Wayne Parham Messages: 18778 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
You know, it depends on what you want and what you buy.
Some people get a "home theater in a box" and it's basically five dinky speakers and a lethargic subwoofer powered by a little bitty amplifier. All that stuff is small and takes up less practically no space. Of course, it's uninvolving and sounds absolutely terrible.
For me, the sound is very important, so I place a high value on quality gear. The system and all its components are large. It requires specific placement. The room setup and furniture placement is largely driven by where the speakers go. And the amps and media players sit on a rack, which isn't small either.
So size and cost depend on how important it is to you. If you want a convincing illusion of reality, then you'll make it a priority.