Tony

As for the ceiling speaker install...yes and no. It depends on who is doing the pre-wiring. Some manufacturers of architectural speakers make a speaker place-holder bracket - if installed, then the drywall can be cut around the bracket, allowing the speakers to be easily installed after the ceiling is primed and painted. Other installers will tack the wire to the ceiling joist and have the drywall contractors pop a hole in the approximate location and pull the wire through - then you will need to cut the ceiling using the speaker template provided. However, although speaker placement and type are critical, there is a little more to consider for a proper whole house audio job.

To address your second question - as it is very general - one could say, you need (3) speakers in the front, (2) for the surrounds, a sub-woofer and and HT receiver for a basic 5.1 system, but there are many more factors to consider - not only speaker placement but type (on-wall, in-wall), room size, TV or projector, audio components, etc.

If you want a sound system that fits your budget and will sound great for years...it's probably best to contract a Home Media professional here on Houzz for your area and schedule a site visit. Most guys, like myself do not charge for in-home estimates.

Good Luck!

Thanks for your response

Builder offer 5.1 prewired or installed

I prefer the prewired option
Lot cheaper w/o using their equipment

I think it will be a wire dangling from the roof with a slot open. I might need to cut it open to fit my speaker template

Anything else I should be aware of?

I think the speaker and subwoofer locations

3 front and 2 back will be predetermined which is pretty standard locations in the living room

If installing a TV, spec out your TV size, determine vert. & horiz lengths, pull a wire left & right and center (above or below TV depending on TV location, fireplace, etc.). Leave extra wire so you can decide on whether or not you want in-wall or "on-wall" speakers. For "in-ceiling" LCRs, space accordingly in reference to your TV center. Install left and right in-ceiling or in-wall surrounds in reference to your seating area. Without knowing the layout of your room, I can't specify exact distances, the above are just generalities and are based upon a installing a flat panel TV, not a projection screen.

Sub-woofer placement - although low frequencies are omni-directional, they always have a "sweet spot" - to be on the safe side, for powered subs, pull two RG6 cables, far left & right corner front of room. Also, maybe pull two 14/2 wires in the event you're using an in-wall mono-sub with an external amp. This will allow you to use either location for the best placement of sub. Two subs are always better but not always needed. make sure the contractor installs AC receptacles in these areas as well. Room aesthetics are most certainly are a factor - know where the furniture is being placed. There are also wireless options if things get rough and go south after the fact - Sunfire makes a decent wireless sub kit if you have to go that route.

There are lots of others options to consider for speakers such as installing "back' speakers for 7.1, Dolby Atmos front height speakers, it all depends upon your final design. And yes #16 wire will work, but have your contractor pull at least #14 speaker wire.

Don't forget a few CAT6 wires (for HDMI extenders if needed, network data & control) behind the TV. A dedicated media closet would be nice for your components, but a quality low profile audio cabinet will work fine - such as Salamander Design.

Pre-wire as much as you can - pre-wiring is cheaper than opening up walls later on - it's all up to you. Plan the work, work the plan.

-FP

builder charges $2100 for this

Includes speakers (wired and installed) by Origin Acoustics at six (6) home theater speaker locations including:

. Two (2) front speakers

. Two (2) rear speakers

. One (1) subwoofer location

. One (1) center channel speaker location

Notes

1. Option includes speakers to be terminated at plug and play outlet. All homeowner audio/visual equipment will be connected by homeowner.

for additional rooms $1k

A. Includes one speaker (wired and installed) from the media location to one additional room with two speaker locations.

B. Two ceiling-mounted speakers by Origin Acoustics are to be installed in one room selected by the Buyer.

C. The room will also receive an impedance matching volume control switch.