Enhanced Living Systems in Chattanooga: Custom Home Theatre Design and Installation
Enhanced Living Systems is a dedicated home theatre installation company serving the Chattanooga area, handling everything from equipment selection and room acoustics to full integration with smart home systems. Unlike big-box retailers or general contractors, they focus exclusively on cinema-quality audio and video for residential spaces, which means the consultation and build process centers on how your specific room dimensions, layout, and viewing habits shape the final setup.
What Enhanced Living Systems Actually Does
The company designs and installs home theatre systems ranging from simple two-channel audio setups paired with a quality TV to full 7.1 or Atmos surround configurations with motorized projection screens and acoustic treatment. They handle equipment procurement (sourcing processors, receivers, speakers, and displays), wall and ceiling work, cable runs, calibration, and programming so the system integrates with existing smart home platforms like Control4 or Savant. They also manage retrofits into finished basements and bonus rooms where running wire requires careful planning to avoid structural damage.
Services and Pricing
Enhanced Living Systems typically structures quotes as project-based estimates after an in-home consultation. A basic 5.1 theatre (left, center, right, two surrounds, and subwoofer) with a 55-inch display and wall-mounted speakers generally runs $8,000 to $15,000 installed, depending on room prep and cable routing. A full Atmos system with ceiling speakers, acoustically treated drywall, and a motorized 120-inch projection screen can reach $35,000 to $60,000. The company charges for the initial design consultation (typically $300 to $500, credited toward a signed project) and does not quote over the phone; they require a site visit to assess room dimensions, existing electrical capacity, and structural limitations.
Labor rates run approximately $75 to $125 per hour for installation and calibration work. Many projects include equipment markup (standard in the industry) rather than a labor-only fee structure, so final cost depends heavily on the gear chosen. Warranty covers parts for one year and labor for 90 days on installation defects; manufacturer warranties on speakers and processors extend separately.
How It Compares to Other Chattanooga Options
Chattanooga homeowners typically choose between three paths: big-box electronics retailers (Best Buy), general contractors offering AV as one service among many, and dedicated theatre installers like Enhanced Living Systems.
Best Buy's Magnolia Design Centers (located inside select Chattanooga stores) offer consultation and installation but are designed for shorter project timelines and lighter customization. A Magnolia system is faster to deploy, costs less upfront (often $3,000 to $12,000 all-in), and suits buyers wanting a polished turnkey experience. The tradeoff is limited control over room acoustics and less flexibility if your space has odd dimensions or existing smart home infrastructure.
General contractors in Chattanooga who include AV work (such as those advertising "media rooms" or "smart home integration") typically charge similar hourly rates but may lack the specialized knowledge to optimize speaker placement or calibrate surround mixing. They excel at the construction side but often outsource the technical tuning.
Choose Enhanced Living Systems if you have a dedicated room, non-standard layout, or already own Control4 or Savant equipment and want everything integrated. Choose Magnolia if you want a faster, lower-cost start with professional installation and don't need acoustic customization. Choose a general contractor if you're already hiring someone for a larger renovation and want AV bundled in.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
Enhanced Living Systems works best for homeowners with a dedicated media space (finished basement, bonus room, or converted bedroom), a budget of at least $10,000, and patience for a two- to four-week installation timeline. They're also the right choice if you already use a smart home platform and want theatre controls to talk to your lighting and climate system.
This company is not the best fit for renters, anyone needing a system in under a week, or those with a hard budget under $5,000. It also does not serve commercial spaces (bars, restaurants, offices) or outdoor theatre setups.
What the First Visit Involves
You contact Enhanced Living Systems for a consultation; they schedule a site visit at no obligation. During that meeting (typically 45 minutes to an hour), they measure the room, assess existing electrical service, discuss viewing habits (how many people, what content, how bright is the ambient light), check for cable routing paths, and outline acoustic challenges. They take photos and notes, then email a proposal with equipment recommendations, pricing, and a project timeline. If you approve, a contract and deposit (usually 50 percent) lock in the start date.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
Enhanced Living Systems operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment on Saturday mornings. They maintain a small showroom and design office in the Red Bank area of Chattanooga; parking is street-level with no charge. Most work happens in your home, not at their location. Installation timelines vary; simple upgrades (swapping a receiver, adding a subwoofer) take one day, while full builds require two to five days depending on drywall treatment and wiring complexity. Verify current hours and scheduling availability by calling ahead, as seasonal demand sometimes requires extended lead times in fall and winter.
For Chattanooga homeowners serious about cinema-quality sound and image in a dedicated space, Enhanced Living Systems fills the gap between retail convenience and custom installation complexity that most local AV integrators have abandoned.
