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How to change voltage on Esoteric K05X? Or is step down transformer ok?

Hi,

I would be grateful if somebody could give me some advice on the following, please.

Around five years ago I bought in Japan an Esoteric K05X Sacd player (Japanese voltage). Now I have moved to South Korea and the voltage here is 220V. I am running the unit on a voltage step down converter that I brought over from Japan.

my questions are:

1. in terms of sound deterioration, how ‘bad’ is it to use a voltage step down transformer in general? 
2. I wonder whether the Esoteric K05X can be modified to run on 220V? If so, how? Does a dealer do this? Can it be done by somebody who knows electronics, ie is it a matter of doing ‘only’ some soldering?  I looked into the unit and I could see the ring transformer and on the main board some writing showing 250V. 
Thanks for your help!

cheers,

Steffen




steffeninseoul
2 responses Add your response
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,181 posts
 
1. in terms of sound deterioration, how ‘bad’ is it to use a voltage step down transformer in general?
Not all step down transformer created equal, A good one will not degrade sound quality, in some cases, an isolated step down transformer can improve SQ.
2. I wonder whether the Esoteric K05X can be modified to run on 220V? If so, how?
Depends on the model, some model just simply move connectors, some need to replace transformer, ask your dealer for advise.
 I looked into the unit and I could see the ring transformer and on the main board some writing showing 250V.
Can you provide a link to some close up photos?

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Not bad at all. My whole system is on a step down transformer, from 240 to 120, and I am in the US. Vast majority of power conditioners are based on transformers, only difference being they are 1:1 not stepped up or down. 

The modification you are talking about can work only if Esoteric uses a transformer with wires coming off different taps to be used in different countries. In that case they would hopefully be able to tell you which wires to use, and then it could be as simple as soldering a couple of wires. Or if you could find a circuit diagram, but those are often times hard to come by, proprietary information and all. 


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