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Voltage Difference query

post #1 of 13
9/21/09 at 3:41pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to get a used cd player (Rega Apollo) from overseas (me being in Australia and overseas being in America) but realized the voltage is different (Australia 220-240, USA 110-120). Is this an issue? Can the player work with both?
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post #2 of 13
9/22/09 at 4:34am
Thread Starter 
No-one knows?
I'm also wonder for a Cambridge 840C cdp.

I'm wanting to buy second hand to save money and get better equipment that I can new but that pretty means I have to buy overseas.
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post #3 of 13
9/22/09 at 6:26am
110v electronics will not work with 220v and vice versa. You would have to change/adjust the internal power supply/transformer and possibly the power cord.
That being said, some electronics come with a switch allowing you to change the source from 110/115v to 220/240v (similar to the switch on computer power supplies).

AFAIK the Cambridge 840c has a switch. I don't know about the Rega Apollo.
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post #4 of 13
9/22/09 at 9:03am
Thread Starter 
Thanks.
It would be great to find out if the apollo can work with both voltages. Anyone know?
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post #5 of 13
9/22/09 at 11:08pm
You could also purchase an external power transformer to convert from your local power to whatever the equipment needs.
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post #6 of 13
9/23/09 at 4:09am
Thread Starter 
Do these work well? Will it have a any negative effects of the player?
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post #7 of 13
9/23/09 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
Okay I've found out that the step down transformer will work well changing the voltage and the player will run fine voltage wise.

But the step down transformer can't change the frequency. Will the different frequency create a problem for the player?
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post #8 of 13
9/23/09 at 5:20pm
I would not use a step down for a audiophile player. Rega is British, it's the same voltage as Oz. So why are you looking at US 110V Rega?

I had a Rega, and Planet 2000. Nice sounding player.
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post #9 of 13
9/23/09 at 6:25pm
Thread Starter 
delete
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post #10 of 13
9/23/09 at 10:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by iriverdude View Post
I would not use a step down for a audiophile player.
Why wouldn't you use a step down?

Oh and I was looking at the 110V plater because I can across one that was a real good deal.
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post #11 of 13
9/24/09 at 11:29pm
A step-down transformer shouldn't negatively affect the performance of a well-engineered piece of electronics. The voltage is getting stepped-up and -down on the way into your home. And many electronics use a step-down power transformer inside.

The wrong frequency may or may not cause a problem. It depends. If the AC is feeding a simple voltage rectifier, it shouldn't matter.
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post #12 of 13
9/25/09 at 1:19am
A step down will work fine. They claim it will work on 50Hz or 60Hz. The manual for the unit also claims it only consumes 12W of power. That's nothing when compared to other devices in your home, such as a 60W light bulb.

We make use of 60Hz in certain countries so we can make equipment smaller. Other places use 50Hz so equipment connected to a grid will generate smaller reactances than at 60Hz.

When you full wave rectify 60Hz, you end up with 120Hz right before capacitors and resistors in the power supply smooth out the AC to DC. In a 50Hz system, the rectified AC ends up being 100Hz. So, your ripple will be different, although almost certainly not nearly enough to make a difference in this case.

http://www.rega.co.uk/downloads/Apol...h%20manual.pdf

Amazon.com: Power Systems Analysis and Design (9780534548841): J. Duncan Glover, Mulukutla S. Sarma, Thomas Overbye: Books
first chapter page 13

Amazon.com: Microelectronic Circuits Revised Edition (Oxford Series in Electrical and Computer Engineering) (9780195338836): Adel S. Sedra, Kenneth C. Smith: Books
ripple equation on page 184

Converting 50Hz to 60Hz on your own is a little bit difficult, but doable. Hope this helps.
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post #13 of 13
9/25/09 at 1:31am
Thread Starter 
I contacted the Rega Australia distributor yesterday and a service technician, who couldn't have been more helpful, said the frequency wouldn't be an issue, the player will work fine, so you're right deltay.

He also said with much confidence that there shouldn't be any problem performance wise using one.
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