My MCD201 Review
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ron-c
Addicted Member
Porziob,
Yes, an autoformer done poorly can muck up the sound. We kind of wrote the book on proper output transformer/autoformer design though.
The problem with direct coupled solid state amps, which we build lots of by the way, is that you have to design for maximum power into a given speaker load or impedance. If you optimize the amp to run say a 4 ohm load the amp will halve power into 8 ohms and double into 2 but run hot into 2 ohms. Many high end amp in the price range of McIntosh or higher are designed to run 2 ohm loads such as many electrostatics or high end dynamic designs.
A 400 watt amp designed like this will make 400 watts into the 2 ohm speaker, 200 into 4 ohm, and 100 into an 8 ohm speaker. A big expensive amp that has a huge power supply and many output transistors that only makes 100 watts is not a good value. At any normal realistic volume level this amp will be clipping on peaks and the speaker will be damaged.
With the McIntosh design the amp will make 400 watts into 2, 4, or 8 ohms so you have full power with all speaker designs. In essence you get all the power you pay for and freedom to use any speaker you like.
Todays output transistor designs are very good and operate well from DC to 100 KHZ at full power. Above 100 KHZ things get iffy fast and the potential for outside interference in the amp grows. The McIntosh amps with the output autoformer all are rated at half power at 100 KHz and most will do full power or close to at this frequency.
The output Autoformer is the way we interface the speaker load to the output section. The Autoformer is a continuous piece of wire unlike a transformer used in tube amps. Every amp made today has a capacitor, choke coil or some way of limiting the high frequency response. We know the Autoformer is the most benign way of limiting the response beyond 100K without effecting the music. This is born out by looking at the Mc amps output on a scope for waveform fidelity and shape. All measurements concerning distortion, inter modulation, square waves, signal to noise, etc. are about as good as it gets with the signal running through the Autoformer.
The downside as I pointed out above is added cost and the weight of the Autoformers since the contain a lot of steel and copper.
thanks,
Ron-C
Yes, an autoformer done poorly can muck up the sound. We kind of wrote the book on proper output transformer/autoformer design though.
The problem with direct coupled solid state amps, which we build lots of by the way, is that you have to design for maximum power into a given speaker load or impedance. If you optimize the amp to run say a 4 ohm load the amp will halve power into 8 ohms and double into 2 but run hot into 2 ohms. Many high end amp in the price range of McIntosh or higher are designed to run 2 ohm loads such as many electrostatics or high end dynamic designs.
A 400 watt amp designed like this will make 400 watts into the 2 ohm speaker, 200 into 4 ohm, and 100 into an 8 ohm speaker. A big expensive amp that has a huge power supply and many output transistors that only makes 100 watts is not a good value. At any normal realistic volume level this amp will be clipping on peaks and the speaker will be damaged.
With the McIntosh design the amp will make 400 watts into 2, 4, or 8 ohms so you have full power with all speaker designs. In essence you get all the power you pay for and freedom to use any speaker you like.
Todays output transistor designs are very good and operate well from DC to 100 KHZ at full power. Above 100 KHZ things get iffy fast and the potential for outside interference in the amp grows. The McIntosh amps with the output autoformer all are rated at half power at 100 KHz and most will do full power or close to at this frequency.
The output Autoformer is the way we interface the speaker load to the output section. The Autoformer is a continuous piece of wire unlike a transformer used in tube amps. Every amp made today has a capacitor, choke coil or some way of limiting the high frequency response. We know the Autoformer is the most benign way of limiting the response beyond 100K without effecting the music. This is born out by looking at the Mc amps output on a scope for waveform fidelity and shape. All measurements concerning distortion, inter modulation, square waves, signal to noise, etc. are about as good as it gets with the signal running through the Autoformer.
The downside as I pointed out above is added cost and the weight of the Autoformers since the contain a lot of steel and copper.
thanks,
Ron-C
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Well, after reading the last few posts, I'm really interested to get a MA6900 to replace my current MA6500 int.amp, I really think the impedance matching is so important between the amp & speakers as the max. power transfer is the critical factor on the performance of any ampifiers, AFAIK my speakers can go down to 2 ohms in certain situation and definitely autoformer sounds a good thing for my set up.
