thanks for the replies. Helpful stuff to think about.

Given the timing, I'll probably not be able to build in the back boxes. Insulation is going in today, and the drywall is coming next week while I'm out of town. I think I'd have to delay the builder to put in something else.

I guess I was surprised when I saw how they laid out the surround system. I was expecting the fronts and center to be wired for the wall and the rears to be wired for the ceiling. They wired the center as expected, but they put the other four in the ceiling. The space where the TV will be hung is in a set back area, so the builder speculated that the sound guys thought acoustics would be better by having the fronts out beyond the setback. He's going to verify that with them before putting in the insulation and drywall.

As I've never run a 7.1 setup, I don't know much about the placement of 4 surround speakers. With two of the ceiling speakers in front of the viewing location and two behind, can those two fronts be used as part of a surround array? If not, I'll definitely go with a 5.1 setup. The only concern with wires or clean look is not having wires to the rear. Everything else is just bonus.

Oh, and definitely no offense in saying I should consider matching speakers. I was just given those B&W's some years ago, and they've always been nicer pieces than what I could afford on my own. If I get a new set, I'd definitely be interested in a matching (there's another room I can use those speakers in). It will just mean I'll be VERY interested in "bang for the buck" setup.

I was reading some interesting reviews on Paradigm's ceiling speakers. Anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks!