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Looking for advice. If one were to move their 120V audiophile system(s) from here (USA) to 240V Oz, what exactly would I be getting myself into and how many adapters and expense of conversion adapters/transformers would I be looking at if I was to do this? What would be the easiest/most cost effective approach of power conversion to get things up and running there?
I've seen adapters ranging from $5 to much much more. For audiophile high power type stuff, like power amps and such, what would be involved?
Just wondering if it might actually be easier to sell off my existing system here buy a whole new system when I get there as opposed to spending a lot on transformers, adapters and such!? Or am I making a mountain out of a mole-hill?
I'd likely be taking and assembling 2-3 systems, consisting of:
4 tube power amps
4 solid state power amps
2 Tube preamps
2 SS preamps
2 Tube cd players
2 SACD/DVD-A players
4 Open reel decks
2 turntables
2 tube phono stages
1 tube tape head amp
2 Tube tuners
2 Blu Ray players
4 powered subwoofers
So yeah about 33 pieces of 120V audiophile items would possibly go over there. What are my options (and no I'm not going to bother finding someone to rewire the existing items for 240V) and thanks in advance for your response.
Regards,
Joel
Follow Ups:
Just to follow up!
Made it to Oz but with much less in tow due to shipping expenses. Wow, don't ever try to get things here unless you have a few months to spare to limit the freight expenses!
I dragged 2 systems over. Speakers, amps, preamps, and a few SACD/DVD-A players, plus a decent PC audio network to hook up to it all. No turntable or open reel stuff came over, the cost was just too prohibitive plus trying to get it to run here would be a mess.
Anyhow---a 3000Watt transformer helped a bunch. Cost me $119 USD on Amazon before I came here. Thank God I brought it! A 1000Watt model here was $499 locally! A 50 watt one is $50. Everything here is 2-3 times more expensive. And coke (cola) costs as much as beer does! No wonder the Aussies are known for their drinking, lol.
Anyhow, just wanted to drop a note and thank those for their help with advice. I think personally that as long as you can bring a high watt transformer over, DO IT. Eat the shipping of all you USA gear (it won't be cheap!!) and still be happy. Bring as much as you can here because the prices here for anything is off the charts!
BTW I am getting some good deals here on SACDs on ebay Australia, I have bought 7 of them under $7 shipped (each), from the LSO and Sydney Orchestra. So at least I have that going for me, lol!
Happy listening, Joel
Regards,
Joel
I've been in your shoes a few times myself, though with a lot less of equipment. Been back and forth between US and Europe with my stuff.
I never had any issues with the 50/60 Hz.
Some equipment have a 110/220 Volt switch in the back.
Most of my equipment could be internally switched from 110 to 220, even there was nothing mentioned on the outside.
Best way is to look under the hood and see how many wired go IN to the power transformer 2 or 4, OR 3 or 5. If you have 4 or 5 wires you usually have a transformer with a DUAL primary winding. For 110 they run in parallel and for 220 they run in series. If you don't know what I am talking about, ask someone a technician or DIYer.
Sometimes there are even small bridges in front of the power transformer letting you choose the voltage.
Do not buy one of those $ 5 'converter' because all they convert is the plug, NOT the power/voltage.
Thanks Captain! Great info, and I will have to take a look inside some gear when I get a chance. Unless it's a simple toggle inside I wouldn't mess with it personally but would have a tech do it. Might save me some grief, so thanks for the ideas!
Regards,
Joel
There's some good advice here, and some not so good advice. Here is what I have learned after 5 international relocations:1. Take your stuff. At least the stuff you use regularly. More than a year is too long to live without a good system if music matters to you.
2. The stuff you don't use regularly, sell. Very little survives 8-10 years in storage in good condition unless you have an exceptionally good storage regime. Unless it has collector value to you, get rid of it.
3. The AVR (see link) is your best friend. Dual voltage inputs and outputs mean no worries plugging in anything anywhere. A 1000 watt unit will power most systems for around $50. Combine it with a universal power board like that shown in another post
4. Cheap wall wart style "voltage converters" are worse than useless for gear that draws more current than a reading light. Do not even try to rely on $0.99 anything
5. Label your power cords! It is inevitable that you or someone else will eventually plug a 110V component into a 220V socket either in ignorance or haste or drunken stupor. Minimize the risk.
6. Your turntables won't work without modification as the motor relies on the line frequency
7. You may not come back. Don't leave anything behind that you can't live without. I left the US in 1987 for 2 years. I'm still not back . . .
By the way, if you think the price of gear is expensive in AUS, wait until you go shopping for new software, if you can even find what you like. Forget about second hand vinyl. Prepare to do a lot of downloading.
Edits: 06/18/14
Tropo---
Thanks for the detailed response and feedback. I looked at the AVR and it seems to have some pretty bad reviews about the quality of the units. But I get the general principle of what you are saying--to find a bigger more univrsal transformer. Will have to start a search for a high quality one. (or 2 or 3!)
Regards,
Joel
I have a Fisher 500C receiver I bought from Ebay US that my brother who lives in the States brought over to the UK for me. I run it from a workplace standard 110V safety transformer used for commercial power tools on building sites. Works a treat. I use an old one that's only 500W that I got for peanuts. You can buy 3Kw or larger units quite cheaply. Set up your own 110V distribution board from one of these and you are sorted. I had no problems with 60hz designed components running at 50 Hz.
So I would say go for it.
Awesome news! Thanks Daveslater!!
Regards,
Joel
I did realize that my subwoofer plate amps have 120/240 switches on them. And my 4 r2r decks have a simple solder connection to change them from 110/120 to 220/240V So those won't be an issue. Wish all my gear had these!
Regards,
Joel
Edits: 06/17/14
Some of my stereo gear will run
on 115v 60Hz or 230v 50 Hz. A new
power cord is all that is needed.
Have you checked your components
to see if they are dual voltage
compatible?
Jerry P
Seems like you have the advice you need. I'd suggest cherry-picking favorites from your components. Bear in mind, apart from the power & cycle issues, you won't have the same access to gear that you do in the USA - you choice will be dramatically narrowed in unpredictable ways - & everything will cost more there than it does here.
You can buy new stuff in A and also order 220 equipments from UK and Europe and Japan. Clean. No step downs, surge protectors, cycle problems. Avoid possible damage in transit. Sell all 110v.
Best Wishes
Bill
Thanks for the thoughts. Yea, if I'm going to need to spend big $ to get my tube amps up and running I'd likely just start over from scratch over there. A giant American inverter on batteries isn't exactly something I'd like to tackle either, but thanks for the idea...
Regards,
Joel
it is better to start over, I was going to do the opposite with getting a Japanese integrated sent over here to the US (a Luxman), it wasn't worth it in the end. I bailed on the whole idea.
It's a bugger bear.
And, if you're interested in high quality sound, it's a bugger bear. ;)
I remember dealing with "U.S." Marantz amps in Europe, and the humongous transformers needed to make them work. Man, those transformers were huge.
If you have to do the transformer thingy, don't. Just sell your amps, and buy new/used there. Life will be much easier and pleasant.
:)
Seems like you have enough gear to make a large/quality inverter worthwhile. Might sound a little less good than regular AC, or maybe better depending, but you can get some pretty decent sine outputs from the better ones (i.e. NOT the ones typically used for solar panels).
You could use Aussie batteries to power it, that is the heavy part to ship, so no need to do that. Just remember to wire them backwards. :)
... What is the dollar value we are talking about? (just ball park?)
If you bring your stuff with you then you need a step-down transformer.
Also remember we run on 50 cycles here, not 60 like in the USofA.
Adapters are cheap but a better option is universal power boards (they will take your American plugs)
Everyone is different but I wouldn't bother taking my audio gear to another country. But, others will think differently.
Good luck!
Smile
Sox
Three sox---thanks for the response, NSW is where I'd be headed too!
Approx value of all the stuff I mentioned is probably about 20k total in the used shape they are in (not retail prices). Nothing to insane. My issue is I've looked at some of the prices for high end components over there and WOW, it's a lot cheaper for the same things here. You know what I mean? So I'm torn between saving some $$ and hauling my existing stuff ( not factoring in "hauling" costs though I admit) and converting it to your power requirements or just selling it all off and rebuying some new stuff there.
I'm just spitballing here, but is there a way an electrician there could wire up A dedicated room for USA outlets/current doing all the conversion(s) behind the scenes with transformers, USA outlets, etc? I'm sure it's possible? Or is this universal power board you speak of probably an easier approach? Thanks again for your opinion!
Regards,
Joel
... You can have an electrician install universal outlets but I doubt it is legal to have 120 Volts @ 60 Hz hard wired to the outlets. (I'm guessing, I don't know the legality of it)
For the value of your gear I am not sure I'd bring it over here. Only you can really make the judgment call but I *think* you might find the whole process a giant PITA.
I assume you want several full systems set-up which will mean several transformers etc.
Also if you have a room wired for 120V @ 60 Hz then most things electrical you buy in Australia won't work in that room. (A modern TV might but not much else, not even a damn lamp!)
