McIntosh Mx151 vs. Krell Foundation vs Arcam AV 860

I've owned a Krell Foundation 4K Ultra HD for about three years and my experience matches @babyseaotter99 .  Truly excellent audio performance.  Lots of inputs and outputs.  Clunky OSD with 1980s feel to it.  I'm using mine with a Panasonic Viera VT60 plasma panel, though,which is 1080p not 4K.  So I'm not suffering from the shortcomings highlighted by @dynguy (yet).  However, Krell just began offering an HDMI-switcher unit that works in tandem with the Foundation and addresses the shortcomings.  This two-box approach is similar to what Meridian did with their G-series processors and HD621 switcher.  I like the Foundation so much that I might just buy the new Krell switcher in anticipation of going 4K on the panel some day.  Though, to be honest, I hope my VT60 never dies.

@srestivo the Krell 4k will pass 4k signals. So even if you do upgrade to a 4K TV it will handle the signals. The switcher allows passing 4k HDR and HDMI 2.0. I guess most newer TVs are 4k HDR hence the need for the switcher. $1,000 for an HDMI switch is pretty steep though, but I guess it's Krell so it's gonna be pricey.

I agree - if I ever upgrade to a 4k HDR TV I will likely get that switcher rather than go to a new processor, but my Pioneer plasma is going strong after 12 years (knock on wood!)

"We have had many requests for an add on to the Foundation to support HDR and HDMI2.0b, hence, the Krell HDMI 4K HDR Switcher with specs shown below. It hooks into your RS 232 port via an adapter, supplied with the unit."

@redphu72

Would you need or care for supports for 4K HDR pass through hdcp 2.2, HDMI 2.0a or Dolby Atmos, DTS-X in a HT preamp processor that you are going to get? Did you already purchase a pre pro yet since this is an older thread from 2017. Cause when you first asked or considered buying a pre pro back in 2017 you did consider the McIntosh MX151, which is an older and discontinued McIntosh processor, that does not support 4K at all. The MX160, which is a replacement model for the MX151, does support 4K Dolby Atmos DTS-X but not sure if it supports the latest HDR & Dolby Vision or not and don’t know what HDMI version the MX160 is on.

The McIntosh MX150/151/160 are McIntosh’s flagship HT processors and share nothing with Marantz processors whereas the MX13x/120/121/122 are McIntosh’s lower end or entry level HT processors and aren’t simply re-badged of Marantz flagship HT processors (AV8801/AV8802/AV8805). They use Marantz’s AV880x platforms : Marantz’s HDMI boards and AV processings, Audyssey room corrections, GUI, OSD, firmwares & remotes but McIntosh designed and built their own power supplies, voltage regulators, DAC, audio clocking and analog audio input & output stages & circuitry. They aren’t complete Marantz AV880x rebadged units. Basically with their lower end or entry level HT processors, McIntosh designed and built their own audio components and parts, so, the internal topology or architecture of audio circuitry design were pure McIntosh’s.