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System Option TWO

JBL Performance In-wall version •Three P941 front L/C/R in-wall speakers •Two P81 flush-mount surround speakers •S4S dual-10-inch THX in-wall subwoofer •AV1 THX Ultra2 surround processor •AVA7 amplifier Millwork version - same as above, except: •Two PT800 front L/R speakers •PC600 center speaker •PS1400 14-inch subwoofer

Because the installation is part of the home's purchase price, buyers can roll its cost into their mortgage or construction loan. And, since Radio Active receives a purchase order for the system and is paid in increments like any other subcontractor, the developer can monitor the job on the buyer's behalf. Also, because Radio Active is buying a lot of gear from a single vendor, it can negotiate very competitive equipment prices that are passed along in savings to the customer. Programming costs are much lower, too, since most of the gear is from JBL and a limited number of other companies. The result, Hudson says, is that Andalusia homeowners get a custom home theater system completely installed at a price very close to what they'd pay for the components alone.

Buyers choose from four basic systems, each of which can have either in-wall speakers or speakers built into the home's millwork. The JBL Cinema Vision system includes a 50-inch plasma HDTV, a 7.1-channel A/V receiver/processor with integrated five-disc DVD changer, and a 7.1-channel speaker package. The Performance Series is a step up in quality, but the buyer has to pay for a separate video display. The premium offerings are the THX Ultra-certified Synthesis HT and the THX Ultra2-certified Synthesis Four systems.

The Cinema Vision system costs about $17,000, while the Performance system, which includes a Denon 2930ci DVD player, is about $23,000. Synthesis systems, which have a Denon 3930ci DVD player, are about $45,000.

Options for the Performance or Synthesis systems include various HDTVs, Crestron control systems, and whole-house audio systems offered in "good, better, best" configurations. The "good and "better" selections include Denon CD players, Crestron's Adagio multiroom audio products, and JBL Performance architectural speakers; the "best" option includes an Escient media server/controller and a Crestron processor, amplifier, and PAD8 keypads.