I think there is a sound quality difference between AVRs, but actually hearing that difference is something most people can't perceive (IMO).
So I would rank "sound quality" as possibly the least important part of the decision (assuming your not looking at a Sensui
). Features has to be number one, can it do what you want. Sounds like you have an idea in what you want them to do. Build quality (and reliability). I can tell you as an owner of an AVR630 that HK builds the heck out of their receivers. Weight really does mean sometime for amplifiers (power wise). Then asthetics, I really would prefer to not own something I believe is ugly, althought I will admit its a lower priority, but if you come down to a close race between two models it would be the tie breaker for me.
Just a couple cents there.
