Lip Sync and RS-232 software upgradability-are these important???

[arielshiran]

Hi,
I really have difficulties deciding on what AV receiver to buy. In addition to the Denon 2805, Yamaha 1500, Marantz 7500, Harman Kardon 435 and Onkyo 703 I added the NAD T763. All of these products besides the NAD have a lip sync option but the NAD is claimed to be the best musical product and while the Onkyo and Yamaha are said to be the best for movies, I was told the difference in the movies performance shouldn't bother me and all of these will perform good and I should care for the music performance.
Besides that, the Harman Kardon and Marantz are the only ones which support software upgradability when needed (if needed) in the future via their RS-232 port.
Where I live these products are all being sold for about the same price and I really don't know what to choose and if these two characteristics are something which should cause me to prefer one over the other.
If you were in my place, what would you choose? I assume the receiver will be used about 50% for music and 50% for movies (or 60% for music and 40% for movies). I currently don't have a plasma/LCD display but I plan purchasing one within the next 2 years.
I have another problem which is I cannot hear all of these models at one place, what makes my decision much harder. If anyone had the same dillema, please help me.
Thanks a lot,
Ariel.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Lip Sync and RS-232 software upgradability-are these important?

My opinion is yes to the former and no to the latter. I find lip-sync a must-have feature (without it, DVDs can have a dubbed 'feel' ugh!), and would not even consider a receiver without it. As for the RS-232C port, although it may come in handy at some point, I wouldn't base a purchase on it.

Regards

 

[arielshiran]

Can anyone else advise on that?

Thanks.
Ariel.

 

[MDS]

I agree with Buckle-Meister. Lip Sync adjustment is one of those things that you just may need and it's better to have it just in case.

rs-232 ports are mainly provided for future firmware upgrades but how many times do manufacturers actually provide any upgrades? Not very often. The receiver may support remote control over rs-232 but unless you have a high end control system like Crestron you won't use it for that purpose. That and the fact that they rarely publish the commands publicly makes having an rs-232 port fairly useless for most people.