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Can US 220 Volts Be Used On European 220 V Amp?

I am in the US and all my audio components run on the traditional voltage from a standard wall outlet. I am considering the purchase of a European amplifier that runs on 220 volts. If a US 220 Volt socket is added in my listening room, will the 220V European amp run properly on this US 220 voltage? Some thoughts I had is that the US 220V is 60 Hz, while (I think) the European 220V is 50 Hz.  I plugged in a volt meter into my wall outlet and it reads +/- 120 volts. Does that mean the the 2-pole voltage is 240 volts? Lots of questions and I don't want to damage the 220V European amp if I decide to buy it. Let me know your thoughts and experiences. Thanks in advance.

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sfgak
97 posts
 

 @erik_squires It Hertz me to read that…

erik_squires
15,805 posts
 

@rhg3 I'm not a turntable guy, but it used to!

Not sure how many turntables these days rely much on incoming speed but I think in the past they would.

rhg3
162 posts
 

Thank you! 
I think this is the only forum I’ve ever frequented without a ‘like’ button…

lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
673 posts
 

@rhg3 

Yes.  Changing from 50 to 60 Hz or vice versa will impact the speed of a cd player, cassette deck, reel to reel and a TT.

 

@3zub 

Much easier and cheaper to see if the 220 or 240V amp is dual voltage.  Does it say 120V/240V or 110V/220V on the back of the amp by where the plug is?  If so, you may just be able to convert the voltage by using the correct fuse value and hitting an internal switch - but check with the manufacturer first as you may need a different transformer if it’s not wired for dual voltage.
 

If not dual voltage, you can get a Step Up Transformer, but buy one that is  at least 2-3 times the output wattage listed on the rear of the amp.  The most costly thing to do is have an electrician run a dedicated line and there are usually simpler more cost effective solutions.

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cleeds
5,658 posts
 

lou_setriodes

Changing from 50 to 60 Hz or vice versa will impact the speed of a cd player, cassette deck, reel to reel and a TT.

That's only strictly true with synchronous motors. Others, such as DD, may not be affected. However, they may have other issues if not designed to run at the supplied frequency, such as overheating.

If you have a turntable with a synchronous motor, you can safely use a drive controller such as the VPI ADS to alter the frequency and, hence, motor speed. I think Walker also makes a unit and there are probably others.

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