Hi, I have a technical question, hopefully someone can enlighten me.... I am from USA, which uses 120V 60Hz power sources. If I buy an AV or an amplifier from Japan, which uses 100V 50Hz, and import to the US:
1. WITHOUT THE POWER CONVERTER (Step up/down..etc..), will the Japanese's unit (which uses 100V-50Hz) be working properly?
2. Assumed it works, will the differences in the electrical current affect/change the sound quality, performance of the receiver/amp?
3. Will the different in electrical current affect the longevity of the unit?
4. Can I buy the power supply from the US version unit, and replace the japanse's power supply.... will that fix all the issues? or will there be more to it (tuning inside the circuitry...etc). I am aware the radio frequencies will be different, but I am not using the radio. Thanks
1. WITHOUT THE POWER CONVERTER (Step up/down..etc..), will the Japanese's unit (which uses 100V-50Hz) be working properly?
2. Assumed it works, will the differences in the electrical current affect/change the sound quality, performance of the receiver/amp?
3. Will the different in electrical current affect the longevity of the unit?
4. Can I buy the power supply from the US version unit, and replace the japanse's power supply.... will that fix all the issues? or will there be more to it (tuning inside the circuitry...etc). I am aware the radio frequencies will be different, but I am not using the radio. Thanks
The unit I was looking at only setup for 100V (Japan version) and 120V (US version), none adjustable. The specific amp mentioned here is a Denon PMA 600NE (or 800NE). In US, Denon only offered the unit in BLACK color (with 120V-60Hz), while in Japan and europ, Denon offered this exact unit in BLACK or SILVER (with 100V-50Hz or 230V-50Hz, respectively). I dont like black gears, and think tha the SILVER unit looks more "expensive". I planned to buy the Japanese's version, then replace the INTERNAL POWER UNIT with the USA's unite power supply (should be exactly the same, just different voltage). My question is that all (power supply) the component it takes, or there is more to it like circuitry tuning? different components? is it a plug and play (the power supply component)??
Thank you
Thank you
yes..... First, I CANT buy these parts in SILVER in the USA (stupid Denon purposely keeps these silver models out off US). Second, I will be cheaper to just buy thesingle internal power supply unit (USA version), if that will work. I was so mad: Denon do have these silver models, and they are selling it everywhere except USA!! I emailed Denon, the dealers' year after year requested these SILVER models, but they didn't care. I have their last SILVER color receiver offered in the US (Denon AVR 3805)... Almost 20 years later, it is still one of the best-looking gear I ever owned!!
to sell a BLACK Japanese model in US will be difficult. People can buy a regular black model from any US dealers for big discount (with warranty) and without having to worry too much about voltage differences. It is also doesn't justify to spend too much on this amp, at double the price, I can get a much nicer unit (but still in BLACK!!)
Maybe it is not such a good idea as it already is sensitive. The silver version will not only look expensive but it just may be expensive as well 
The transformer in between is a laymen's solution. Just buy the version suitable for the mains voltage and frequency as available where you live. It also seems the name and looks are still the usual Denon but the devices are less so.
BTW it does not have a SMPS but a good old transformer. You probably have better luck with a 230V version that just may have internal 120V taps (they often have). That is a nice one to find out.
The transformer in between is a laymen's solution. Just buy the version suitable for the mains voltage and frequency as available where you live. It also seems the name and looks are still the usual Denon but the devices are less so.
BTW it does not have a SMPS but a good old transformer. You probably have better luck with a 230V version that just may have internal 120V taps (they often have). That is a nice one to find out.
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Use a 20V 5A transformer to bucking down the mains voltage to 100VAC, it can providing up to 500VA of power.
https://sound-au.com/articles/buck-xfmr.htm
Japan is all 100V nominal. Some areas 50 Hz, some 60Hz. An amplifier that works on 100V 50 Hz will be happy on 100V 60 Hz, as the transformer has an easier time. I would use a bucking transformer to drop 15V for US mains. How they ever used turntables with AC motors is a mystery.
Not a mystery but simple engineering A bit like using devices on the right mains voltage. As it seems exactly that mains transformer is a bit sensitive so maybe one should think simple and just use the right transformer for the right mains voltage without anything superfluous and ugly in between of which family members have no idea what and how to switch on/off. To use stuff as intended for the area where it was sold without minding the color. Novelty!
It would be funny if it turns out the EU and/or UK versions do have 120V taps. I regularly see electronic devices on the inside and it is quite common to find 115 or 120V taps certainly in Japanese made gear which I find surprising. Mains transformers here very often have 2 x 115V primaries to make them versatile. Not for us as wiring is ugly that way. Maybe because of US military bases in Europe as there is no 115...120V to be found here. Too much copper and too high losses.
Here a fault possibility used to be that PSUs were set to 115V
A bit like using devices on the right mains voltage. As it seems exactly that mains transformer is a bit sensitive so maybe one should think simple and just use the right transformer for the right mains voltage without anything superfluous and ugly in between of which family members have no idea what and how to switch on/off. To use stuff as intended for the area where it was sold without minding the color. Novelty!It would be funny if it turns out the EU and/or UK versions do have 120V taps. I regularly see electronic devices on the inside and it is quite common to find 115 or 120V taps certainly in Japanese made gear which I find surprising. Mains transformers here very often have 2 x 115V primaries to make them versatile. Not for us as wiring is ugly that way. Maybe because of US military bases in Europe as there is no 115...120V to be found here. Too much copper and too high losses.
Here a fault possibility used to be that PSUs were set to 115V
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A 100V/50Hz transformer will work very well when fed with 120V/60Hz (20% more voltage/20% higher frequency will cancel each other). The 100V/50Hz version has slightly thicker primary magnet wire than a version sized for 120V/60Hz resulting in less power loss in the winding. The higher frequency will cause a little higher power loss in the core. Over all, no problem. The higher frequency will also result in a slightly reduced ripple.
The UK 230V version is a bit sensitive though:
The transformer costs 94,20 UK Pounds so 112 Euro. Gamble and loose For 124 US $ one can buy a bucking contraption, a 120V to 100V conversion transformer/obstacle or use the 100V version on 120V mains voltage in famous "anything goes" tradition till it breaks down or
...just buy the original 120V transformer at Denon.
The transformer costs 94,20 UK Pounds so 112 Euro. Gamble and loose
For 124 US $ one can buy a bucking contraption, a 120V to 100V conversion transformer/obstacle or use the 100V version on 120V mains voltage in famous "anything goes" tradition till it breaks down or...just buy the original 120V transformer at Denon.
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