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Amplifier voltage conversion

I am interested in buying a processor-amplifier combo in the US and taking it to Europe, i.e. Anthem D2v+P5 or Classe SSP-800+CA-5200. Now obviously there is a voltage and hz difference between Europe and US and transformers seem to be a no-no from a sound quality perspective unless one goes for industrial/medical instrument quality products.

Now there is the option of voltage conversion by various audio shops. Now I am not veyr techie unfortunately and hence I would like to ask if anybody can explain me whether this voltage conversion has any negative benefits and what exactly is changed?

I mean is it the whole transformer that needs to be replaced (unlikely some audio shop can do that) or is it just a fuse or a switch(can even be done by a knowledgeable amateur without degrading sound I would assume)?

If it is very different between manufacturers I would be in particular interested in Classe and Anthem amplifiers and processors.

Thank you for you explanations!
kaifupaddy

Showing 1 response by david12

david12
1,454 posts
 
I have done it on a number of occasions, both a CJ Premier 17 and Karan K180. It is doeable and I had the voltage changed in the UK. The CJ ewas easy, they are built for both markets. It is simply a matter of changing the taps on the transformer, to change the voltage. Likewise the Karan
I tried it for a Viva Solista tube amp, not so good. The US voltage was doubled to what was then the European standard 220volts, not the UK's 240+, after blowing several caps, it had to go back to Italy and took a year, to have UK specifeied transformers. An expensive mistake.
The answer is then, it depends on the amp. Some are OK, some not. Tube amps seem more of a problem, perhaps because of the large plate voltages in output tubes
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