Home Theater help?

Do a lot more homework!
Find friends with HT.
If this is expensive to you, then you will feel stuck
with it once installed.
Also, in-walls are fairly permanent since they are cutting custom holes. Don't do it unless you are sure that is what you need. Some in-walls are great, most sound muddy and lost unless installed properly and in the right environment. You are usually losing some sound qualities to get the "hidden" speakers.
Denon is one of the best all around receiver manufacturers.
Pioneer tv's are really nice-however, you can get very close quality for much less $$$. Look at panasonic. Don't buy a name you've never heard of.
You didn't mention dvd player. Go with Denon for quality, ease of use with the receiver and consistency.
A line conditioner is a must to help save the gear and improve quality. Panamax or similar is great.
Final note: HDMI can be awesome if you have a digital source. The biggest drawback is cable costs. Check out someone like the cable company or bestcables to save about 75% on cables. Monster will kill your budget and isn't so great.

I've done the HT thing in 6.1 channel and I did my homework. But if I could start over I would build a 2 or 2 .1 channel system. It's way more cost effective, better for music and my wife the movie watcher prefers 2 channel stereo when watching TV and movies.

lel,

I'd go with one of the higher-end Denon receiver (3800 series) and a Denon CD, SACD, DVD player that links to it for surround SACD sound. I think 5.1 is the way to go, expecialy for movies and certain TV shows (CSI Miami is especially appealing in HDTV and 5.1, as well as many of the series on HBO and Showtime). I agree that, while a Pioneer Elite is nice, a Panasonic is more cost effective and nearly as nice. Try to match the speakers across the front. Get a good sub for the LFE in movies and TV, and as a LF supplement for music. Monitors, i.e. smaller than floor standing speakers, should be fine if the sub is good. I'd be disinclined to tie myself to inwall speakers. Monitors can be fit unintrusively into your design.

db

Also the Oppo player at less then $200 tested better for picture then any other player ever, if music is not going to be a huge concern then the Oppo is a no brainer.

The Pioneer 1080P 50" is a very nice display, but if money is a major concern then dropping to a Pioneer 5070HD 50" 720P plasma might be a good option. I am using the Pioneer 5060HD 50" plasma and the picture is very nice. The Emotiva separates are a steal. Speakers are a little tough to recommend. I use in-walls for the looks, but free standing sound better. I also agree with the Oppo DVD player or get the Toshiba HD dvd player.