Anybody bold enough to try a voltage conversion on your own?


I am planning to move to Europe, and I have to convert the voltage on an audio research power amplifier, an audio research preamplifier, PS audio DAC, and a Whest Phono Stage.  While the actual price to have the factories do this is not very high, round-trip shipping and for large heavy boxes with insurance adds up very quickly! Particularly the phono stage which needs to go to England!  Not wanting to spend nearly $1000 on round trip shipping, I’d like to attempt this conversion myself, unless I am persuaded not to.

 I’ve read some of the similar posts on this forum as well as poked around on the web and I found that in many cases the conversion is simply a matter of changing the connection or sequence of a couple of wires inside the unit,  and most often does not require any serious swapping out of components.

The equipment that I would like to switch the voltage on is:

Audio Research VT100 mk II
Audio Research LS25 mk I
PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC mk II
Whest PS .30r

and lastly, the power conditioner:
Shunyata Research Talos

 Regarding this last item, the power conditioner, I spoke to Shunyata, and they told me that they can do this for me. The cost was higher than the other brands.  They would leave the standard US outlets on the back. They also told me that my collection of American Shunyata power cables will work on any voltage, so that as long as the Talos is converted to run on European voltage, the cables that I have will connect to my components, or any components that I upgrade to in the future.

So, if anyone out there has done this, or knows how to do this, I would really appreciate the guidance!  Also, if you have the skills and you are in South Florida, perhaps I will ask to hire you!

cheers,
Mark


marktomaras
Slightly hotter not worth mentioning, and it's a problem with TT synchronous motors, and some microprocessors that Krell used in their 300 integrated amp. 

Cheers George 
I spent several years in Europe both in the army and as a contractor.  If you have access to a PX over there they sell step down transformers at a reasonable price if you have to buy one locally over there it's more expensive.  There generally packaged nicely look for one that is at least 1200W larger is better.  While this probably is not the best method it is the cheapest.  Converting all your components can get pricey.
As for the 50/60 Hz this is generally not a problem.  Only one of my components balked at he frequency.  Cant remember if it was my Levinson DAC or Transport.  Had to take it to shop to have some conversion done and again when I returned
One last word of advice.  Be careful that you do not plug your equipment into the mains over there it will smoke your equipment.  Seen it happen a few times.   i\It is easier than you think wall outlets are not as plentiful over there.  You will have some pretty interesting power strips and extension cord setups