McIntosh MX119/134/135 pre/pro or Krell HTS 7.1

I have owned the MX132-MX134 and now the MX 135 and I can say the 135 definetly exceeds the performance of the 134 in both analog 2 channel and digital 5.1 channel. The movie soundtracks that I have such a U571-River Wild-Saving Private Ryan etc have a much better central focus and I noticed more information pouring from my speakers.
The TI Chip Mc uses in the 135 is much much better than the Motorola chip used in the 134. As far as the 2 channel goes the 135 is as close to having a seperate 2 channel pre amp that I can imagine. As far as the Krell I really haven't listend since it doesn't offer some of the flexability the Mc's do. Like bass control, tone control, preset tone/surround set ups, sub in-out with 2 channel etc

Keep the krell. Theo obviously has actually looked at the HTS7.1. The krell as an all analog pre-amp pass throu ability. If you use this for two channel, espcially with a balanced source and amp, you can't go wrong.

As far as the flexablity. apparently an 3 filter parametric eq for each speaker and a global parametrice eq all with multimple preset memories is either to complicated for theo or not enough.

As far as the sub thing, yeah krell calls that full range or full range plus sub

Many people think of the Showcase 7.1 instead of the HTS 7.1. I can understand that. The HTS 7.1 has more features than I'd ever use, more I think than the McIntosh. But I am most concerned with the sound. What should one expect from the McIntosh pre/pro compared to the Krell.

It may not be of that much concern, I think I'll end up changing the front amp(s) before changing the pre/pro.

Eunis2921 - care to loan your monoblocks for a month? You have a very nice set-up.

Dave

If you were to switch from the Krell to the Mac. I would have to say you would lose dynamics. The Krell has an very transparent and very imediate sound. what is on the disc is what you get. Some people don't like krell becuase of this, they want more of a "tone control". Or they want everything to have a similiar sound. You will get that with the MAC. The MAC is slighty fat sound. It won't be as dynamic, however the MAC has a wonderful way of making bad stuff sound good, but it also makes great stuff sound good.

As far a changing the amps. Why? What is it that you what to change sonically. Where is you system lacking? IYHO.

Kudo's on the DV-50. Absoultely the best universal on the market (other the the bigger esoteric's).

As far as the borrowing the FPB's - Willow groove is little bit of a hike for me. But, check with the guys at Soundex, I am sure they would love to let you try something in your home.

Hey Dave. Sounds like you want a change. Just go for it and see what you think!

I had a KSA100 and now have a McIntosh MC7200 which I like much better. But everyone is different...

For what its worth, the MX135 won the 2005 CEA Innovations Award in the "audio" category. Many other pre/pros were also in the running but the McIntosh was the winner.