Slideshows

Three plasmas, an array of speakers and a full equipment rack are tastefully concealed in this California cabana.

Home theaters come in all shapes, sizes, and price tags. Here are three examples that show just how far your money will go.

Why let your car have all of the fun? Here are a few of our favorite garages.

This 6,000-square foot basement handles audio, video and live entertainment with ease.

A move to Mahnattan gives a homeowner a chance at integrating brand new electronic systems.

By utilizing the latest IP technologies this homeowner has ensured his home will remain cutting edge for a long, long time.

Don't be deceived by the simplistic scheme of this home theater. What it lacks in hues, it makes up in technology.

Modern design and technology turn an outdated Los Angeles home into the ultimate getaway for a pair of peace-seeking owners.

This living room features a 63-inch Fujitsu fireplace-mounted plasma, and dual 50-inch Sony plasmas for a viewing bonanza.

A creative home owner turns his flooded basement into a high-end theater, library, rec room, and guest room – complete with Murphy bed.

Featuring a 28-foot-tall arch, an outdoor kitchen and a 54-inch LCD TV, the owners of this outdoor entertainment space wanted it to be accessible to all.

This mad scientist theater pays homage to all that is sci-fi.

American Chopper dad Paul Teutul Sr. cools off with custom music and entertainment systems.

A former IMAX sound engineer builds his home to exacting sonic specifications.

A well equipped, and well used, outdoor patio is the entertainment hub of this ever growing family.

This home theater had it all—until the owner brought in additional high performance speakers.

In between wedding plans, Matthew Katz found something old, new and borrowed for his backyard theater.

Ed Sweeting didn’t need to spend a fortune to make his outdoors great.

A homeowner transforms a boring basement into a high-tech rec room and bar. And he does it himself for $10,500.

An unfinished basement is transformed into a superwide CinemaScope home theater with an attached kitchen, pool hall and more.

Marc Wiener made his room multifunctional -- and on the cheap.

How's this for teamwork? While Paul Hayes mounted the projector, his wife Cindy built the 104-inch screen from scratch.

A family uses technology to turn a Cape Cod beach house into a year-round home.

This desert dream home enlists several electronic enhancements to keep things cool and controlled.

A spare bedroom, some extra cash and a lot of research helped this budding DIYer through a home theater installation.

Take a look at the Home of the Year photos that made our jaws drop.

How two homeowners overcame their space limitations and built a pair of elaborate home theaters.

This sizable theater room forced installers to rely on one powerful projector.

In-wall surround speakers and a fireplace-mounted plasma helped keep electronics from compromising elegance.

Moving their beloved home theater from Nashville to Tampa included a new floorplan, new challenges, and, best of all, new technology.

A tech-savvy couple marries existing A/V equipment with new systems for an economical entertainment upgrade.

A custom homebuilder puts his skills to work constructing a 5,600-foot home equipped with the latest electronic systems.

A homebuilder practices what he preaches by incorporating cutting-edge technology into his own abode.

An extensive lighting system brings Hollywood glory back to Charlie Chaplin's former home.

After watching a big screen all day, this homeowner didn’t want his day job to ruin the home entertainment experience.

A large family room with a true purpose is artistically transformed into a home theater.

By placing his trust in his design team, a laid-back homeowner ends up with a sensational, simple and affordable entertainment system.

A family of five learns to share their music, computers and video all over the house.

A prefab home uses green materials, building techniques, furnishings and automation to save money and resources.

A homeowner takes a hands-on approach to his own home theater project.

Two homeowners blend big-screen televisions and accessories into their great rooms without losing that comfy feel.

Homeowners use a variety of systems to ensure a classic feel for decades to come.

A North Carolina astronomy buff uses his Crestron home automation interface to quickly find celestial bodies.

See how a 42-inch plasma is stored in a narrow vertical space.

