Home Theatre Installation Cost

If you are thinking about installing a home theater system you are probably wondering about the bottom line. How much will this cost? Well as with most home improvement projects the answer to this question can vary dramatically depending on what exactly you are looking for. After speaking with a Best Buy associate and perusing the pages of Consumer Reports I have tried to assemble a general idea of what you can expect to buy at three different price points:

$3,000

• A 42-inch LCD or Plasma flat screen TV

• A home-theater-in-a-box sound system. These typically include a receiver and five speakers.

• You will have to install this yourself in a space you already have live a family room or den.

$20,000

• A video projector and professional grade screen.

• A 7.1 surround-sound setup with name brand speakers (Panasoinc/Sony for example).

• A custom built dedicated theater room

• All professionally installed.

$50,000

• A 1080p high definition video projector with a CineamScope (curved) screen. The screen will also be perforated to allow sound from speakers behind the screen to float into the room

• A separate processor/receiver with separate amplifiers. 7 high grade speakers (Bose, for example) and 2 sub woofers.

• A color touchscreen remote.

• A custom built dedicated theater room with stadium seating (two levels).

• All professionally done.

Of course these are just examples and you can spend as much or as little as you wish. For example you may want to add in a bar or a popcorn machine. Perhaps you hire an acoustician to fine tune the sound. Or maybe you go the other way and save some money and purchase a smaller screen like a 32" or 36." Maybe you pass on the theater-in-a-box sound system and just hook it up to the 3 or two speaker stereo you already own. The great thing about creating your own home theater is that you get to decide.

Sources: "Home Theater System Guide," Consumerreports.org