That is why I buy a complete system from one manufacturer. Everything is designed to work in harmony with each other. All I have to do is listen to the music… 👍 The science was already done by people a hell of a lot smarter than me..👍
@@davidfromamerica1871 On a more serious note.... while there can be advantages to a one maker solution, there are generally accepted standards that allow you to freely mix and match stuff pretty much at your whim and will. For example... most RCA interconnects work at 2 volts, with a low output impedance (typically 75 ohms or less) feeding a higher input impedance on the next stage (typically 10k ohms or more). This ensures that you can hook up an acme tuner to a widget amplifier and it will work. So don't be too worried about matching stuff... all those smarter people already thought of that years ago.
@@Douglas_Blake_579 That is why I am not an Audiophile..😀😀😀😀 I am not smart enough to be an Audiophile.😀 My IQ is too low..😀😎 That is why I just sit facing the wall mumbling to myself. Sometimes I even listen to Muzak..😀 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-opdo4Qux1tI.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_0iG682XsTY.html
@@davidfromamerica1871 LOL ... I hear ya! The other day I was introduced to a friend of a friend ... Friend: "This is Douglas, our local audiophile." Me: "I see no reason to be insulting" Friend of friend:
As a fellow audiophile, I'd just like to say that I'm proud of the torrent of confusion our associate has inflicted upon the normal people. Keep it up!
If you use an auto transformer rather than a primary - secondary step down transformer, the efficiency is greater and therefore better regulation - lower impedance too. If you go for a rating 50% more than required, that's all you need, even with trouser flapping bass.
You shouldn't need multiples of your amp's power draw requirements in a step transformer. Remember that your amplifier has stored power in the power supply caps to supply peak power. In other words, an amp's headroom is provided by the onboard power supply. The wall power is there primarily to keep the power supply capacitance energized.
I would inspect any power amp for internal conversion ability. All of my Aragon amps have dual primary windings on their toroidal transformers and are easily switched between 120/240V. But some have external provisions and others have to be opened up to make the change.
You will be using a 2:1 ratio step down transformer ..Get onebrated for 15 amps secondary.And you will be fine if yiyvcan get a 20 amp seconday it would be better but the cost amd size goes up .2 KVA transformer is more tham enough .And if you cam get a tramsformer with a secondary tap so you can puck the voltage you desire .A 3 kva variac is expensive .Compared to an ordinary step down transformer ...And just remember yiu have a choices to wire it with an isolated ground and if you wanted a secondary center tap transformer you will have to bond the neutral /Center tap ..So many ways to do it
Yes you are 100% correct. But if i was to buy a power amplifier with a primary input voltage of 110/120 Volts. I would see if that power amplifier also has the capability of switching to 220/ 240 Volts. These days manufactures should ( ?? ) be able to build the power transformer with duel voltage , this being so as that Power amplifier could be sold all over the world. But then comes the cost involved and trying to compete in a globle market.
Paul should have suggested buying an amplifier with a voltage selector --- or at least a dual-primary transformer --- so it can be correctly set up to operate on 230 volts.
Sometimes you can change the input voltage at the back of the amplifier or by soldering some wires differently inside. And why not change the transformer inside, powerful step down converters are expensive, I bet you can get a transformer for the same money as long the output voltage is the same.
5x is OK for mid power amplifiers and source gear, but when we get to 200 watts RMS per channel, 2x is enough in a residential system. Otherwise the size of the transformer gets ridiculous. Class B amplifiers are anywhere from 60-75% efficient. Class D can get to 95-98% efficiency. If I had a large power amplifier I would consider two step down transformers. One for the amp at 2X it's RMS power and a small 250va for my source components and preamp. This will result in less voltage sag for the source components, albeit they probably have regulated power supplies anyway.
Most power converter step-down transformers (that I’ve seen!) halve the mains voltage and double the current flow, and are rated for around 25-50 amps at 120 vac! That’s PLENTY of current/voltage to power a 300 w/ch amplifier!!! C’mon Paul!!!
I have a sold in Japan Denon turntable that is set to 100 volts and I use a step down transformer to go from 120 down to 100 for the turntables needs..works fine
Be careful though. Some areas of Japan, IIRC the north, use 50hz @100 v. If the turntable has a line operated AC motor it will run faster. Many legacy turntables of this type do have a different pulley step for 50hz. Direct Drive turntables use DC or multi phase AC motors driven by a servo system and are not line frequency sensitive.
That would be step down, if you needed a transformer. But you probably don’t. Check the specs on the 100V amplifier and see what range of input voltage it tolerates. Chances are good that it would take 120V, no problem.
Paul has said before that all their products are universal. Class D amps like Sprout and Stellar probably don't even have 120/240V switches. BHK amp have a multi-volt transformer - you need a physically bigger one for 50Hz as it's less efficient than 60Hz. But they won't tell you the wiring!
How would this work for importing Japanese power specifications integrated amps AC100V 50/60HZ to the US for use on AC120V 60HZ? Would you still use the same ratio? Is there an impact to the sound signature?
The ratio in this case would be 120:100. The amp needs a specific set of voltages to operate. EG, 40V DC for the output stage, and 3.3V for some control circuit. The amp has a transformer with multiple taps to supply sufficient current at the specific voltages it's circuits require. So your Japan market amp expects 100 in and for eg 45V, 10V and 5V out. To use it in a 120V system, you either need to change its internal transformer to match 120V in or supply a step down transformer to feed it the 100V AC it is designed to operate. Regarding sound signature... running the amp on a stepdown transformer will likely change the sound signature a little. Some may prefer it and others not. I experimented with running an isolation transformer (120V:120V) as a noise filter. To my ear it slightly dampened dynamics. This was the same even with a massive 1000VA thing that weighs 50 pounds. I concluded that on the DAC, it was ok, but on the power amps it was marginally worse. I think it could be a mistake to buy a Japanese amp for its ability to provide nuanced sound, and then potentially dampen it's performance with a step down transformer.
@@user-od9iz9cv1w Thank you for the detail response and advise. I've been looking at the new LUXMAN - L-507Z Integrated Amplifier and the difference is about $3.5k from buying it in the US compared to importing it from Japan - but it sound like is not worth going the import route.
Can the PS audio power-plant step be configured to step down the the voltage from 230VAC to 115VAC? Also, the first thing to do is to see if the transformer in the amplifier can be configured for 220/230VAC. That would be the best scenario. Then, I would go about it a bit different: The starting point is not the power output rating but the power in take rating. And that is written on the back of the amplifier (by law in many countries). Now here is the good news: A step down transformer is *NOT* an audio product, so you will be surprised how cheap an industrial 3kW step down transformer is (buy it at Mouser). So if your US bought amp is something special, add a few hundred bucks for a monster step down transformer and Bob's your uncle.
Take what Paul said with a handful of salt! A big pinch.. Check the back - if it's 110 - 240V you're ok. If you have a 30+30W amp, it'll probably only be providing 3+3W most of the time. Loud enough for most people with a family and neighbours. So a 100W transformer from Mouser will be enough. Turn too high, next door will complain and quality may drop a biit. But if your ears are bleeding, you probably don't care!
The old saying: “Keep it simple Stupid” Powered speakers are a good example of that. Easy to set up, plug and play. Buy an amp that already has the proper voltage for your region. 👍