Three separate rooms, one starfield, and a life-sized Han Solo are just a few of the things that help two super "Star Wars" fans get their geek on in this theater.

Convoluted components can spoil the A/V fun, but this homeowner's need for simplicity was realized.

David Adey is taking the slow-and-steady approach to building his dream theater.

Lee Webber pulled double duty; he turned his basement into a home theater while watching his new son.

A doctor during the day and A/V enthusiast at night, Adam Feldman found the time to build his basement home theater.

Norwegian Bjorn Kristensen turns his 220-square-foot garage into a cozy home theater.

Jeremy Hummer had so much fun turning his garage into a dedicated home theater, he decided to change careers.

Tom Hetzel doesn’t disturb the neighbors; his attached townhouse theater room is completely soundproof.

Wayne Hanson has a small space to fill -- and went with the gusto of 2:35 screen setup.

Steve Mize has put a spin on the classic theater -- as well as the classic do-it-yourself approach.

Kevin and Dee Van brought a bit of nostalgia to their backyard, via eight vintage speakers, concessions, and a homemade retractable screen.

Thirty years after buying his first stereo, this audiophile completes his own music sanctuary.

Scott Vonhof has a lot to sound off about, but it’s his self-built speakers that make us listen up.

A DIYer from Big D adds some Lone Star flavor to his home theater.

With his wife on vacation, Ashok Kumar went on an A/V spending spree and finished his home theater.

Matt Standing didn’t need a huge space or bank account to pull off big home theater.

Mike Falzon sniffed out good deals to deliver a beautiful, yet budget, home theater.

Stephen Hopkins didn’t need a big budget to get a drool-worthy dream room.

Steve Cale’s biometric door lock and sound isolation scheme ensures his homemade theater only provides authorized entertainment.

Software guru Jason Klinke uses a computer and 2.35:1 screen to make real movie magic.

Ivan Messer sunk a fortune into over 50 Richard Gray products and almost 100 McIntosh products -- and he’s very happy about that.

This homeowner doesn’t need cutting-edge equipment to enjoy the benefits of great home theater.

With 1,400 square feet to work with, Bud Ketterl was able to add his dream theater -- as well as a few special features.

Vincent Bova's wait before brain surgery gave birth to a new hobby -- and a business opportunity.

This Italian stallion may be the main attraction, but its just one of Tony Caciolo’s four home theater spaces.

A 8,100-watt home theater, multi-room a/v, and personalized control for each family member make this house an entertainment dream.

Ken Allwine parked his backyard theater under the stars, out on his home’s driveway.

Clean lines, a simple decor, and a rear-projection screen make this family-friendly theater a hit.

A Colorado home combines log cabin charm with some of the finest home technologies available. Think Grizzly Adams meets Donald Trump.

A cathedral ceiling, mahogany woodwork, and hand-painted Parisian street scenes makes this home theater feel like home... a very nice home.

Darren Wander recruited his Dad to help create his childhood dream of the ultimate home theater.

For nearly $100,000, this homeowner can watch every game and monitor activity around the house on a 144-inch screen and four surrounding plasma TVs.

A gadget fanatic learns that it's important to stay practical when picking out electronic systems for your home.

A great room reveals and hides its home theater features at the push of a button. See how the elements come together in this slideshow.

Across the nation, builders, architects, designers, installers and even a museum or two are putting green home technology in the spotlight.

Modern control systems and creative problem solving help cut energy use in this charming 103-year-old house.

A homeowner turns a guest house into an entertainment and productivity nerve center.

A homeowner mixes modern tech with a traditional mountain decor to create an extraordinary living space.

By using a combination of different systems, smart homeowners enjoy all the benefits technology has to offer at a price they can live with.

Recent empty nesters trade in their English Tudor for a high-tech Chicago penthouse.

A bevy of entertainment and control systems attract family and neighbors to this Atlanta home.

High-tech features and high-end furnishings turn a rental space into one hot piece of property.

