Cool. Thanks so much for that input. I'll check out the link rumson. Thanks. DallasBill, are there some small bookshelf, or satellite speakers that can be added to the rear of the room to coordinate with the current speakers we have? How does one use the same speakers for music (AM/FM receiver, CD player, phonograph) as well as for the movies on the DVD player? I know I need an "impedence matching" (is that it?) speaker selector to tie in the speakers throughout the rest of the house (2 pair in the great room, one pair outside, one pair in garage, and the one pair and subwoofer in the fourth bedroom with the TV and DVD). (DOES the subwoofer get hooked into its own selector switch, though???) So for the fourth bedroom, where TV/DVD will be needing speakers, as well as CD needing speakers, how do the same speakers get tied into two different sources? We just want a basic set up, with basic entry-level price points. We are not entertainment hardware geeks. Remember, this is AV for Dummies for me!!! Thank you, Sherry.

Install plastic Conduit. It is easily done using a heat gun from the hardware store,intended for paint stripping.It costs less than copper wire and wire can then be installed as you can afford it.If you haven't bought any wire , shop carefully.Some will be stocking wire they paid four times the current price for.Copper,which peaked around four dollars a pound ,is now less than a dollar. Del

Not an area of expertise for me, but with no replies I can fill you in a little. Wireless systems are making inroads, the technology and transfer rates are getting there...but "wireless" speakers, while they don't need speaker wire, still need line voltage, or household current, to work. If you can't get your specific system hammered out, at least try to anticipate the locations of your speakers, as well as the location of your theater/TV components. Then you can at least run speaker wire through the walls/ceilings. The drywall crew can do their thing, and then when your speakers do get installed the speaker wire will already be in place. Conduit for "future proofing" could be an option, but in your case, just running the speaker wire now would suffice. You could even run wire below the floor for seat rumblers. Subwoofers can be located most anywhere, but you'll usually need line voltage available so the subwoofer can be plugged into the wall, plus a cable running from the receiver to the subwoofer. If you have your screen location chosen, you'll typically want: 1) a center speaker, located centered and just below the screen. 2) front left and front right speakers, located...yup, to the left and right of the screen. 3) left and right rear surround speakers. if the room is open behind the seating area, then these are usually put in the ceiling. 4) subwoofer. As far as sales people giving you the ambiguous design vs budget run-around...yeah, that happens. It is good to have a ballpark estimate, as systems can run form a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. However, it seems like you're just doing surround "TV" versus a full-blown home theater, so they should winnow their offering to you based upon the practicality of what you are trying to accomplish. The best thing to do is to hear the speakers and decide what sounds good to your ears. In a basic setup, decent in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can be had for roughly $150 each, +/- $25. You can get a very good free-standing subwoofer for $250-$350. Mongo

Well, that's an aesthetic consideration I prob. can't help you with, but I disagre about tight . Average firebox ht. is around 36"-42" above the floor, and those tv,s are approx 35" tall. leaving at least a foot above and below. Usually basement rooms aren't conversation areas centers around the fire , and your seating choice doesn't lend itself to taunt anyway - so for me I'd focus more on the movie experience than I would making the fireplace look like it belongs in a Martha Stewart photo shoot. Projector with a retractable screen ? At 70" you're looking at about the same cost , and could get an even larger picture - and have no screen to see when not watching tv . Assuming no, I'd go with first plan but, I'd move the tv to the right when viewing instead of angling it. I'd use ceiling speakers and spread them out wider for a better soundstage to the sectional. I'd really figure out a way to work out the tv on the f.p. wall because that gives the best viewing and sound stage by far. It would allow for good, additional seating in the bar area which pretty poor now.