A basement home theatre needs a plan for echo, bass and a low ceiling, while a condo home theatre needs a plan for neighbours and building rules: a 75 in. TV with 5.1.2 speakers in a basement is $524.99 to install with Pixl, and a 65 in. TV on a concrete wall with a soundbar in a condo is $399.99. Both prices are labour only, from Pixl’s posted prices with wires in a raceway. This page covers the room checks, a bass resonance table and the order to do the work in.
PCBy the Pixl Canada install team. Calculated October 27, 2026. Canadian dollars, before tax. 8 min read.
- Basement and condo checklists
- Bass resonance table by room length
- Install totals for four jobs
- Pay after the job
- A basement is a good home theatre room if you manage echo, bass resonance, the ceiling and the damp.
- In a condo, a soundbar with night mode and a controllable subwoofer is the safe route, and bass is the main thing neighbours hear.
- Concrete adds $50 and metal studs add $15 to Pixl TV labour, and a raceway for wires is $60 when you cannot open the wall.
- In a new build or reno, ask for wood blocking behind the TV before the drywall goes up.
You are planning a home theatre in a basement or a condo and want to know the room checks and the install cost.
You want a full room design with acoustic treatment. Start with how to set up a home theatre.
How are a basement and a condo different for home theatre?
Both are common in Canada, and both look like a simple room. The problems are different. A basement has space and a dark, controlled room, but hard surfaces, low ceilings and bass trouble. A condo has easy sound for you and hard sound for your neighbours, plus building rules about what you can fix to the walls.
| Factor | Basement | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Main problem | Echo, boomy bass, low ceiling, ducts and pipes | Sound reaching neighbours, building rules, concrete walls |
| Surfaces | Concrete floor and often concrete walls, bare ceilings | Concrete or metal-stud walls, small rooms |
| What helps most | Rugs, sofas, curtains and panels; a well-placed subwoofer | A soundbar with night mode, a smaller subwoofer, a plan for work hours |
| Sound system that fits | 5.1 or 5.1.2 with a receiver, if the ceiling allows | A soundbar, or a small 5.1 with a controllable subwoofer |
| Screen | Projector often fits well (dark, controlled light) | TV is simpler, and ceiling work may not be allowed |
| Pixl wall surcharges | Concrete +$50, framed drywall none | Concrete +$50, metal studs +$15 |
What should you plan for in a basement?
| Check | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Ceiling height and ducts | Limits projector mounts, upward-firing Atmos speakers and ceiling speakers | Measure at the seat and at the front. Check the Atmos datasheet for ceiling range |
| Wall type behind the TV | Concrete, brick and framed walls take different fixings | Send a photo. Concrete adds $50 to Pixl labour |
| Blocking behind the TV | Gives the mount solid wood to bite into in a new build or reno | Ask your contractor to add wood blocking and a pull string before the drywall goes up |
| Humidity | Basements run damp, which is hard on electronics | Keep a dehumidifier running. Around 30 to 50 per cent relative humidity is a common indoor target |
| Power and receiver spot | Receivers need air around them | Plan outlets and ventilation at the equipment wall. New outlets are work for a licensed electrician |
| Seat distance | Sets the screen size | Use the viewing distance table, and see the projector vs TV page for large screens |
| Light control | Decides TV or projector | Cover or avoid windows if you want a projector |
For the screen and sound combination, see projector vs TV for a home theatre and Dolby Atmos soundbar vs 5.1.2.
Why does bass sound boomy in some rooms?
A room has bass resonances at frequencies set by its length, width and height. The lowest is the speed of sound divided by twice the dimension. Where two dimensions match, resonances stack and bass gets uneven. This is physics, not a fault in the equipment.
| Room length, width or height | First resonance | Second resonance |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 m (10 ft) | 57 Hz | 114 Hz |
| 3.5 m (11 ft) | 49 Hz | 98 Hz |
| 4.0 m (13 ft) | 43 Hz | 86 Hz |
| 5.0 m (16 ft) | 34 Hz | 69 Hz |
| 6.0 m (20 ft) | 29 Hz | 57 Hz |
| 7.0 m (23 ft) | 24 Hz | 49 Hz |
A 5 m long basement has its first resonance at about 34 Hz, which is in the range of deep film bass. In practice: avoid putting the seat against the back wall, where bass is strongest, try the subwoofer in two or three spots and listen, and add soft furnishings to cut echo.
