DC, VA, MD Areas Head-Fi Up Coming Meet At Fairfax City Library on Saturday June 29 2024

[botmann]

I drove about 1.5 hours from the Baltimore.

On a side note, I was late to work. I overslept 2.5 hours, LOL.

I was fun time nonetheless. Always fun to check out other people's stuff.

 

[Svperstar]

I'd really like to go to the meeting, but not 'empty hands.' l wish l could take with me my Audio-GD Reference 10.32, l'm sure some of you would like to try it. Problem is it's been sitting in the basement for almost 2 years. l was living in Europe when l bought it (220-240V).

I don't know if I talked to you at the meetup, but my Blue Hawaii is 220v only with no switches, I just used a step-up transformer I got on Amazon for like $40......then I read a reddit post where someone said that brand was crap so I got one from a different manufacturer. Works perfectly fine, no hardware modding necessary.

Just keep in mind step-up voltage converters with proper EU plugs are better and safer then "Universal Plugs" which may not have ground.

 

[IYAshike]

l've been looking at those, but l wasn't convinced. Knowing that you're having a positive experience with the one you have certainly encourages me to give it a try (as your use case scenario is the same as mine). Would you mind sharing the exact 'step-up voltage converter' you're using with your Blue Hawaii amp? Thanks in advance.

 

[Svperstar]

l've been looking at those, but l wasn't convinced. Knowing that you're having a positive experience with the one you have certainly encourages me to give it a try (as your use case scenario is the same as mine). Would you mind sharing the exact 'step-up voltage converter' you're using with your Blue Hawaii amp? Thanks in advance.

I'm using this one. My amp is from Ukraine and using Type F plugs and with this step-up transformer is grounded with those plugs.

I don't know why you are skeptical. Step-up/down transformers are standard for people who move between the US and EU regularly. A guy at the meetup said he ran his house off them when he moved to the EU

https://www.vevor.com/variable-tran...0v-110v-220v-us-uk-p_010406169867#goodsDetail

 

[IYAshike]

Thanks for the quick reply.

l'm skeptical because l read conflicting information online and, since l am not educated in the matter, l find it impossible to make up my mind so l go for the 'safer for my amp' option (i.e. not buying any). To add insult to injury, l read reviews about the different products l found and some fail after 1 year, others fry (potentially being a fire hazard), etc. l do admit l tend to believe more in the lower rather than the higher ratings when reading product reviews.

I did come across multiple reviewers who did what you just mentioned (they moved to Europe with US appliances and vice versa). Some were more successful than others... l guess that's just life.

I looked at the link you provided. Wow, $40! l was looking at products ~$200.

l'll certainly give it a try. l'll let you know if things work out well for me. Again, thanks very much!

PS: l got 2 different units (see below): 1 that will arrive tomorrow and the other that's the same brand you have, arriving next Friday 12th). You may have just saved me $1000 as l was about to order an Audio-GD D28...

 

[Svperstar]

PS: l got 2 different units (see below): 1 that will arrive tomorrow and the other that's the same brand you have, arriving next Friday 12th). You may have just saved me $1000 as l was about to order an Audio-GD D28...

That Rockstone has a "Universal" Outlet on it......those haven't been certified by any country, do you know what kind of plug your EU amp has on it? If its typical EU plugs then it most likely won't be ground on that Universal plug, plugs from the UK "Type B" will have grounding.

If your amp has a removable power plug then you can swap the EU plug for a UK plug and have grounding.

I wouldn't recommend using a Universal Outlet, thats why the one I linked you has EU outlet
There is a website with a great chart that showed the different countries that ground and which don't with a universal outlet but im not finding it now:

https://electronics.stackexchange.c...cal-sockets-plugs-have-two-pins-for-grounding

 

[IYAshike]

Now you believe me when l said "l am not educated in the matter" l only bought the one arriving tomorrow to 'bridge the gap' until the other unit arrives. But yeah, l may die while waiting using the 1st unit if ungrounded (l take these things very seriously).

My amp does have a removeable power cord and l do have UK cords (type B) at home (we were living in London for 5 years. In fact, that's where l last used my amp).

l'll take a look at the web you sent. l guess, if my Reference 10.32 has been sitting in the basement for 2 years, it might as well sit there for 2 more weeks, don't you think so?

By the way, my Sony TA-FA5ES (speaker amp) has also been sitting in the basement for 2 years. l hope this 'step up converter' venture works out for me and l can enjoy my beloved devices once again. Thank you!