A Virginia couple transforms an old steam mill into an award-winning contemporary abode, complete with flat-screen TVs and invisible speakers.

Even those who enjoy the simple life can make use of a $50,000 home theater room.

One install company raised the roof -- and the standard -- for upper-level home theater setups.

Sometimes, it pays to wait. See how two homeowners used extra time to buy extra systems.

Unhappy about the high price of home control, a determined couple searches for an affordable option—and finds it.

Whether it’s a family room, kitchen, bath, or even the backyard, there’s always room for home entertainment equipment.

Adding on to his 1921 colonial gave this homeowner the space needed to make the perfect movie experience.

Motivated by his desire for perfect big screen entertainment, Jerrod Shook handled all aspects of his basement remodel.

This multipurpose home theater sports a 140-inch screen on one end and a 42-inch plasma on the other.

No matter what's playing, whether it's 2-channel music or 7.1-channel soundtracks, this home theater sounds great!

Designing a theater for small rooms is one thing, but this home's less than ideal ceiling height posed an entirely new set of challenges.

There was only one option for audiophile David Barron; design and build the speakers for his basement theater.

This home's massive music system sends audio to 49 speakers, inside and out.

The Super Bowl MVP has complete control over all the home electronics systems in his 3,000 sq-ft condo.

Great looking theaters don't always sound great, and vice versa, and it turns out that compromises are not necessarily a bad thing.

A well-traveled family blends reminders of their favorite spots into their electronic home installation project.

Soundproofing proved to be a challenge for homeowners turning their basement into a dedicated home theater on a $70,000 budget.

Get inside Sirius Satellite chairman, Joe Clayton's house, a 16,000-square-foot English mansion set on 5.5 acres overlooking the 18th hole of a golf course.

Sound isolation is a critical, yet often overlooked component of home theater design.

When the curtain opens, so does the kitchen area in this multipurpose basement theater.

Hidden equipment, a massive fireplace and 46 inches of HD are the masters of this mini bedroom theater.

The benefit of experience helps a homeowner choose the perfect electronic systems for a new remodel.

"Arrested Development" comes to life as a builder uses the intricate systems in his own home to attract new customers.

When Mike Mitchell found the perfect location for his home, he wasn't going to let a little thing like a lack of utilities get in his way.

Log-cabin walls and a remote site presented obstacles, but creative planning brought high-end tech into this rural home.

Plush seats and an open floor plan give a New York couple plenty of home theater seating options.

Two bedrooms, a bath and a child’s playroom are magically transformed into two majestic home theaters.

A personal touch added to the complexity of this cool, elegant install.

With 12 audio zones and access points including touch panels, Xbox 360's, TVs, and even an Ultra-Mobile PC, this home features the best of Windows Media Center.

A Carribean themed home entertainment system is had for $15,000.

This Pensacola show condo features multiple entertainment systems, a water wall behind the bar, a bathroom "on fire", and a host of high-tech pyrotechnics.

A Utah family passes on the traditional home theater, in order to spread sophisticated technologies throughout the entire house.

Think your remodel was difficult? Here’s how a 200-year old home, complete with stonewalls, was wired for whole-house control.

Electronically controlled window coverings offer convenience, privacy and a great home theater experience.

When sunlight from windows and a skylight threatened their theater experience, these NC homeowners turned to creative motorized shades.

Staying abreast of the latest news is no small task, but this journalist's five-screen array does just that with ease.

22 touchpanels, capacious media servers, and some very simple software allow this family to maintain complete control over their modern island paradise.

Planning and electronics combine to seamlessly blend this new Chicago home into its classic neighborhood.

A custom home theater and multiroom audio help a homeowner put his own touch on a new house.

Push that red-alert button, step through the motion-activated air-lock doors and be transported to this spectacular home theater, bar and lounge.

The owners of this classic 1865 brownstone add a few modern conveniences, and a lot of technology to their "new" home.

An old factory gets a modern-day facelift - as an automated residence. But retrofitting the building for security, control and A/V was no easy task.

This home theater uses the best of today’s technology to pay homage to the classic days of cinema.

A New England family discovers the problems and solutions to building an underground home theater.

This 40,000-square-foot home features a dance lounge, game room and 12-seat home theater.

From stuffed animals to subwoofers, with children grown, this family updates a forgotten playroom into a well-used home theater.

An indoor pool is drained and rebuilt as a spacious, stadium-style home theater.

This pool is open year-round thanks to a motorized roof and home control.

See how a pair of retirees used home entertainment and home control system to make their golden years that much better.

Instead of cluttering his Star Wars-themed theater with memorabilia, this homeowner went to the dark side and had it modeled after Chancellor Palpatine's office.

With the click of button this room rotates a full 180 degrees - from intimate conversations to big screen entertainment.

A removable column conceals hidden access to mechanical and storage areas behind this beautiful home theater.

Featuring a superwide screen, audiophile gear, and a classic decor, finding room for this home theater was as easy as looking up.

From security to housework to entertainment systems, one tech-savvy family has gadgets for nearly every aspect of home life.

This "Pirates of the Caribbean"-themed theater has plenty of booty for A/V geeks to gaze upon.

Whole-house control and motorized shades highlight a contemporary kitchen tastefully done inside this 19th century mansion.

This family room has it all - a big screen, green technology, a professional recording studio, and the ominous visitor from the Fantastic Four.

This "simple" room doesn't sport an 80-inch plasma nor 7.1 surround, but that doesn't keep it from tapping into the home's audio/video servers.

Zoned music, user-friendly lighting control, automated fireplace igniters, one-button away-mode shutdown, and a mountain of other home control features make this getaway as much fun as the slopes.

This 1,200-square-foot "Miami modern" condo doubles as an occasional residence and a sleek show home.

An installer uses research and first-hand observation to create a replica of George Lucas' "Stag" theater.

This no compromise 4,800-square foot townhouse gets packed with mansion-size technology.

A cleverly designed automation system gives a home the smarts to operate all by itself… almost.

This Utah homeowner uses a unique Web-connected solar system to become energy independent.

This "Star Trek"-themed home theater doesn't just capture the franchise's look and feel. It uses props from the real Starfleet.

From framing to fixtures, this do-it-yourself trekie boldly goes where no one (or theater) has gone before.

Trekkies in search of the final frontier should stop by Tony Alleyne's Voyager-themed apartment.

This second home is packed with enough technology to keep guests entertained through those endless summer nights -- and beyond.

This Nantucket home theater has a 155-inch 2.35:1 screen, plus a stage so the kids can put on performances.

A lifelong audiophile builds his dream theater, complete with wine cellar.

A rocker at heart, our Ultimate Home Theater Sweepstakes winner is cranking up music and seeing TV in a whole different light.

A custom installer takes on a challenging systems installation in his own home.

An envelope-pushing tech renovation doubles a family's living area.

Mountains of hidden technology add convenience to this airy Hawaiian retreat.

A few torches, an idol and a little technology helped whip this Indiana Jones-themed room into theater quality.

The villainous cyborg and a slew of other sci-fi movie characters are right at home in this DIY home theater.

From the first to fourth floor, this homeowner can easily manage all of his high-end entertainment systems.

Packed with plasmas, media servers, surround sound and multi-room audio, this Grand Prix garage was built for more than just cars.

A California couple extend their entertainment space into their back yard.

This Florida home theater is a transformed garage that's now home to four screens and a museum's worth of Gators memorabilia.

Italian design company, Royal Device created a listening room that houses some serious gear and possibly the world's largest subwoofer.

A Tennessee couple finds home theater inspiration in the film "Titanic."

A surprise lurked within this Chicago home, but home tech and Italian style brought the project together.