You beat me to it, I was thinking exactly the same. Why does he not let the power plant go to 100VAC? The answer could be twofold, the first one is that 106VAC will really be low enough (I would not feel comfortable with 120VAC on a vintage amp that is rated at 100VAC). The second one is that al these second hand and vintage high end Japanese amps are competing directly with his own flag-ship products. So the power-plant may become a Trojan horse from a business perspective :) Adding an other thought, I think the buyers of vintage and second hand Japanese amps are definitely not the target group for PS audio. So by extending the lower voltage to just under 100VAC and marketing the Power-plant to this group, PS audio could actually create a new market for the Power-Plant, and even win those customers over for other products. In order for this not to backfire, they would have to establish the vintage buyer as a distinct sub-category of people in the eyes of their regular customers, which is actually the truth. The question that remains for us is, does the architecture of the Power-Plant allow for this lower, Lower-Limit?
@@glenncurry3041If that's how you think about high end vintage Japanese audio, I would hate to think what you have to have to say about a vintage Ferrari.
I still have my Japanese Nikko receiver from 1978 that's 100 V and I always plugged it directly into the wall from the day I bought it. Never a problem. Still works great and sounds good too..👍
I have a Technics EQ from like 1984 that is the same. I always plugged it into the back of my receiver so it would come on the same time it does. It was only a couple years ago I realized it was 100V but it worked for 35 years before I knew it so......
Reminds me of a USA voltage audio setup I had running in some apartment in China used for supplier meetings. When I came back to this apartment there was a strong smell and the entire system had all fuses blown and some actual circuit damage caused by the cleaner disconnecting the power plug from a large transformer to connect some power strip directly running the 110V gear on 220V.
I have seen some equipment which is specified to operate from ~90V to 240V. With switching supplies it's just a matter of rating the switching devices for both the max current and max voltage rating for high voltage. The advantage for the manufacturer is that there is really "one size fits all".
One way of dealing with this situation is to use a low voltage bucking transformer. An electrician or electronics technician can set up a comparatively small transformer wired to subtract its output voltage from a dedicated outlet box for the 100V device. For example a 12V 10A transformer can adjust 117V input to 105V nominal, hence a 120VA (nominal) transformer can supply a 1000VA (nominal) device. I use this technique on a couple of pieces of equipment - here in Australia our specified 230V mains is often above 240V, and some of my audio equipment declared as 220/230V has noticeable transformer magnetization buzz when run from the normal 242V I get at my home. The buzz goes away when I run my powered studio monitors using a 20v bucking transformer - I suspect they actually have 220V transformers.
The low end is when the voltage regulators supplying power to the front end stages lose lock and the high end is when the main caps voltage rating is approached. In between those values sonics will happen but damage does not. If a range is not stated anyone with a variac, a voltmeter and the ability to use them can establish what the upper and lower limits are. With power amplifiers sometimes a quick and easy rebiasing back to factory specs may be advisable.
Lots of Japanese audio gear on ebay. Luxman and Accuphase amp's are really common. I have a Luxman L-509x that I purchased in the US from an authorized dealer, so a proper 120V 60hz version. A friend purchased a Japanese version, 100V 50hz and is using a transformer. We both can hear subtle difference in the imaging and sound field.
There's some really cool old gear you can get from Japan. Accuphase, Onkyo, and Luxman units that are either VERY rare or simply don't exist in the U.S. are pretty common. It's not really the cheapest option, but some very special gear can be found. There's an Onkyo M-510 Grand Integra that I would LOVE to snag, but shipping a 95lb amp from Japan is basically as much as the amp.
I lived in the UK twice, 5 years each time. I ran us audio equipment both times using a transformer with no issues. The difference in hertz made no issue as all audio equipment steps down the voltage and also converts it to dc. You dont need a huge transformer either as most stereo equipment does not draw a lot of power. A 500 watt transformer would run a complete system with a lot of room to spare. Used to run mine on a 250 watt transformer. I doubt there would be an issue running a 100 volt system on 120, but i cant confirm that. But the hertz is definitely not an issue.
This would apply to audio equipment from Japan that don't have motors, turntables etc. As we all know, western Japan is 100v 50Hz and eastern Japan is 100v 60Hz. Years ago, in the 1980's when I was first in the military, a lot of the big Japanese electronics companies sold audio equipment that had switches on the back that one could choose between 100v - 240v - 50/60 hz. Not sure if those models were made specifically for the military market. However, it would be likely that someone who purchased a receiver could stationed anywhere. I shall presume that the letter writer is probably referring to an interesting vintage Japanese tube amp or that sort of thing and not some Pioneer receiver from 1982.
Often they use a transformer that can do every voltage from 100v up to 240. Higher voltage transformers normally cost more however by using just one transformer they reduce the amount of parts they need to have in stock, that simplfys manufacting and reduces costs in the long run. The transformers output is always the same so its just which input winding they conect to. To change the operating voltage its as simple as moving a wire. .
Quite a few audio components (vintage ones especially) have a voltage selector on the back that switches between different windings on the primary. Do double-check the selected voltage before you switch the power on.
The real reason is that amplifier components did not use 100V or 120V directly. After transformers, there are lots of components handling the volte that required so what voltages of transformers input within the range affects really little.
For most source components, a 300 VA transformer will do, I'd stay away from large amps that are not native voltage. Cotek AC inverters can run 50/60hz (user switchable} for turntables etc if you need that for an exotic overseas model.