 

[Svperstar]

My amp does have a removeable power cord and l do have UK cords (type B) at home (we were living in London for 5 years. In fact, that's where l last used my amp).

You can do what I did for the meetup, just hook the UK cord to your amp and the Universal Outlet. It was just passed the Amazon return window. At home I use two different Type F plugs on the Vevor unit I sent you.

As to worrying about failing after a years, see how hot it is. The guy from the Ukraine I bought the amps from sent me a step-up/step-down transformer but it was very cheap and got really hot so I don't use it at all.

Some amps use huge amounts of power for 1 second when you turn them on. The Blue Hawaii uses 130 watts but when you first turn it on its like 250 watts. I went with a 1,000 watt transformer but if you are going to be running a bunch of different amps might want more headroom.

 

[IYAshike]

l've cancelled the order on the unit that was arriving tomorrow and bought this one instead (arriving on Saturday, see picture below). Basically the same unit that will be arriving in 2 weeks, but a 500w instead of 2000w.

l want the 2000w unit for the reasons you mentioned. Also because, well, l now live in the US so "go big or go home"

My biggest worry was starting a fire at home, then breaking the amp. l also dislike the extra step (turning on/off the converter) and the potential noise it may make (maybe some hum or static noise? We'll see).

l do admit l reached 'paralysis by analysis.' But then, by having a fellow Headfier successfully using one (combined with the fact that l was missing my amp) made me give it a try. l also feel a lot more comfortable now that l saw that "CE" certification on the product's page and also, now that l understand my amp will be grounded (safe to operate).

 

[Svperstar]

l want the 2000w unit for the reasons you mentioned. Also because, well, l now live in the US so "go big or go home"

My biggest worry was starting a fire at home, then breaking the amp. l also dislike the extra step (turning on/off the converter) and the potential noise it may make (maybe some hum or static noise? We'll see).

I leave my amp and the converter on all the time, and I bought a wireless power switch button off Amazon. I press it and it turns the switch at the wall off. There is no noise from the converter I linked you and it doesn't get hot. Your milage may vary with other models. Like I said the one from Ukraine was very hot when I used it so it sits unplugged.

 

[IYAshike]

That's a very neat solution, l'll get one too, thanks.

l'm so excited! l'm going to start unboxing and setting up the amp on my desk. It's going to be a looong week!

(For the record, l thought of suggesting moving on to 'PMs' but then l considered our chatting could be of help to someone having a similar problem.)

 

[skhan007]

Sorry I missed you guys this time, as I was on travel. I'll look forward to the next one.

Question: If any of you local guys in DC/NOVA/MD have the Susvara, I'd be interested in doing an A/B with my Mod House Tungsten DS and Flux Mentor amp. Let me know and hopefully we can catch up and compare. Hopefully, there are Susvara owners out there that want to give the Tungsten a go.

 

[Nick Dangerous]

Hey mid-Atlantic crew... really oldtime Head-Fi'er here & curious to see what has changed over the last several years. I've been out of the hobby since 2014 when I lived in Dallas with the rig featured below... Senn HD800 + Decware CSP-2+ w/EML mesh rectifier and vintage Mullards, and Resonessence DAC.

I now run a museum which is "the pinball capital of Virginia" in Roanoke. Other hobbies: Fragrances, watches, other kooky stuff. Soooo... any excuse to hop on the Amtrak for a DC meetup with other esoteric nerds is good with me.

 

[skhan007]

Hey mid-Atlantic crew... really oldtime Head-Fi'er here & curious to see what has changed over the last several years. I've been out of the hobby since 2014 when I lived in Dallas with the rig featured below... Senn HD800 + Decware CSP-2+ w/EML mesh rectifier and vintage Mullards, and Resonessence DAC.

I now run a museum which is "the pinball capital of Virginia" in Roanoke. Other hobbies: Fragrances, watches, other kooky stuff. Soooo... any excuse to hop on the Amtrak for a DC meetup with other esoteric nerds is good with me.

Nick, what an amazing coincidence! My family was actually planning an outing to the Pinball Museum in Roanoke, when we drop off our son for college in Blacksburg! I’ll have to stop by and say hi.

 

[Menkau-ra]

This headphone was my biggest surprise at the meetup. It had so much bass, I was getting a head massage
This new headband and cups color looks better than the one from the website.