Yes, prices here are different to prices there. The way many on this site whinge about the price of fuel... well let's just say; you are going to get a shock here! :)
Also, rents and real estate prices are generally a lot higher here. Depends if you are moving to a city or a regional area.
Here is a pic of the universal power board I mentioned;
Smile
Sox
Sox--
thanks for the info. Now, I'm assuming I cannot just plug in a large power amp to that strip and expect it to work, right? That board is more or less just getting the plug to fit and adapt to the Aussie plug in the wall?
I assume plugging in a dvd player or cd player into that power board would be ok however as they don't draw as much current?
Regards,
Joel
Nothing will just magically work.
The power strip picture is just to show you what a universal power board or universal receptacle looks like.
However you still need a transformer or inverter to magically turn NSW 240v @ 50Hz into 120v @ 60Hz to run your equipment.
Where in NSW are you headed? (if you don't mind saying)
Smile
Sox
Thanks for clarifying Sox, that's what I thought. Anyhow---I would be heading to a small place called Wagga Wagga for about 3-4 years and then over to Sydney for the duration of my stay, about another 5-6 years. Then back here to the USA after that for good.
Where abouts are you at if you don't mind me asking? Any good audiophile boutiques in NSW that carry decent gear you'd recommend?
Regards,
Joel
... Good grief! d:o)
Doing what? (If you don't mind me asking)
Wagga is halfway between two big cities, Sydney & Melbourne. Both have plenty of audio stores.
I live on the far north coast, About 750 clicks north of Sydney. I live in a lean-to by the water and beg for money to feed myself. I'm not sure where I got all my audio gear from :o)
Good luck with your move and your dilemma with your audio gear.
Let me know when you are headed down-under.
Cheers.
Smile
Sox
My goodness, that is in the "back of beyond"! :-)) And if you don't mind me asking ... what is a District Sales manager doing in Wagga Wagga? :-)) I hope you like the heat btw - it will be the exact opposite of Michigan, I would imagine.
My good mate 3_Sox lives on the coast of northern NSW - so, luckily, you will probably never get the opportunity to meet him. ;-))
Regards,
Andy
Wiring to 120v may be doable, but you certainly aren't going to change 50Hz to 60Hz.How long are you going to be there?
Edits: 06/16/14
shutterbob--
Well, that's the big issue---I'd be there for about 10 years and then back here for good. That's why I feel it's worthwhile to try to keep my stuff--as I'll be back in the USA eventually and I'm 42 years old now, so I would be back by 52 and here till I croak....
If I was going there forever then yea, it would probably be a no brainer to scrap everything here and start with new gear there and not go through the headaches involved.
Regards,
Joel
Generally the only thing affected by the different Hertz's are turntables ie items using AC synchronous motors.
The vast majority of other gear rectifies AC to DC anyway and as such only needs a step-down transformer.
These can usually be bought surprisingly cheaply from power tool outlets.
At least here in Europe many if not all professional power tools run off 110V transformers.
You are right, of course about 50hz vs 60hz, but some were posting about running a 110v 60hz line in Australia. Unless I am sadly mistaken, or they are running solar or a generator, 60hz ain't gonna happen.
And when I lived in Europe I never saw a 110v power tool in local use. GIs. maybe, but not the natives.
60Hz is only needed for electric motors of some TTs. Luckily those TTs use very cheap motors which could be changed for a few pounds.
50 or 60Hz makes no difference at all for something like an amplifier since the PSU rectifies it into DC anyway.
As for 110V transformers: There are a few hundred on ebay uk at any one time starting at £0.99 for a 3.3 KVA unit right now. Plenty of them in use on every building site I've ever been to.
Pretty much every US act which brings their own backline uses them for their guitar amps and such.
The problem lies not with the actual mains voltage - easily fixed with a step-down transformer - it's with the 60Hz power transformer in the stereo components.
Transformers made for 240v/50Hz will function quite happily at 110v/60Hz - providing a suitable 110v --> 240v step-up trannie is provided.
However, transformers made for 60Hz get hot when they're connected to a 50Hz mains - even though a 240v --> 110v step-down trannie is provided.
Regards,
Andy
Friends of mine moving to South America from the US got a big PS Audio power re-generator. It worked beautifully. Of course their big model will set you back $5k, so it ain't cheap.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
Wow, thanks bl.zeebub. So one of those £0.99 110V transformers and the correct plug adapter to fit an Aussie outlet and I'd be good to go, say, plugging in and running a 6x200 watt 6 channel Home theater amp I have?
Regards,
Joel
I would have thought so.
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