Not a widely known fact; fortunately a lot of Japanese equipment can accept both, but you need to be careful with transformers indeed; a transformer designed for 60Hz supplied with 50Hz may run hot if not designed to cope with 50Hz.
I have a friend that managed to pickup a ud501 that was 100v the previous owner ran it on 120v and it blew one of the channels of the headphone output and I don't think it was correctly responding to source bitrate changes. I also have electrostatic energizers that if I were to run them on 120v vs 100v the resultant increase in voltage would be enough to increase the voltage at the headphones to cause them to arc over and cause damage to the diaphragm if not to the energizer itself if the voltage was not constantly being shunted at the output, which I would suspect would be causing undue load on the unit if not other issues. Not worth the risk to save the $30-$60 for a step down transformer in my opinion.
As I am known for, this triggered a random neuron firing calling up an old memory from back in the day. Kenwood was introducing their new Audio Purist line at CES Chicago ('77?). Kenwood had a separate suite in the lower rooms for the line. As I would be the Rep for 6 SE states, I was one of the first in the room. Some Kenwood people from Japan were trying to get stuff working in the room. They were very upset but spoke little English and I was the only one there that did. Nothing was sounding good. They had Kenwood florescent lamp signs and they were flickering. AH! Maybe low AC line voltage! So I grabbed a sign, unplugged it and headed out of the room to an outlet in the hall. The light lit just fine and I was suddenly surrounded by a bunch of Chicago electrical Union Workers! Some of you old enough might know what that means! When Unions had power! How dare I take some Union guy's job away! I could have wound up visiting with James Hoffa! It took some work, moving the display in and out of the room, yes it lights out here, no it just flickers in here... to prove to them that so much power was being sucked by all this equipment that the AC line voltage had dropped too low in that room. Now the Union thugs were my friends and they got us our own transformer drop into the room! Not sure exactly what they said. But the Japanese Kenwood guys were very happy! I still have one of the signs!
My vintage Japanese stereo amp kept blowing its fuse when I used 110V with a servo motor AVR. Had to use a 100V step down transformer and problem solved.
I use my little step down transformer, for my rebuilt Denon auto Turntable with the magnetic tonearm ( F-65 from Japan)could I run this guy without the transformer ?
@@wisehippo3072 It's simple. according to Paul, the power plant provides a stable voltage without dip dips. If you double the voltage, the dip will be 1/4 at the same power. these dips did not make a big difference and with 240V even less
A bit overkill; quite pricey if you get the less common _isolating_ variac which I would highly recommend given the socket & plug design in the US. Also most variacs emit a soft hum. For operating a powerful amp a variac almost certainly could do with a soft-start inrush current limiter circuit which rules out all the cheap "overseas" ones....
What about Europe? - Old equipment is rated to 220V, and now in Europe we have 230V - but in my house I sometimes have 243V... And if bigger transformer is better, why you are recommending your product against a massive transformer?
Voltage was increased to reduce the power losses. Every device has a range of voltages it can operate on. The old equipment rated for 220V can handle 230V without any issues.
No. Western Japan is 60 Hz, eastern Japan is 50 Hz. Two different frequences in one country. The eastern and western power grids are connected with 4 DC lines (at least it used to be 4. Maybe that changed).
@@gtric1466 I've seen suggestion that some Japanese transformers were manufactured using a 55Hz design centre for universal application, but I have no way to confirm that. Presumably if it is true the electrical rating plate on the equipment would say 50/60Hz. wisehippo3072 may know.
@@gtric1466 50hz or 60hz would only be a problem if the equipment had a synchronous mains motor in it. Which older('60s or '70s) record decks and tape decks may have. Some equipment in Japan did have provision for this, like changing a drive wheel size, or changing the value of the run capacitor. More recent equipment usually has low voltage DC motors.
@@PlatypusPerspective just look in NEC 2023..it has risen slowly over the decades, more efficient. the old 110 from the 40's 50's long gone 115, then 120, now 125 "nominal"
Also why no Ps audio has any independent lab certs for safety? UL, ETL, CSA, anything, nope zero point zero. Yes it matters...and there is no such thing as made to the same standards, if no listed number, cert, it's not to the standard. For the absurd prices this PS stuff is sold, why no UL ETL? Greed. and maybe clueless in making consumer electrical products
I would take a look inside it if the parts have ratings on them. chances are for a lot of devices it's all the same stuff thats on a 110/120v models anyway.
Probably in 90% of cases it's ok. Good electronics design should have a bigger margin than what is official specs for the mains voltage. Too high voltage might cause some extra heat in regulators and get capacitors closer to their maximum operating voltage. And if it's a power amp, you might get some extra Watts out of it, in most cases, rather than the amp self-destructs. But there is no guarantee.
You are right for the price when you buy them as audio products. But if you buy them as industrial transformers they will be amazingly cheap. Are they too big and heavy? Well, they can easily be tucked away under a cabinet. Try that with a Power-Plant, a mono block or a subwoofer for that matter. Audio is always big and heavy. Why should it be a problem with this one component?
Perhaps so, but I'm then here in the U.S. 120v 60 Hz is the standard that we are stuck with. Do realize however, for those in 220v 50hz countries that all modern U.S. homes are supplied with 220 volts at the transformer 120v + 120v in a split phase configuration. This naturally is to run large appliances like air-conditioning systems, ovens, cooktops, water heaters and that sort of thing. For a table lamp, a computer, a TEE VEE and small appliances, 120v is just fine.
@@kennixox262Europe is at 230V 50 Hz. US is at 120V 60 Hz run as split phase, so you can get double the voltage between two phases. That's 240V 60 Hz.
