Home Theater Design & Installation
From a living room surround sound upgrade to a fully built-out basement cinema — Custom AVI designs and installs home theater systems that fit your space, your lifestyle, and your budget.
What We Do
Your Home.
Your Cinema.
Not every home theater looks the same — and it shouldn’t. A great system starts with understanding your room, how you use it, and what you want to feel when the lights go down. That’s where Custom AVI comes in.
We supply, design, and install complete home theater systems for GTA homeowners — from a living room speaker upgrade all the way to a fully purpose-built dedicated theater room with Dolby Atmos, laser projection, and acoustic treatment.
Every project begins with a free in-home consultation. We assess your space, walk you through the options that make sense for your budget, then deliver a written quote before any work begins.
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Which Theater Is Right for You?
Three Ways to Build Your Home Theater
Whether you’re enhancing an existing room or building a dedicated cinema from scratch, we have a solution that fits.
Option 01
Living Room Upgrade
Transform your existing living room into an immersive viewing experience without a full renovation. Great sound, clean wire management, and a proper display upgrade — all designed around your current layout.
- Soundbar or 5.1 surround sound setup
- In-wall / in-ceiling speaker installation
- Large format TV or short-throw projector
- AV receiver selection, wiring & calibration
- Clean cable management & component placement
Option 02
Basement Theater
A basement is the ideal blank canvas for a proper home cinema. We handle everything — from rough-in wiring during construction or renovation through to projection, seating, and Dolby Atmos audio — all in one project.
- Pre-wiring during construction or renovation
- 4K laser projector & fixed-frame screen
- Dolby Atmos surround with overhead speakers
- In-wall LCR speakers behind the screen
- Acoustic panels & basic noise control
Option 03 · Premium
Dedicated Theater Room
A fully purpose-built home cinema — designed to specification, acoustically treated, and finished to a standard that rivals commercial theaters. Site survey, design package, full build, calibration, and handoff.
- Full site survey & custom design package
- Native 4K laser projection (Sony / JVC)
- Full Dolby Atmos speaker layout (7.2.4+)
- Acoustic treatment & room soundproofing
- Star ceiling, tiered seating, lighting control
- Kaleidescape 4K movie server integration
System Components
Everything Your Theater Needs
We supply, install, and calibrate every component — sourced from brands we’ve vetted and trust.
Projectors & Displays
From Epson Pro Cinema laser projectors for great-value setups to native 4K Sony and JVC reference projectors for dedicated rooms. We size, throw-calculate, and install to the ceiling.
Projector Screens
Fixed-frame, retractable, and in-ceiling disappearing screens from Stewart Filmscreen, Cima, and Severtson. We match screen material to your room’s ambient light and projector output.
Speakers & Subwoofers
Architectural in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, LCR front stages, overhead Atmos channels, and subwoofers. We position every driver for proper stereo imaging and bass response, then calibrate with room correction.
AV Receivers
We carry Marantz, Denon, Onkyo, and NAD — and we know how to read a spec sheet. We match AVR power, channel count, and processing to your speaker load, then wire, configure, and calibrate the whole system.
Dolby Atmos Audio
True immersive sound means ceiling or Atmos-enabled up-firing speakers in the right positions relative to your seating. We design full 5.1.2, 7.1.4, and larger layouts for any room size and ceiling height.
Acoustic Treatment
Acoustic panels, bass traps, and diffusers control room reflections so the system sounds as it should. We also offer noise isolation solutions to keep theater sound contained within the room.
Pre-Wiring & Rough-In
If your home is under construction or renovation, this is the time to rough-in speaker wires, HDMI conduits, and electrical for the projector. We coordinate with your contractor to get it done right before the drywall goes up.
Source & Control
Kaleidescape 4K movie servers, streaming devices, Blu-ray, and smart control integration. We set up every source, configure HDMI switching, and make sure everything works from a single remote or app.
Brands We Carry
Authorized Dealer for
the Brands That Matter
We only carry brands we stand behind — and as authorized dealers, our clients get manufacturer warranties, professional-grade product lines not available in retail stores, and the peace of mind that comes with proper sourcing.
How It Works
From First Call to
Opening Night
Every home theater project follows the same disciplined process — no surprises, no hidden costs.
Free In-Home Consultation
We visit your space, assess the room dimensions, sight lines, wall construction, and existing wiring. This site survey is essential — it’s what lets us give you accurate pricing and identify any potential issues before they become problems.
System Design & Written Quote
Based on your room and budget, we design a complete system — projector throw distance, speaker positions, cable routes, component locations — and deliver a written itemized quote for your approval. No work begins until you’re ready.
