I have a setup with a SuperCinemaXXL for LCR, 4 inexpensive atmos speakers in the center, and 2 HTR7000s in the rear for RSL RSR.

Am I correct in thinking I hook up the HTRs to the AVR in the rear surround, and not hook up anything to R/L surround? Will this work?

Here is a crude layout of the room:

----SuperCinema----
---- ATMOS 1,2----
---- ATMOS 3,4----
--HTR7k----HTR7k--

Hoping this works, and works well!

Hi, Gauldin

Since you will be driving one pair of surrounds, not two, I would recommend using the surround outs, not the rear surround outs, which are normally for a second pair of surrounds in a 7.1 set up, and yours is more like a 5.1 plus Atmos heights.

I drive my one pair of surrounds from the surround channels, even though they are positioned more like rear surrounds, because that's the only place I could position them in my room set up. The rear surround channels normally carry sound mixed for the second pair of surrounds plus up mixed 5.1 to 7.1.

Just my thoughts.

Happy listening!

Rick

Thank you RJohn for the thorough explanation! That makes things clear. I have been looking at 7 and 9 channel AVRs. I guess a 5 channel would be suitable, if I can find one to support 4 atmos. Which receiver do you have?

I have a Marantz SR 7010, which is 11 channels.

You would need 9 channels to support a 5.1.4 set up, 5 channels for fronts, center and surrounds, and 4 for the four height channels. I use 9 channels for my 5.4.4 Atmos speaker set up, and 2 channels for a separate Zone 2 music set up in another room. There are plenty of 9 channel receivers available that would support 5.1.4 set ups. Just be sure you choose one that is capable of supporting Atmos speaker set ups, preferably with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X firmware

Re surround channels, since I couldn't place my surrounds in the usual side surround position, I placed them near the rear corners, further back than side surrounds would normally be, and further outboard than rear surrounds would normally be, so that they are outboard of the listening positions, more like side surrounds would be positioned. Works just fine.

Have fun with your project!

Rick