Home theater install costs?

Question

I'm planning on having a home theater installed in my home.

Room is roughly 15x15 in a house that is over 100yrs old.

Can someone provide me with some insight as to how pricing is generally structured?

.....What are average labor/install costs?

.....Will my equipment be more expensive if I buy it from the installing company?

I didn't really have a budget in mind, I'm simply looking for information on how the pricing is normally broken down in this business.

Many Thanks

Answer 1

I'm not sure about pricing in Lancaster Penn. but it shouldn't be too different than Southern California and maybe a little cheaper. Not a lot cheaper though. The only difference in cost of living is real estate.

First of all, I wouldn't choose a big box co. to set up your installation. It's like going to Las Vegas and spinning the big wheel. You might get good installers and you might get idiots. Design and installation companies tend to be more knowledgable and their staffs tend to be better trained.

If you want the most bang for your buck, regardless of budjet, look for companies with these certifications: ISF for video calibration, HAA for room acoustics and THX for equipment selection and speaker placement. It's good to hire someone with an electrical contractor available too. Some might say that CEDIA certification is needed. I'm going to say it's helpful, particularly with younger, less experienced guys, but not necessary.

Choose a company that has been in business for quite some time and can show you jobs they've completed. Talk to their previous clients if possible. This has become an exciting and profitable business for everyone, including the kid that just got fired from the cable company, and they are all suddenly "home theater experts."  This list includes electricians, alarm guys, phone techs, computer techs, etc. It's okay to ask what they used to do for a living, or what other business they are currently in. Expect a company with real experience to ask you a lot of questions. They cannot design for you unless they know you.

Most quality design/install firms will be members of one or more buying groups. By purchasing with other companies, as many as 1700 in one group, they can get the pricing needed to be competitive. Big box stores are stuck with the brands they sell, so obviously those brands are going to be "the best." Independents generally have everything available. Since the custom world is structured so no one has to maintain inventory, they can choose based on your wants, needs and desires without worrying about moving dead inventory sitting in their back room. If you want to price compare on a company's equipment recommendations, then offer to pay them for their design time. A proper design can take several hours so by paying you are ethically free to shop for and use the components they recommeded in their design.

Out here labor rates are tiered. Expect to pay 75/hour for a technician, 40 - 55/hour for a qualified helper and 120/hour for programming and calibration. Plaster repair is usually an outside cost so be sure to ask up front. Expect your costs for labor to total somewhere between $4000 and $5000.

Here's the thing: With a 20k budjet, you will get a media room that looks and sounds dramatically better by spending 15k on equipment and 5k on design / installation / acoustics / calibration than if you spent 18k on equipment and 2k on installation with a slam-and-jam installation company.

Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy!

Answer 2

genraly you will get charged 50$ an hour or more through a private installer which is a much safer bet then a big box retailer. The prices are generaly lower from installers then big box retailers check the web but make sure you get manufacturer coverage on any web purchases

Answer 3

You don't need to do anything like that,

You need 4 things:

A white canvas screen

An HD projector

A set top box

and your DVD/BD player of choice, or game systems

You can mount it yourself, and you will save a lot of money.

Email me if you need any more tips.