Pre-Wiring & Rough-In (if applicable)
For new builds or renovations, we coordinate with your contractor during the framing stage to run all speaker wire, conduits, and electrical rough-ins before drywall. This is the single most cost-effective step — doing it right here saves thousands later.
Installation Day
Our technicians mount the display or projector, install and terminate all speakers, rack the AV components, run and dress all wiring, and connect every source. We treat your home with the care it deserves — clean, efficient, and on schedule.
Calibration & Handoff
We configure the AV receiver with room correction (Audyssey, MCACC, or YPAO), calibrate display settings for your room’s lighting, set up all sources, and walk you through using your system before we leave. Everything is working, labeled, and documented.
Our Work
Home Theater Installations
Across the GTA
What Our Clients Say
Every system. Every client. 5 stars.
“Knowledgeable, courteous, detail oriented and great value. 5 star execution and service.”
“Professional and quick installation with lots of knowledge about the audio visual industry. I highly recommend.”
“Excellent experience!! On time, full transparency regarding pricing, professional, and great installation! Would recommend whole heartedly.”
“Excellent service, very professional and helpful. Gave advice and explained every part of the job. Definitely recommend!”
Home Theater FAQ
Everything you need to know before starting your home theater project in the GTA.
How much does a home theater installation cost in Toronto?
Cost varies significantly based on room type, display technology, and audio complexity. A living room surround sound upgrade with a quality AV receiver and in-ceiling speakers typically starts around $3,000–$5,000 installed. A basement theater with a 4K laser projector, fixed-frame screen, and Dolby Atmos audio commonly ranges from $12,000–$25,000+. A fully dedicated custom theater room with acoustic treatment and premium projector can run $35,000 and up.
The best way to get accurate pricing is a free in-home consultation — we assess your space and give you a detailed written quote before any commitment.
Projector or large TV — which is better for a home theater?
For a true cinematic experience, a projector and screen delivers a much larger image at lower cost-per-inch than any TV — a 120″ screen is achievable for far less than a 120″ TV. The tradeoff is that projectors require light control. If your room can get dark (a basement is ideal), a projector is almost always the better choice.
For living rooms with ambient light and no ability to darken the room, a large-format TV (85″–100″+) or a short-throw laser TV can be the right answer. We’ll assess your room and give you an honest recommendation during the consultation.
What is Dolby Atmos and do I need it?
Dolby Atmos adds overhead sound channels to traditional 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, creating a three-dimensional audio environment — sound moves around and above you, not just side to side. It’s the current industry standard for immersive home theater audio and is supported by almost all streaming services (Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+) and Blu-ray.
If you’re investing in a proper home theater, we strongly recommend building in Atmos from the start. The most common configurations we install are 5.1.2 (compact rooms) and 7.1.4 (larger rooms). Ceiling speaker installation is best done during pre-wiring — retrofitting is possible but more involved.
Do I need to pre-wire during construction, or can it be done after?
Pre-wiring during construction or renovation is by far the most cost-effective approach. Running speaker cables, HDMI conduits, and projector electrical before drywall is a fraction of the cost of retrofitting — and gives you a completely clean, hidden result. If your home is being built or renovated, contact us immediately to coordinate with your contractor.
That said, we install home theaters in finished spaces every day. Existing rooms can have wires run through walls, across attics, or through basements — we assess the best path during the site survey and always aim for a clean, professional finish.
What’s the difference between this page and the Custom Home Theater page?
This page covers our full range of home theater services — from living room upgrades to basement theaters. Our Custom Home Theater Installation page focuses specifically on dedicated, purpose-built theater rooms: the full build-out process, native 4K projection (Sony / JVC), complete Dolby Atmos layouts, acoustic treatment, and room finishing. If you’re planning a dedicated room, that page goes into the level of detail you need.
Do you service all of the GTA?
Yes. Custom AVI serves the entire Greater Toronto Area including Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Thornhill, Newmarket, Brampton, Aurora, Ajax, Pickering, and Whitby. Contact us to confirm availability in your area.
Service Area
Serving the Greater Toronto Area
Custom AVI installs home theaters across the GTA — from downtown Toronto to Oakville, Vaughan, Markham, and beyond. Every installation is handled by our own technicians, not subcontractors.
Toronto · Mississauga · Vaughan · Richmond Hill · Markham · Thornhill · Newmarket · Aurora · Ajax · Pickering · Whitby · Scarborough · North York · Etobicoke · Brampton
Ready to Build Your Home Theater?
Start with a free in-home consultation — we’ll assess your space, recommend the right system, and give you a written quote.