I would make sure you were dealing with an extremely reputable dealer in Japan, such as Hi-Fi Do from whom I’ve purchased in the past. In retrospect, I would be reluctant to do business with a dealer from Japan, and would find something here in the USA which will satisfy you within your budget. There are just too many things that can go wrong, Including damage from shipping internationally, customs duties, etc., and I don’t think it is worth the risk or the potential headache. Just my two cents based on years of experience,
What to expect if I import an amp and preamp from a Japan seller via US eBay
I can’t afford the cost of the amp and preamp I’d like to buy. I’ve discovered I can pay just less than half what I’d pay at a dealer in the US. But I haven’ t done this before. I’m aware that I won’t have a guarantee and that I’ll need a step down transformer. I willing to take the risk of no guarantee. But I don’t know what to expect when my box hits CUSTOMS. What can I expect? What are my responsibilities? How much is it likely to cost me?, I’ll be paying $7000 for the amp and the preamp..