Processor question

My experience after trying a whole slew of these things is there is no way to add a processor without your stereo taking a hit. And not some minor hit like you can fix with a better power cord or shelf or whatever either. Like fatal. Like for every dollar you spend on a processor, the more you spend the more you have to spend just trying to make up for it.

Don’t take my word for it. Bring some of these marvels home. Hook em up. Hear for yourself.

This is why my dual use system is stereo. Because it is just a whole lot easier to enjoy a movie in freaking insanely good soundstage stereo than it is to enjoy music with an irrecoverably wrecked sound due to the whole HT thing. A situation made worse by not having video to distract you from the bad sound. 

Do it this way and the one compromise you make for stereo is not being able to treat the front wall. Even that can be done, you would just need a retractable screen. For movies the only compromise is not having surround. But in return you get much more captivating stereo sound. So it is a wash.

What we are left with then is no earthly reason to go multi-channel, other than marketing having programmed people to lurch HT as a reflex, without ever thinking things through. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367

to mastering92...I have read everything I can find about the two processors. I am hoping someone who has heard them can offer an opinion, but thanks for the response.
to millercarbon... Thanks for responding, and I appreciate your perspective, but I will be getting one of these marvels and am hoping to hear from a member that has listened to one or both.

I agree, you take a huge hit on your audio system by trying to do both. I stopped trying 20 years ago. So I have my audio system downstairs (in the largest room in the house), and my partner has her Home Theater upstairs in the living room. It is no slouch either 5 B&W 805’s, 2 800 series subwoofers. Meridian surround processor. It was very worth slowly building both.

Personally I find notice sound nuances in the home theater as my minds eye is so distracted by the video. It is the stereo audio that takes the big hit... not the home theater part.

ghdprentice...I appreciate your post, but I have one room which is being used for both. I'd guess processors have gotten a smidge better in the 20 years since you stopped. I am a bit curious as to why I've had two responses to my OP, that advocate only two channel. I get it....but why post that here as it is non responsive to my question. 
  I do thank you both for sharing your agenda with me though.
     Steven

I have not heard either, but I have done a lot of reading on them.  Based on what I've gathered, I think the Maestro X9 might be suited a little bit better for HT/movies.  The consensus is that it sounds very good, but the flexiblity on configuration is not the best.  For example, you can only set on bass cutoff frequency for all "SMALL" speakers instead of assigned a different cutoff for each set such as left/right, center, surround.  If this doesn't bother you, I might tilt a little more towards the Maestro.

The McIntosh looks awsome, but I think it might be a just a little bit warmer sounding and more forgiving of bad electronics / source content.  I can't say for sure, but that's what I gleam.  The McIntosh might be just a bit better for music, depending on what your tastes are in type of sound.