Foreign-market-only components and step-down transformers

Deli

Deli

How have your experiences been with purchasing of product designed for foreign markets only?

I am aware a step-down transformer is a simple fix for units without universal voltage switches, but wondering if this has ever proven a problem. Are the step down transformers noisy? Do they get cautiously hot? Do they affect performance of a device? Will this translate into sonic degradation?

I’m interested in experiences with both the units themselves as well as any issues folk have had with the step-down transformers.

There’s some exciting product from various manufacturers that were never exported- some beautiful product by Teac, this nifty top load CD player by Sony, a Marantz amplifier with a temperature gauge built into it’s face, the legendary Yamaha GT-2000 turntable….

I’d love to hear your experiences and if you have pictures of your esoteric grey Market gear, that’s icing on the cake.
 
I am paging @Ds2000 to see if he would be willing to share some gleaned knowledge. He is a prolific fan of Japanese domestic gear and a user of step down converters.

I also use and have used quite a few and in my experience at least have found no issues going step down. But I have reservations going step up.
 
120-100 is fine for step-down transformers, the smaller stuff can run on 300va units. Stick with Nissyo as a brand, they are good.
For bigger amps, look for the green box 1500-2000va Nissyo motor run step-downs. They won’t act as a choke, and can run at their rating continuously.
Normal integrated amps will be fine with the 550va Nissyo units.
220-120 isn’t something I’m willing to own, it’s a big step and I definitely worry about those step-downs acting as a choke.
 
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Ds2000 said:
120-100 is fine for step-down transformers, the smaller stuff can run on 300va units. Stick with Nissyo as a brand, they are good.
For bigger amps, look for the green box 1500-2000va Nissyo motor run step- downs. They won’t act as a choke, and can run at their rating continuously.
Normal integrated amps will be fine with the 550va Nissyo units.
220-120 isn’t something I’m willing to own, it’s a big step and I definitely worry about those step-downs acting as a choke.
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This is very helpful. I’ve toyed with the idea of a power amp (approx. 120wpc) and things like unique CD Players, pre-amps, and turntable drive units. Sounds like the preamps, turntables and CD players won’t tax a step-down transformer much. The amplifier, while do-able, a bit more demanding of a step-down transformer and worthy one of the more robust versions you have suggested.
 
I'm running the denon DP-80 on a step-down and it works perfectly. I also have a (currently on loan) Japanese-market Sansui AU-D607 integrated which is 100v, but always ran it on 120 without issue (as had the previous owner). My tech ran it on 120 for quite a few hours to test. When he checked temperatures and they were well within the proper range he said he couldn't really see any point to the transformer.
 
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