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Using 120V amp in a 100V area

I am currently looking for an amp. I have been looking at new and used amps at audiogon and one problem that I have been having is that the voltage (120) is different from Japan (100). While 120V electronic equipment does work here, I wonder how it would affect both an amp and the sound. One suggestion has been to use a voltage converter. I wonder whether this would make any difference to the sound since ideally your amp is plugged into an outlet. Advice would be appreciated.
ice2000
2 responses Add your response
jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
I was letting someone else answer this, but...

One effect of running a 120v. amp on 100v. will be c. 1/6 lower maximum power. Another will be incorrect bias voltages/currents. A technician (or perhaps you) can adjust the biases.

At 100v. I THINK you'll get MOST of the power and quality that was designed into the amp but probably not the last and finest degree.
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eldartford
4,262 posts
 
It all depends on whether the equipment has a regulated power supply or not. A piece that I just bought does have a regulated supply, and, according to the owner's manual, will function properly with ac voltage from 92 to 130 volts, 50 or 60 Hz.

As Jeffreybehr says, even without a regulated supply a power amp ought to be OK.
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