KEF makes a wireless speaker solution that enables users to use their speakers with their transmitter/receiver system. JBL also has its WEM-1 wireless transmission system , and Soundcast Systems also makes a wireless speaker unit that is weatherproof and it includes iPod compatibility.

If you're considering acoustics too, you could do everything from hire a firm to professionally measure the room acoustics and calibrate the audio and video, to doing more basic stuff like putting a rug on the floor, putting books in the corners, placing blankets on the chairs and couch and adding pillows to the seating area.

Before choosing a projector, be sure to check out the manufacturers web site to work out where it should be placed in the room. You don’t want to be in a situation where the projector provides an image that is either too small or too large for the screen!

The Tivo HD has a 160GB hard drive capable of storing roughly 20 hours of HD content. The TivoHD XL carries a 1TB hard drive capable of roughly 150 hours of HD content. Other upgrades in the XL include a programmable back lit remote and THX certification.

Choose an audio/video or surround-sound receiver that has built-in amplifiers for each speaker channel, and you’ll save room compared with a system that uses a surround-sound controller and separate amplifiers. A receiver, DVD player, cable or satellite tuner, and DVR can make a solid system and take up only three to four places in a cabinet or stand.

Whether you’re building a home theater from scratch or transforming an old room, use these tips to find the perfect theater space. Just about any room can function as a home theater. It just takes a good, solid plan, a knowledgeable and experienced audio/video installer, and realistic expectations to turn a space into a comfortable, high-performing entertainment wonderland. However, there are a few proven formulas that can have a huge effect on the way your entertainment system looks and sounds.

By adding a home control processor to your A/V cabinet, you’ll be able to use your remote to command the lights, thermostats and motorized window shades. RTI and Universal Remote Control both offer a variety of processors ideally suited for single rooms, like the XP-8 ($1,699) and the MCS-400 ($599), respectively.

Because a distributed audio system involves delivering music (or audio from the television) to separate zones in your house—theater, kitchen, master bedroom, master bathroom, children’s rooms, family room and more—adding your yard or patio would be like assigning any other room or zone to the setup.