After CEDIA I've had several discussions with MK because we we're curious about bringing them in as a line. Talks were encouraging and I think we can all expect some very solid, focused, products from them moving forward. I'm bringing in their 150 system & new subs (when they ship in DEC.) as an alternative to A/B for our clients to our reference BG LA-600 Line Array Planar system that costs roughly 4x as much. The MK 150 speakers all make up a system that I think would offer a great alternative while fitting into that $12,000 - $20,000 complete theater price range. I’ve always preferred it over the Atlantic Tech and Klipsch THX Ultra systems as we’ve also brought that product in over the years to evaluate as well.
NOTE: Only a few weeks before they closed up (3 and some odd years ago) I had been in talks with M&K. Their sales manager (forget the name) couldn’t have been nicer. I was told that their issues weren’t product related from a quality stand point…. it was fulfillment and overall company structure. I’m confident that moving forward, those problems have now left the company.
I'll try to answer your concerns as best I can. The info below is gotten from my conversations with the MK management at CEDIA……
But the current M&K is entirely different than the M&K of old...the M&K that built that prestige. My understanding is that none of the personnel is the same. None of the principals involved in the development of the mention MK150 system are still with the company.
If the old products are still the same, that will be great. New products will be interesting.
Not entirely different. The "New" company is owned by a partnership that includes (or is working closely with) one of the company's key officers from before things went sour. The M&K speakers were all made using Peerless drivers. The company still works with Peerless for these parts and I was told have now developed better drivers than previous models used. These components are now specifically made to M&K’s spec, not just off the shelf as was previously done. How much that matters, I won’t waste brain power speculating on. What does come out through speaker with them is that they genuinely care and want to continue on the MK product with the same quality ideals. And YES, when the company reformed all of their models and engineering stayed intact and carried over. Meaning: The 150 is still the 150 as are most of the other models. The only thing it seems that MKSound will be doing as time progresses is updating and improving drivers while introducing new pieces to compliment the line.
One of the things I was glad to hear was the continuation and improvement of the M&K MX subwoofers which, IMO, are of reference quality.
I believe the 'new' MK is their old European distributor that is reviving the brand, so they are somewhat related. Lots of heritage/marketing value there, I suppose. Their offerings are still kind of boring looking, still kinda pricey, but if they haven't changed the formula, should sound pretty darn good. I'm unsure if the drivers are the same manufacture as before.
Ken Kreissel has a new site up, but no product:
http://www.kkprofessionalsound.com/index2.htm
I don’t feel comfortable getting into who was who and from where, but one thing that was a big point communicated from them is that they are NOT trying to just make a quick buck on the M&K name. They are vested in the brand and have great expectations to continue to not just offer their current home run hitters (like the MK 150) but also continue to improve product as the times change.
These speakers are NOT meant to be beauty queens (nor are they priced like it). They’re meant to perform. I love them because they conceal perfectly behind screens and in cabinetry. A new floor stander (available in any color you want, as long as it’s BLACK) is shipping in Dec. and is made to be more of an in-room product. Similar looking to the Atlantic Technology 4400e on its stand, only the M&K is one continuous tower.
Price wise, these are high performing speakers and are going to be priced like it. I think at $1500/ea the 150 is at a great price point.
They don't have any of the engineers or management as before. This old European distributor did not design or engineer product. So hopefully old product has not changed, and new product will be interesting.
Product has NOT changed (at least not negatively). There are people on board who were with the company previously who were decision makers and worked with engineering. From what I had heard years ago… it’s a good thing that the higher ups on the M&K mountain tops left as they were why the company crashed to the ground.
Hope some of this helped or furthers discussion on the new MKSound (notice how it’s not M&K?).
