The OP is not trying to push hot air down from the ceiling. He is trying to move it from the heat source in the family room across the first floor to the stairs, up the stairs, and back across the house to the bedrooms. IOW, he wants to circulate the heated air throughout the house. The easier choice would be direct venting, but he is concerned about the sound levels. Because the OP does not have a forced air system with ducts, his alternatives seem limited. Can you think of another way?