Yes, a few good threads exist on this subject. On the question "why doesn't everyone use them?" As I recall, they are expensive to produce and McIntosh already has a production facility for these. Tooling up a factory for these would be an expensive proposition. Secondly they add a lot of weight and also cost - things that don't bother audiophiles - but for the larger market not where manufacturers want to go.
I've always wondered if autotransformers have any effect on the output waveform. Certainly a McIntosh with autotransformers has a unique sound smooth yet still able to produce detail without raising the hair on the back of your neck.
I haven't listened to the 7000 integrated but I could tell a noticeable difference between the integrateds and separates with the separates sounding much better IMO.
I've always wondered if autotransformers have any effect on the output waveform. Certainly a McIntosh with autotransformers has a unique sound smooth yet still able to produce detail without raising the hair on the back of your neck.
I haven't listened to the 7000 integrated but I could tell a noticeable difference between the integrateds and separates with the separates sounding much better IMO.