MAC Autoformers?


Someone is selling a MAC MA6500 Integrated claiming its superiority over the Ma6600 due to the fact that "it does not have the degrading autoformer design found in the MA6600". That is the first time I've heard a claim that the autoformer was a hindrance to better performance; I thought quite the opposite. What do you MAC Maves think?
pubul57
Mac's autoformers kills the amps transparency characteristics.
Also some used to refer to them as having poor transient response(the autoformer). That was a big edge companies like Accuphase had over Mac transistor amps years back,plus other companies now.
I'm not nearly as knowledgable as our "in-house" expert, Aball, on all things McIntosh, but I do know that my MC7200 does not have the autoformers and it is one very nice sounding amp, probably one of the best McIntosh built for the money. As usual, opinions will vary...
I am not a Mc fan, nor am I a proponent of auto-formers such as speltz's, but I wouldn't be so quick to shun them or their use by Mc. Transformers are a mature technology that modern audio has only begun to tap (pun intended), ie- amorphous (metallic glass) cores are seldom used. One reason comes to mind, transistors typically don't have the same transfer characteristics between P and N types (PNP/NPN) and transformers allow use of one type for push pull operation. For me the "whole" is far more important than the parts.
The MC7200 is one of the finest amps ever made by McIntosh BECAUSE it does not have autoformers (another being the MC122 - no meters though, 80w).