What would you recommend for surround sound speakers?
We are building a new house, and the great room is 17 by 17. It empties back into a dining area and a kitchen for a total dimension of 34 by 17. The television and stereo speakers would go against the far wall so we can see and listen to it from anywhere in the great room, dining area or the kitchen. Our heads would be about 16 feet from the wall with our narrow recliners separated by a one foot wide table.
My wife and I agreed that the RF 82 II tower speakers, the SW-112 Subwoofer and the RC-62 II Center Speaker were good price points for speakers. My wife and I agreed that we could spend around +- $350 per surround speaker, and the local dealer discounts speakers 15-20% so up to list price of about $450. Oddly she agreed that it did not matter if I put in two or four surround sound speakers, if four would substantially make the sound directional like a movie theatre.
One catch. I can only put two speakers on the wall. Two more would need to go in the ceiling, and my wife would prefer no speakers on the wall. Despite everything that I read about the superiority of wall speakers, Dolby Atmos seems like it would work well with ceiling speakers. I know that Dolby Atmos content is years away, but I am planning for the future.
I see the following options, and am open to others:
1. Two wall and two ceiling speakers, with the wall speakers opposite our heads and the ceiling speakers behind our heads.
2. Four ceiling speakers arranged like above.
3. I try to talk my wife into spending more money per speaker but only buy two surround sound speakers.
4. Save money and go 5.1 either on the walls or ceiling (my wife's preference).
Let me know what you think and thank you in advance for your answers.