Since you lack side surrounds, you want your front Left/Right to create a wider soundstage. Toe them in slightly (angle them toward the center seat) so that the sound crosses slightly behind the listening position. This helps trick the brain into hearing a wider arc.
Upgrade your sound, simplify your space, and look up. Your next movie night just got a ceiling. 3.1.2 dolby atmos
However, the compromises are clear. Without dedicated surround speakers (the ".1" in 5.1), sound effects designed to pan laterally behind the listener—such as a car passing from front left to rear right—will collapse unnaturally. The system relies on the front speakers to simulate rear information, which breaks the illusion of a full 360-degree bubble. Furthermore, the "sweet spot" for the .2 height channels is narrow; listeners sitting far off-axis may lose the overhead effect entirely. Since you lack side surrounds, you want your
When you watch Mad Max: Fury Road , the cars don't just drive past the screen; they rev up behind the camera. In a 5.1.2 system, that engine roar moves from Front Left -> Side Left -> Rear Left. In a 3.1.2 system, that engine roar moves from Front Left -> Silence -> Phantom Rear. It can feel like the sound disappears into a void behind your head. Upgrade your sound, simplify your space, and look up
If using in-ceiling speakers, place them slightly in front of the listening position.