New McIntosh MA252

Placed my new MA-252 into service last week.
Extremely nice integrated amp.
I had a Prima Luna Dialogue Premium HP, and although both are fine sounding integrated, I prefer the MA-252.  
The Prima Luna had NOS Mullard tubes - with the stock tubes, I preferred the Mc even greater.
The bass is tighter and fuller with the Mc, and the overall sound a bit more balanced. 
Plenty of detail, without sounding analytical. Vocals sound "human" - you feel the emotion of the artist. The Mc pulls you into the music. Before you realize it, you are toe tapping and humming along - pure enjoyment, but not for someone looking to analyze every last detail.
Produces significantly less heat than the Prima Luna.
Enough power for my Maggie .7s  

Auditioned the MA252 driving a pair of Harbeth 3.1s (wish they would have set them up with the 3.2s) at Overture in DE and it was delightful. My best description would be that the combination was very musical and got the RP&T near perfect. On complex orchestral music the speakers got a bit congested in the lower-mids (the reason I wish they would have set up with a pair of 3.2s). Next step is find a way to audition at home. At least it is small enough that dragging one home to try won't dislocate a shoulder.

I have been using a Counterpoint SA 3.1 preamp/Adcom GFA-555 power amp combination in my system since the late 80's (!!) and was long overdo for an upgrade. I recently purchased an MA252 and for me, the improvement is a revelation. I can finally understand what reviewers mean when they describe things such as hearing "space around the instruments" and there being a "black background."  This integrated amp is so much more musical than what I've been listening to (or suffering with) for all these years. 

Has anybody compared the 252 to any of the “top dog” solid state integrateds from Mc, such as the MA8900 or 7900 or 8000, etc.? Not features-wise, as I realize the 252 does not have a Dac, HT passthrough, etc., but exclusively sound-wise.