Yep, you would have a 5.1 setup with surrounds slightly behind the listening area and 2 height speakers slightly forward of the listening area.

Steve at Triad is a wealth of information and he helped me with a 7.1.4 setup. There wasn't wall space for the surround back speakers, so he recommended we use IC facing backward and reflecting off the back wall. It turned out amazing.

You don't need floor speakers, but I think that you should use something in that quality class. Add a subwoofer.

If you are in the mood for running wires, wire for Atmos. I think that Atmos is a weigh point along the path to object oriented audio. I don't yet know how many physical speakers we'll need for that, but its always easier to run the wires while in the mood. 12.2 may be the ultimate at the moment, but I think that we'll back down on that count as we move toward processor based object oriented sound.

Wire for 7.4.2 now, but drywall over the ones you won't use immediately.

Consider LCR on-walls or in-walls, for WAF.

Brendon, I cheated my 5.1.4 Atmos setup a little bit, you could/should too. I have Def Tech towers and center, which you change to front in-wall or on-wall. Then I have 6 in-ceilings, 4 set up as Atmos and 2 rears. Obviously it's not to spec with Dolby, but it sounds f'ing fantastic. You could power 9 channels with a Denon 4300 and call it a day. And you get yourself some Heos too! ;)

I do a killer demo with The Wall on blu ray (newer concert version) in Atmos, chapter 2 or 3 I think.... A plane flies into the stage. The opening scene from San Andreas is kinda fun too.

i am going to go ahead and do a 7.1.4 system. I will do the center speaker an in ceiling triad LCR (because my tv will be mounted above the fireplace)- my front left and right channel will be my R300s using my Parasound amp/preamp passthrough. the rear channels will be small book shelfs from triad within the built in cabinetry The rest of the speakers will be all inceiling triad LCRs

Subwoofer will be my JL Fathom F110

Preamp will be marantz 7702

does this sound like a plan? should i just do the setup as close to this diagram as possible? to be clear the front left and right (#2) will be my R300's then #6 will be triad mini bronze book shelfs then the rest...I know the kefs and JL will not be Timbre matched but does it matter? Trying to work my 2Ch. System within this and killing two birds with one stone. (#3-#7-#5#8)will all be triad incelings. This setup is all wife approved (she doesnt care as long as it looks good and no ugly boxes :( ) then she asked if we really need surround sound! :P

Good job! Sounds good, and way to not get veto'd by the future wife :) I'm sure she'll come to appreciate it at some point. And if not, just tell her it's for the business.

Obviously we all go through a lot of gear, so much so the significant others might get a little *tired* of it (if you home office). I wish I could have recorded it, but when I put in my first projector and motorized screen in the basement, my wife said something to the effect of "ok, I get it now".

You'll love it. I'd like to get feedback if you use the Triad RotaSat's for the height channels. Like I said before, Steve Colburn at Triad is an expert in Atmos and it's definitely worth a call for layout advice.

With all that newfound knowledge, you should come over and upgrade my room.

Brendon I did 7.2.2 in my recently finished basement. Swing up for a demo and beer

The center channel is extremely important. I would rather see you go fantom than in ceiling which is never a good idea for center channel dialog. You also really need to try and timber match the front 3. Look at the big soundbar (8005?) Or T series if you can't get a real center. Or go fantom depending on seating distance and front left and right spacing requirements.

$0.02

You should really look at the Kef R200c. It's a little guy but it's an ass kicker. No issues getting 105db at the seat 12 feet away. Here is a system I setup recently.
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Phantom center sucks. I have never done it and it sound right. I'm really trying not to look at technology, I'm really debating on just putting the speaker in the mantel im building and hiding it somehow. But the problem is that looks silly, especially with a nice moulded out fireplace mantel and surround. "Ohh look at that speaker" what's wrong with a center channel like a triad LCR (that's aimed 45 degrees) to the listening area? I know it's not timbred matched but in the case of surround sound does it REALLY make a difference?

I know I'm being difficult here but I really don't want to make my family room look like technology is here. Like I said, I wanted to hide the TV but it's just to much of an investment that I really don't want to poor into.

What else sucks is having your fronts and your center at very different planes. When an object moves from one side to the other, the change in height is a distraction.

I would go with matching speakers or it will sound funny

Just get one of those Bose systems and keep it simple