the rear channels? Adding two more speakers that would be right at ear level behind the couch in this case. Then add volume controls to the new speakers to balance them with the other rear channel speakers. They would play the same program but could be turned down just to give a presence of something behind you with out over powering the other rear channel speakers.
Right now the rear channel speakers are in front of the main seating and off to the sides. It sounds OK but could be better.
I have found impedence matching distribution boxes with volume controls but they all have more options than I think I would need. And are more $$$ than I want to spend.
I need one source in, out to two pairs of speakers and volume controls.
Any ideas? Thanks.

[johnnyrichards]

In a 5.1 set-up, the rears are meanto be to the side and up a foot or so from the listening position.
If you are able to do that, do you still need to go through all the hassle?

Can you hang them from the ceiling?

[mikebw]

It sounds like you want to add 'rear channel' speakers, for which there is no provision in a 5.1 setup.

If that is what you want to do however, then I would say yes, if you did get the correct impedance setup with additional speakers then you could expand the Left and Right Rear surrounds with an additional pair and place them anywhere you want.
Not sure the best way to do that though. Might be cheaper to rewire the speakers internally to find the correct total impedance.
Or, you could also just add a separate stereo amplifier, connect the pre-amp output signal for the rear surround channels from your receiver to this separate amp, then power them that way.

> In a 5.1 set-up, the rears are meanto be to
> the side and up a foot or so from the
> listening position.
> If you are able to do that, do you still
> need to go through all the hassle?

> Can you hang them from the ceiling?

[rlr]

The set-up diagram shows the optimum speaker locations to the back of the seating and the same distance away as the front speakers.
They are currently mounted on the ceiling and a couple feet ahead of the seating, off to the sides. The room is an odd shape with the couch setting half way back in an alcove with a wall at either end. You can just see the back (side?) speakers past the corners when sitting down, so I'm sure there is a lot of reflect off the wall before it gets to me. That's why I wanted to try this but maybe it's not practical.

> In a 5.1 set-up, the rears are meanto be to
> the side and up a foot or so from the
> listening position.
> If you are able to do that, do you still
> need to go through all the hassle?

> Can you hang them from the ceiling?