u/adobado

Hi all,

I recently moved into a new house with existing Polk Audio in-ceiling speakers and would appreciate some advice for a first time home theater setup.

Details:

• Living room: Approximately 12' × 15'
• TV: 65" LG OLED C3 (OLED65C3)
• In-ceiling speakers: Four PolkAudio speakers in the living room, arranged in two pairs. The front pair is approximately 32" from the TV wall, and the rear pair is near the couch, approximately 32" from the back wall. The speakers are 86" apart on the horizontal.
• Patio speakers: Two additional PolkAudio in-ceiling speakers on the covered patio, just outside the living room.
• Wiring: All ceiling speaker wires appear to terminate at a floor outlet behind the TV location.

What I’m hoping to accomplish:

Using the ceiling speakers: Can the four existing in-ceiling speakers be used effectively for surround sound or Dolby Atmos? Given their positions, would it make sense to configure them as front and rear height/Atmos speakers, or is there a better approach?

Additional speakers: What front left/right and center speakers would you recommend adding? I assume I’ll also want a subwoofer.

Receiver recommendation: What AV receiver would you recommend for this room? Ideally, I’d like something that supports the existing 4 living room ceiling speakers, an additional recommended living room speakers, an Apple TV and Switch, works well with the LG OLED. Would the two outdoor patio speakers be connected as a separate zone, or would they require a separate receiver?

If you were setting this up from scratch with these existing ceiling speakers, what configuration would you recommend for the best balance of sound quality, simplicity, and value?

I’m not committed to any particular receiver or speaker brand. I’d prefer a reasonably low-profile setup that doesn’t require huge floor-standing speakers, but I’m happy to invest in good equipment if it makes a meaningful difference.

Thanks for any advice!