An old update - I ended up trying a MX119 as a demo. It is really a nice piece physically. And the controls have a very nice feel to them. When I first set it on my shelf, it was as good as sold in my mind, I was very excited. I was even drafting up the sale ad for my Krell.
But, after a couple of hundred hours of break-in time, the Mac just did not sound as good as the Krell. Now I only tested it in 2-channel analog pass-through mode, so I cannot comment on the extensive feature set in the MX119. But in this configuration, the Mac did not let it all through. It seemed constricted and flat to me.
I even had a friend who is enamored with Mac over for a listen. This guy is a real die-hard Mac-fan, and definitely biased. However, in blind back-to-back tests, he repeatedly and quickly chose the Krell as his preference every time.
So, the beautiful Mac went back, and the steely industrial looking Krell remains (dare I say ugly). At least I know I tried, and also that the Krell is really a nice piece in spite of popular opinion here in Agon.
But, after a couple of hundred hours of break-in time, the Mac just did not sound as good as the Krell. Now I only tested it in 2-channel analog pass-through mode, so I cannot comment on the extensive feature set in the MX119. But in this configuration, the Mac did not let it all through. It seemed constricted and flat to me.
I even had a friend who is enamored with Mac over for a listen. This guy is a real die-hard Mac-fan, and definitely biased. However, in blind back-to-back tests, he repeatedly and quickly chose the Krell as his preference every time.
So, the beautiful Mac went back, and the steely industrial looking Krell remains (dare I say ugly). At least I know I tried, and also that the Krell is really a nice piece in spite of popular opinion here in Agon.