What should you plan for in a condo?
| Check | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bylaws and rules for drilling | Many buildings limit hours or what you can fix to a wall | Read your bylaws and ask your board, strata council or property manager |
| Permitted work hours | Drilling into concrete is loud | Book the install inside the allowed hours |
| Elevator or loading booking | Large TVs may need a booked delivery slot | Book it early with the building |
| Wall type | Concrete, metal studs and drywall are all common in condos | Send a photo. Concrete +$50, metal studs +$15 with Pixl |
| Hiding wires | You usually cannot open a wall | Use a raceway ($60) or an existing channel ($25) |
| Balcony and ceiling | Fixing there may be limited or need permission | Ask before planning a projector or an outdoor screen |
The National Building Code sets a minimum for sound between dwelling units, expressed as an apparent sound transmission class of 47 or a rated class of 50 in recent editions. It is a health and safety minimum, not a comfort promise, and deep bass passes through concrete and structure more easily than speech. Plan on a soundbar with a night mode, a subwoofer you can turn down, and a sub placed away from shared walls.
What do these jobs cost?
| Job | How it adds up | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Basement: 75 in. TV on a framed wall, 5.1.2 Atmos (7 speakers), subwoofer, wires in a raceway | $109.99 + $125 + $210 + $20 + $60 | $524.99 |
| Basement: 75 in. TV on a concrete wall, 5.1 (5 speakers), subwoofer, wires in a raceway | $109.99 + $125 + $50 + $150 + $20 + $60 | $514.99 |
| Condo: 65 in. TV on a concrete wall, soundbar installed and mounted, wires in a raceway | $109.99 + $80 + $50 + $50 + $50 + $60 | $399.99 |
| Condo: 55 in. TV on metal studs, soundbar installed and mounted, wires in an existing channel | $99.99 + $80 + $15 + $50 + $50 + $25 | $319.99 |
Hard walls, wire hiding and speaker counts all come straight from the price list. Bring your own mount and remove the mount line. Equipment, new outlets and any cable run inside finished walls or ceilings are separate, and Pixl’s posted prices do not include them. For the full cost of a theatre with equipment, see home theatre packages by budget.
In what order should you do it?
- Check the rules or the room. Condo: read the bylaws and ask about work hours. Basement: measure the ceiling, check the wall type and the damp.
- Pick the sound system. Use the room-size page: soundbar for small rooms and condos, receiver with speakers for large basements.
- Plan the cables first. Choose where the receiver, subwoofer and wire route go before you mount the TV. In a new build or reno, ask the contractor for blocking and pull strings before the drywall.
- Mount the TV and install the sound. Send a photo of the wall and the equipment list. Pixl confirms the total before booking.
- Tune it. Adjust the subwoofer, night mode and levels, and try the seat in two spots.
Basement and condo home theatre: frequently asked questions
Is a basement good for a home theatre?
Yes, because it is dark and you can control the light and sound. Plan for echo, bass resonance, low ceilings and humidity. A 5 m long room has its first bass resonance near 34 Hz.
Can I have a home theatre in a condo?
Yes. Use a soundbar or a small system with a controllable subwoofer, follow the building’s rules on drilling and hours, and mount the TV on the wall type you have.
Will my neighbours hear my home theatre in a condo?
Bass travels through structure more than speech, so low notes are the main risk. The National Building Code sets only a minimum for sound between units. Keep the subwoofer away from shared walls and use night mode.
Do I need a soundproofed room?
Not for most homes. Soft furnishings fix echo. Real soundproofing is a construction job, not an equipment choice.
How much does it cost to mount a TV on a condo concrete wall with Pixl?
Concrete adds $50 to the labour. A 65 in. TV on a tilt mount on concrete is $109.99 + $80 + $50 = $239.99, before tax, with a soundbar from $50 more.
Can you hide TV wires in a condo wall?
In a condo you often cannot open the wall, so a raceway on the wall is $60 and an existing channel is $25 with Pixl.
Do you run speaker cable in basement walls?
In-wall speaker cable is not part of Pixl’s posted prices. Send a photo of the room and we tell you what Pixl does and what to arrange separately.
Get the install total for your basement or condo
Send a photo of the wall and the equipment list. You pay after the job.
Mounting a 75 in. TV on metal studs in a condo
Soundbar vs AV receiver by room size
Home theatre installation cost
TV mounting by wall type
Sources and method. First bass resonance = 343 / (2 x dimension in metres), second = twice that; for 5.0 m, 343 / 10 = 34 Hz. Job totals are sums of Pixl Canada’s posted prices (Calgary and Edmonton TV labour), checked October 27, 2026, for example 109.99 + 125 + 210 + 20 + 60 = 524.99. The sound-between-units minimum (apparent sound transmission class 47, or class 50 for the separating assembly) is from recent editions of the National Building Code of Canada and provincial versions of it, so check the edition your province uses. The humidity target is a common indoor guide. Bylaws, work hours and wall rules differ by building.
About Pixl Canada. Pixl Canada is an installation company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving cities across Canada with TV mounting, security cameras, appliance installation and smart home setup. Call or text (587) 899-7495. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm.