I own an MC-12 and would highly recommend finding a used v2.0 for around $3K, maybe less. It is well built, does HT surround with the best, has one of the few really good synthesized multi-channel music processing, has both 2-channel and 6-channel analog pass-thru, has an excellent video switching section. I haven't compared it to a bunch of other pre/pro's - maybe there is something that edges it out (or "kick's it's ass") - but I think it's a heckuva performer, and now that they go used for this type of price, they're dynamite.
Only downside is that it doesn't do HDMI switching. Personally, I don't care, as there is a lot of funkiness to HDMI right now. It does do component video switching superbly.
Only downside is that it doesn't do HDMI switching. Personally, I don't care, as there is a lot of funkiness to HDMI right now. It does do component video switching superbly.