Just happened to stumble on this thread. I have an original 28k, and I can tell you that it is a very nice piece. I found it on Audiogon about 2 years ago. I think I paid around $450 for it, but it is clean and perfect. It sounds very nice and has motorized noble pots for both volume and balance. I bought it because it matches up very nicely with my 8008BB. My only complaint is that it does not have any balanced inputs or outputs, but I can live with that as my amp and pre-amp are located close together. I don't know much about the MK II. I feel your pain about your purchase, sorry that that happened to you.
Zak
Zak