Will I get a more "tube" like sound from MA6900 or plainly just different kind of sound performance ?
seems the original topic here is for MCD201..... :scratch2:
Will I get a more "tube" like sound from MA6900 or plainly just different kind of sound performance ?
seems the original topic here is for MCD201..... :scratch2:
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mcintoshaddict
Active Member
To answer your question about getting more of a tube sound with autoformers... some of the reviews for McIntosh solid state amps/preamps male note that they have an almost tube-like sound. (For example, one of the Stereophile reviews, Sam Tellig said the equipment had the closest to tube sound that he had ever heard.) I have a C100 and MC602 and all of my "pro-tube" friends are amazed at how much of a tube sound my system has. I've always thought the autoformers had a lot to do with that sound. (But I'm sure running balanced has a lot to do with it.) I've always thought that autoformers made for a more neutral sound, so I'm sure you'd hear and appreciate a difference by moving to an amp with autoformer output.
jim777
Just another McGeek
The MA6500 also sounds "tubish" to me and there is no autoformer. On the other hand, the MC275 is tube with lots of SS qualities (good bass, etc.).
I guess its all a question of Mac know-how!
BTW I suggest an admin split this thread (MCD201 thread + autoformer thread).
I guess its all a question of Mac know-how!
BTW I suggest an admin split this thread (MCD201 thread + autoformer thread).
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
Mcd201 at it again
My Mcd201 worked well for a week and a half after having the firmeware updated. It no longer stops playing but now it has taken to skipping and activating the power guard at loud listening. The power guard turns all the sound off until I shut it down and wait.
The dealer feels that the power guard issue is related to the Mcd201???
I thought it a differant issue.
What do you think?
What's the deal with Mac and this source???????????
Has anyone had their unit updated and now it's ok or is everyone living with problems at differant levels?
It sounds so sweet when all is working but I never fully relax with this unit as I keep expecting it to fail.
ara:
My Mcd201 worked well for a week and a half after having the firmeware updated. It no longer stops playing but now it has taken to skipping and activating the power guard at loud listening. The power guard turns all the sound off until I shut it down and wait.
The dealer feels that the power guard issue is related to the Mcd201???
I thought it a differant issue.
What do you think?
What's the deal with Mac and this source???????????
Has anyone had their unit updated and now it's ok or is everyone living with problems at differant levels?
It sounds so sweet when all is working but I never fully relax with this unit as I keep expecting it to fail.
ara:
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
jim777
I may not have expressed myself well, My Mcd201 worked well for a week and a half after having the firmeware updated. It no longer stops playing but now it has taken to skipping.
I think the power guard shut down is a seperate issue, my dealer thinks there is a connection.
No issues with your player since the firmeware?
I did not curse anything, simply expressing continued frustation.
I may not have expressed myself well, My Mcd201 worked well for a week and a half after having the firmeware updated. It no longer stops playing but now it has taken to skipping.
I think the power guard shut down is a seperate issue, my dealer thinks there is a connection.
No issues with your player since the firmeware?
I did not curse anything, simply expressing continued frustation.
ron-c
Addicted Member
If the player skips does it NOT skip on the same cut when you play it at moderate volume? If you then play the same cut loudly does the machine skip? If you answere yes to both then you may have an issue with mechanical isolation of the MCD201 chassis. In other words your speaker's bass sound is vibrating the machine where it is skipping somewhat like turntable feedback.
If the machine just skips then it needs repair or replacement.
Thanks,
Ron-C
If the machine just skips then it needs repair or replacement.
Thanks,
Ron-C
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
<<<<<<<<<If the player skips does it NOT skip on the same cut when you play it at moderate volume?>>>>>>>>>>>.
The player skips at moderate volume.
I can listen to the same song at the same volume and one days no skips on another day skips.
It just skips.
I am confused as to why it did not skip for a week and one half and no has know started.
I nearly did not post because it seems this form is a Mac cheerleading room but damn there are a lot of very sofisticated listeners here who might help.
I mean its not cheap and it is not what it should be.
When it plays it is magic and I feel that is how it should always perform.
Sincerely I appreiciate the help.
ed
The player skips at moderate volume.
I can listen to the same song at the same volume and one days no skips on another day skips.
It just skips.
I am confused as to why it did not skip for a week and one half and no has know started.
I nearly did not post because it seems this form is a Mac cheerleading room but damn there are a lot of very sofisticated listeners here who might help.
I mean its not cheap and it is not what it should be.
When it plays it is magic and I feel that is how it should always perform.
Sincerely I appreiciate the help.
ed
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