HT System Few General Questions.

Setup is:

1. Projector - 1024x768, at least 600:1 contrast, > 1200 lumens, component connect, ceiling mount.
Still picking the brand. Wall size is 12' wide by 8' high. Have a max throw distance of 16'.

2. Receiver - Yamaha rxv1400 or 2400

3. DVD Player - Go-Video networked

4. Speakers - 7.1, mix & match, still researching but mostly going with a best one.

5. TV - Dish netwrok. Not HDTV but will be getting it.

6. Cables - High end, Monster maybe?


Now for the questions:

1. The component connection for the projector will run about 20-25 feet. Is this distance ok or should I try and shorten it. There are packaged component cables available for 25 feet from monster. These connections are behind the sheetrock wall. Should I connect the ends to wall plates and then from wall plates to the receiver/projector? In which case I'll have to get two more component cables. Or should I just punch a hole in both places and just connect the ends to the receiver/projector? Concerned about signal degradation etc.

2. Understand the speakers A,B,A+B. But am confused about Zone 1,2,3. Does this mean I can hook up 3 separate rooms. Say the receiver is in the basement and zone 3 is the master bedroom 2 floors above. HOw do you control/play what music you want to play? How do speakers A,B relate to this?

3. Liked the networkable feature of go-video dvd player. Is there any other brand available with the same feature. Would have loved to have this as a dvd recorder/player.

3. I'd love to go 7.1 but maybe 5.1 is just good enough depending on the quality of speakers. Is 7.1 really worth the extra cost/configuration etc over 5.1?

4. Dish is selling the HDTV tuner for 999. Can I buy any HDTV tuner and attach to the satellite receiver and connect that to the Yamaha A/V?

5. Planning to run RCA 14AWG cables for the speakers. I for the speakers that are in the vicinity of the receiver these are sufficient I think. What about running the same for other zones where the length is more than 50 feet. Should I get 12g? Which brand is good? I got the copper one with transparent sleeve but the wires will be behind the walls.

Thanks for the advice,

regards,