Krell 400xi or Musical Fidelity A5 for ML Summit?

I recently purchased the Krell SACD Standard+400xi combo. over the MF A5 combo. The Krell pieces sounded far more dynamic with deeper bass through a number of different Speakers. I agree with others that these Components must be run in balanced mode to sound their best. The 400xi is good on it's own, but really comes to life when paired with the Standard. Plus, in Black look far more impressive than the silver MF Components, plus you get the best Customer Support in the industry through Krell (CT).
No complaints here.

Hoo boy! Thanks everybody for your input, but there seems to be equal eloquence from both sides of the aisle. Hard to draw much of a clear conclusion. Just in case anybody is moved to chime in further, I use MIT cables--I forget which model but a pretty pricey one. I listen to just about everything, but a lot of big orchestral classical music as well as much solo piano and chamber music, plus a fair amount of small-group jazz. The set-up always seemed weakest on the symphonic stuff--somehow missing oomph.

I own a KW DM CDP and it is very very limpid in the top end; I believe that it may have the sonic signature like the A5, and similar to you I own a pair of Martin Logan SL3's. I've heard my SL3 drivven by KRELL KSA150 and the sound was very nice but failed to make me happy with the top end. A warmer pair of interconnects helped a lot (Van Den Hul the First)but I still decided to stick to my Primare A30.1 as it is more warmer overall. I think Krell gear in general have a dryer sonic print. I would consider the A5 pre-power, you can also bi-amp them when founds permit. Intersonnects DO make a difference so you may want to try VDH MC Gold interconnect.
Hope this help.

I sold my Evo rig for the 400xi...it's that good! I am currently running a MF A5CDP and will demo the sacd standard next week in my home for comparison..my dealer will allow me full credit back for the A5 if I like the standard better. My cables are MIT Oracle V2.1's. Speakers are Resolution 2's. The 400xi is actually Krell's most musical piece.

My only input is that I did direct A/B tests between a 400xi and a MF TriVista 300(a bit of apples to oranges, I know, but the cost of a used TriVista is about the same as a new 400xi) - the Krell was very articulate, I would say, but with lows a little too extreme, highs a litle bright, but a ridiculously good soundstage (this was when coupled to the Krell 280 CDP) - when using any other CDP that did not have XLR's, the sound degraded FAST. Since you have an A5 CDP, who cares about XLR's? I talked with MF directly about this many times, they simply do not believe in using XLR inputs. The TriVista is utterly laid-back, some may not like this, not sure if the A5 is the same way, but as most consider the TriVista the pinnacle of MF's products, I would assume there is some sonic signature there. MF generally not colored at all, just gives you exactly what you take in.

And as far as service goes, as someone above stated, I found Krell's service HORRENDOUS, can't even talk with anyone on the phone, no return on emails. MF, however, I have talked with Signal Path (their US Dist.) and the factory itself in England about 10 times to ask questions, coudn't have been more responsive. I doubt I will ever sell the TriVista, again, this is my only experience with MF, but it made the 400xi, a Mac 6500, and my Carver Monoblock Silver 7t's in the dust. I sold everything except my old Scott's to keep the TriVista. Accurate. No fatigue. No coloration. The Absolute Sound, at least for me, for now!