Researching home theater installation? You’re not alone. According to Yelp data, homeowner interest jumped 562% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Homeowners are ready to invest in a better movie-watching experience, but may still have questions about what the process involves, what it costs, and how to find the right team for the job.

Here we cover what professional installation includes, the types of theaters available, and how we at Performance Audio Video handle projects for homeowners in Phoenix, Scottsdale and surrounding cities.

Key takeaways

Professional installation covers more than equipment: A specialist team handles design, wiring, calibration, and ongoing support.
Various theater types: Dedicated theaters, media rooms, and living-room options each serve different needs and budgets.
Complete smart home: Connect your theater to lighting, shades, and automation with one-touch control.

What does professional home theater installation include?

Professional home theater installation includes designing, wiring, installing, and calibrating a movie-quality audio and video system in your home, handled by our specialist team. It’s not like a DIY setup where you’re on your own for troubleshooting and upgrades. Instead, a professional installer handles room design, in-wall wiring, speaker placement, and precise calibration so everything works correctly from the start.

A professional installation includes:

Design and consultation: Understanding your goals, room layout, and budget.
Pre-wire and infrastructure: Running cables inside walls and ceilings so wires stay hidden.
Equipment selection and procurement: Choosing the right components for your space and ordering them through authorized channels.
Installation and mounting: Placing speakers, displays, receivers, and all supporting gear in the best positions.
Calibration and tuning: Adjusting audio levels, video settings, and speaker timing for the best picture and sound in your room.
Orientation and ongoing support: Teaching you how to use the system and staying available for maintenance, adjustments, and questions for years to come.

At Performance Audio Video, home theater is part of our home audio and video services. We’ve been handling projects like this for more than 23 years across Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Types of home theaters we install

The right home theater install depends on how you plan to use the space, what your room allows, what fits your budget, and how much construction you want.

Here are the three most common configurations we see in the Phoenix area:

Type	Best for	Typical display	Vibe
Dedicated theater room	Homeowners who want the full immersive experience	Projector and screen (100–150 inches)	Dark, purpose-built, tiered seating
Media room	Families who want movie nights plus everyday use	Large 4K TV or short-throw projector	Comfortable, multipurpose, flexible seating
Living-room upgrade	Homeowners who want better sound and picture without a separate room	Premium 4K TV with surround or soundbar	Fits existing decor, minimal construction

Media room growth research shows multipurpose media-room installations climbed 60% year-over-year. We see this as the fastest-growing category because they balance performance with everyday living.

The equipment and brands behind a great home theater

A home theater system usually involves:

Display: A projector and a screen or a large 4K TV.
AV receiver or processor: The central hub that routes video, decodes audio formats, and powers your speakers.
Speakers and subwoofer: Surround-sound speakers placed around the room plus a subwoofer for deep bass.
Source and streaming devices: Cable boxes, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming apps that feed content to the system.
Control system: A unified remote or app that makes everything easy to operate. We install Control4 systems for homeowners who want one-touch control.
Power management: Surge protection, clean power, and proper grounding to protect your investment.

As an authorized dealer for leading brands, we price match big-box retailers so you get quality equipment at a fair price. A solid home network keeps 4K streaming smooth without buffering or dropouts. We can recommend specific products during a consultation once we understand your room and goals.

Planning your home theater or media room: layout, seating, and lighting

Here are a few key decisions to make:

Seating distance: Viewing distances guidelines recommend that primary seats for a 16:9 screen should be placed roughly 1.0 to 1.6 times the screen’s diagonal. A 120-inch screen, for example, works best with seats about 10 to 16 feet away.
Screen size: Choose a screen or TV size appropriate for the room and your seating distance. Bigger isn’t always better if viewers are too close.
Speaker placement: Surround speakers need specific positions relative to the seating area for accurate sound staging. In-wall and in-ceiling options help keep the room clean.
Light control: Ambient light washes out projector images and creates glare on TVs. Smart lighting control lets you set dimmable scenes for viewing. We also install Lutron motorized window shades that block daylight at the push of a button.

You can also integrate lighting and shades with the theater, so you can lower the lights and close the shades as part of starting a movie.

Integrating your home theater with your smart home

You can also include your home theater as part of a connected smart home:

One-touch movie mode: Press a single button and the system dims the lights, lowers the shades, turns on the projector, and switches to your streaming app.
Single app control: Use one interface to manage the theater, lighting, climate, and security instead of juggling multiple remotes and apps.

What does a home theater cost?

Home theater costs vary widely based on room size, equipment choices, speaker count, and the amount of custom work involved. According to national cost data, home theater installation averages around $25,000 nationwide, with a typical range of $10,000 to $60,000. Basic installs can start near $2,000, while high-end custom builds can exceed $100,000.

Several factors impact the price:

Room size and construction: Larger rooms with acoustic treatments and built-in seating cost more than a simple living-room upgrade.
Display choice: A projector with a motorized screen costs more than a wall-mounted TV.
Speaker count and placement: A 7.1 or Atmos system with in-wall speakers involves more labor and equipment than a basic 5.1 setup.
Custom finishes: Theater seating, acoustic panels, and lighting add to the total.

We price match big-box retailers on equipment and provide detailed quotes to help you make the best decision. Contact us for a consultation to get an accurate estimate based on your specific room and goals.

Final thoughts on home theaters and surround sound systems

A home theater should be exciting to use and simple to manage. When the planning, installation, integration, and support are handled by one team, you get a system that works the way you imagined and keeps working for years.

Performance Audio Video has been doing this for more than 23 years across Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale. We’d be happy to walk you through your options.

Get started on your project!

Home theater installation: FAQs

How much value does a home theater add to a house?

A well-designed home theater can make your home more appealing to buyers who want move-in-ready entertainment spaces. The exact value depends on the quality of the installation and local market demand, so we can’t promise a specific return on investment.

How many channels do I need for a home theater system?

A 5.1 system (five speakers plus a subwoofer) delivers true surround sound and works well for most rooms. Larger spaces or dedicated theaters often benefit from 7.1 or Dolby Atmos configurations that add height channels for a more immersive experience.

What is the standard home theater screen size?

Most dedicated theaters use screens between 100 and 120 inches diagonal. The right size depends on your room dimensions and seating distance. We can help you choose during a consultation.

How often should you upgrade home theater equipment?

Plan to evaluate your system every four to five years to check format compatibility, software updates, and component condition. Technology changes, and older receivers may not support newer audio or video standards.

Should I use a soundbar or speakers?

A soundbar works well for budget-friendly setups or rooms where you want simplicity over performance. For true surround sound with distinct channel separation and deep bass, a receiver and dedicated speakers plus a subwoofer delivers a noticeably better experience.

Get started on your project!

Contact Performance Audio Video for your residential and commercial projects. We specialize in home theater, audio video, surveillance, security, electrical and more.

We serve all over Arizona, including services in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottdale, Peoria, Tempe, Surprise, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Flagstaff and more.