New reference Marantz compared to McIntosh

For what it is worth I have a McIntosh MA6600 and Marantz PM8004 integrated. The PM8004 is below the reference line of Marantz.

The PM8004 is a tad leaner sounding. The MA6600 more warm sounding to my ears. Both are excellent. The MA6600 just more so. I would think the Marantz reference line would be top notch. The McIntosh besides premium sound also brings some wonderful features beyond that of the Marantz. Either would great too own and more than worth a audition.

Here's a good review of the Marantz Reference Series SC-7S2 Preamplifier and MA-9S2 Mono Amplifiers.
The reviewer compares the MA-9S2 Mono Amps to the 7000$ Bryston 6B SST2 amp and the 3100$ NuForce P-9 preamp.
The reviewer also uses the top of the line Marantz UD9004 Universal Player.
http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=242:marantz

Here's a review of the Marantz UD9004 universal player which plays everything.
http://www.audiophilia.com/wp/?p=4417

Late reply but here is how the D&M Holdings McIntosh cloning sequence goes:

1. DVD-A1UDCI
2. UD9004 (add beefier metal)
3. MVP891 (add McIntosh logo, delete one HDMI)

Any of these players should make a MCH SACD afficionado very happy, as currently there are no other MCH SACD players sporting six AKM 32 bit DACs along with fully balanced stereo stage.

I have owned both. The Marantz Reference Gear is world class and as musical as McIntosh. So really you cannot go wrong. I just replaced my McIntosh C2300 tube preamp with the Marantz SC-7S2 preamp and I am very happy, no loss of what the C2300 did well, but now I have all of that, plus a lower noise floor with better micro details and a touch of glare is gone. Use the Marantz with my McIntosh MC403 amp with great musical results. The front end is a Marantz SA7-S1 CD/SACD player and I have to say does not get much better than what I am now listening to, no matter the format.