Mcintosh Question- Looking for feedback


I was recently exposed to Mcintosh. I've owned Krell/Pass/Plinius/Parasound......I did get to hear the Mac amp I'm referring to.....but I didn't really get a chance to fully process the sonic signature. I just didn't have enough time. It did sound really good but it was in a top flight setup...and that was to be expected.

My question is:    I really like the Mac MA 7900. Its the 200 watt Integrated amp. How would you describe the sound from Mac solid state amps? What would you compare it too?

I'll be honest the sound was great....but the" visual eye candy effect" was stunning...absolutely the most visually pleasing gear I've seen personally.
.
I'm currently using the Parasound Halo Integrated. The Mac Ma 7900 would replace this. How much of an upgrade would this be ?

Any and all insight would be appreciated.  Also can someone give me the shortened version on why Mac has different speaker connections for different ohm speakers? I accustomed to wattage doubling in 4 ohms...any and all hel would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

krelldog
krelldog

Showing 1 response by almarg

Also can someone give me the shortened version on why Mac has different speaker connections for different ohm speakers? I accustomed to wattage doubling in 4 ohms.
Many of the McIntosh solid state amps are unusual in that they employ an autoformer (aka auto-transformer) at their outputs.  The rationale is basically that the output stage of the amp will then see essentially the same load when a 2 ohm load is connected to the 2 ohm tap as when a 4 ohm load is connected to the 4 ohm tap as when an 8 ohm load is connected to the 8 ohm tap.  And consequently the output stage will not have to supply the increased amount of current that would normally be drawn by a speaker having low impedance.

As you noted, with that approach the maximum power capability of the amp is the same in each of the three cases, as it is in the case of many tube amps which provide multiple taps on their output transformers.

What can be said about that approach?  Well, it's a design philosophy.  FWIW, I would neither be attracted to nor reject a McIntosh amplifier from consideration based on its use of that approach.

Regards,
-- Al