OK, so a friend of mine asked me to take a look at a quote a friend of his received from a local AVHome store here in the Des Moines area. His friend had built a house a few years ago and had speaker wiring pre-run to all the rooms. Now he is ready to purchase some equipment.

I haven't seen the house yet, but it sounds like all the wiring runs go to one central location. He has two systems quoted, one HT room setup and one whole-house setup.

The total price came to $7926 total with tax/installation. Just looking for input as my friend thinks his friend is getting screwed. Some of the prices seem ok, while others seem like msrp. The installation seems like a ripoff.

Should I recommend Axiom for better speakers, and help with installation? Why two receivers, couldn't you use just one?

Whole House System:
1)Onkyo TX8522 Stereo Receiver 100w x 2 - $295
1)Onkyo DSA2X Ipod Interface - $99
8)Klipsch CDT-3650-C Two Way In Ceil 50wts (200wts peak)$235ea
1)Pair Klipsch AW500 All Weather speakers $300
1)Russound SS6.2 Speaker Selector $140
5)Russound 126W Decorative volume knobs $68ea
Installation 8 x $75 - $600

HT System
1) Toshiba 42HL167 Regza 42" LCD 1080p $1500
1) Plasma wall mount $199
1) Onkyo TXSR505B AV Receiver 75w x 7 $349
3) Klipsch R-3650-W In Wall speakers $245ea
2) Klipsch CDT-2650-C Pivoting In Ceiling speakers $165ea
1) Klipsch RPW-10 Subwoofer 200watt RMS $335
Installation 5 x 75 - $375

Tax $448

Grand Total $7926 and some change.

ps: Their HT room is pretty big and I'm not a big fan of flat ceiling speakers.

So what do you all think?

Randy, if I were to drop that kind of cash it seems I'd do it on different components. Like you, I don't think I'd want flat ceiling speakers.

Yeah, the more I look at the list, the more I don't like it. It's his money, though.

I can't say i personally like the selection of speakers, but in all honesty, the prices don't look that out of the ordinary.
Installation of $600 for a pre-wired house might seem a bit steep but if they have to drill holes and all to mount x# of in-ceiling speakers for a whole house, the price is pretty reasonable.

I cannot comment on the multiple receiver concept. I haven't used the second zone capability of my own. In the least, going with RF over IR remotes would be required, or a touch panel system in each room.
So many possibilities could change that price structure.

I agree the pricing doesn't look too bad to me but I would go the Axiom route for the speakers, again I am not a fan of in ceiling ones as well.

I know for my second zone off the Denon 3808 I would need to run another amp as most in this price range appear to need one.

I do remember a number of years ago Sony had a receiver out that would do 3-4 seperate rooms with different input sources for each room but it was very pricey. I thought at that time it was cheaper just to use smaller individual receivers in each room.

I know in the HVAC industry, we are charging between $1000 to $1200 per day in labour for 2 guys. As Chess pointed out, for someone who has no clue were to start, the $600 not out of line.

And as much as we all hate flush ceiling speakers, for background ambient sound, they are probably fine for most people. Aestetically, I don't think the Axiom W series mounted throughout the house on the ceiling work. On a whole house system, most people want to hear it - not see it.

As an alternative, have him listen to some car audio speakers. Most are designed to for an infinite baffle situation, which is exactly what you are doing. He may find for the same money ($470/pair) - much higher sound quality.

I have to agree with everyone else. To have someone come in and set everything up, I don't think the labor is out of line. You can debate about the choice of components but your friends are going to have to pay in that range for a decent system.

I didn't think the price on the receivers was to out of line. I'm not a big fan of Klipsch horn tweeters. I guess I would only recommend different speakers, cheaper labor, and the Toshiba tv seemed a little high.