I'm nothing to do with Bryston, but I do own an SP1.7, so let's see if I can answer some of your questions.
As you may have gathered, there is is a significant upgrade to the SP1.7 due in the next few months, which will change the answers to some of your questions. Let me start by giving you the answers as of the current model, and then discuss the upgraded version at the end.
Will the SP 1.7 be able to juggle 3 different amps with different power level's......different length signal runs as one amp is Integrated...etc etc.
There is independent volume adjustment for each channel. I think using an integrated amp on one channel and power amps on others is less than ideal (unless the integrated has a way of bypassing the pre-amp stage). It will work, but it may not be very comfortable.
Will it be able to adjust the output levels of all signals so that the amps work together at the appropriate volumes....
Yes.
(like an auto set up function with a microphone)......
No, you have to set the levels
manually using a sound meter.
and does it automatically adjust for lip sync and signal delay functions......?
There is no lip-synch delay function as such. You can introduce small delays on a channel-by-channel basis, but this is only designed to compensate for the speakers being different distances from the listening position. The sort of longer, global delay that is designed to compensate for video deinterlacing is not possible.
How old is the 1.7....
The design is about 3 years old, I believe. It's based on Bryston's previous processor, The SP1. (The change from SP1 to SP1.7 was fairly big, though - the addition of two channels, and a change in both DSP and DACS).
and have there been many upgrades......
Hardware-wise there haven't been any upgrades since the SP1.7 came out. There have been several software upgrades. These have been distributed on EPROM chips, and fitting them involves opening up the case and plugging and unplugging chips - something that many users can do for themselves, but, if you're nervous, you might want to get a dealer to do for you. Software upgrades have historically been free of charge for minor upgrades and chargeable for major ones (but not fantastically expensive - $50 US + postage perhaps).
and I will have to buy a used unit, so what should i be on the look out for as far as upgrades go etc etc.....
Note that any major upgrade may require the processor to shipped to Canada and back to achieve. It's possible that Bryston's Australian distributor (if they have one) would be able to install an upgrade - it depends.
and lastly....I am in Australia....so need a unit that works on power supply being 50 hertz and 240 volts.......are overseas units that currently operate on 110 volts easy to adjust.....some manufactures just have a switch somewhere.......?
Bryston units are fixed voltage. Most of them are designed to run at 115V, some (for the overseas market) are designed to run at 230V. Any unit originally sold in Australia will (I imagine) be compatible with the Australian mains supply. If you import an american unit then it won't be. I imagine Bryston's Australian distributor (if there is one) would be able to modify it for you (this is certainly the case with their British distributor, PMC) but this would be chargeable.
You could perhaps try importing a British model, but that would probably be prohibitively expensive.
You might want to check what the local guarantee policy is as regards imported devices.
Now, as regards the forthcoming upgrade, we don't know exactly when it is due. Bryston originally said some time this Spring - but it's looking increasingly unlikely that they'll meet that deadline!
We also don't know exactly what the upgrade will include. We know that the DSP is being upgraded to the much more powerful Aureus chip (made by Texas Instruments) but we don't yet know what new software features will be included.
I think there is a resonably good chance that there will be the facility for a lip-synch delay with the new chip. I think we can also count on Dolby PLIIx. Beyond that it's harder to say. It would be nice to think that it will become possible to set independent cross-over frequencies for each channel. There's a chance we may get Dolby Headphone output (although only as a line-level signal, I can't seem them adding a full headphone stage). There's a small chance we might get some sort of EQ capability, but James T has come down pretty strongly against EQ in the past, so don't get your hopes up.
There is also a possiblity that software updates will become downloadable (and installable from a PC via the RS232 port) rather than requiring EPROM chips to be physically pushed in and out.
The upgrade is likely to be quite expensive (certainly several hundred US dollars, maybe even $1000) and possibly a lot more for overseas customers if they have to have the unit shipped back to Bryston's factory in Canada. (That happened with the upgrade from SP1 to SP1.7. It may not happen this time round. Fingers crossed.)
