Here is what my current 5.1 setup looks like. The ceiling has a step in it that runs straight down the middle of the room from front to back, with about a foot difference between the two heights. (Lower half is about 8 feet tall, higher is closer to 9). I'd like to take this to a 5.1.2 by adding some sort of height channel, but it's not immediately clear to me what the best way to do this would be. If this works out I might upgrade to 5.1.4 in the future but I would also need to purchase a new AVR so for now I'm sticking with the *.*.2.

A few things:

• This is the only place in my home where this setup even remotely works, so no way to move things to either side of the step so that ceiling is the same height. Have to work around it.

• I'm renting so installing in-ceiling speakers is not possible

That being said these are the few options I've come up with:

• Option A - Speakers mounted to the ceiling
  First idea is just to mount them to the ceiling anyway, somewhere from halfway to 2/3rds of the way back like this. This of course means the speakers will be at different heights.
  Pros: Having the speakers near the top center of the room is probably the best acoustically for creating a 3-dimensional sound space
  Cons: Speakers are at different heights; harder to install

• Option B - Speakers mounted to the wall
  Another option is to mount the speakers to the wall, angled down towards the listener, like this, or even better, on the back wall like this.
  Pros: Speakers are at the same height; easier to install and route wires; easier to go to 5.1.4 in the future by just adding two more to the other wall
  Cons: Looks a bit weird having one of them just hanging off the wall instead of being tucked up in the corner - especially on the back wall where they're placed at a steeper angle; having them all the way at the front or back might not sound as good as having them centered

• Option C - Upfiring speakers
  I don't want to do this

Thoughts? I'm leaning towards option B on the back wall right above the couch, but I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are. Maybe the different heights aren't as big of a deal as I'm imaging it would be, or maybe its even worse. Maybe there's another option I'm not thinking of. Thanks!