The 119 Volts down here in S. California was enough to blow out the fuse in my turntable that had a jumped arrangement under the hood that said ‘Japan’. I found the jumper and managed to fix that turntable! That’s how I got such a killer deal on a semi rare ‘broken’ Turntable that was being sold for parts!! That’s also how I learned a little about Japanese electronic appliances and how subtle the differences, and the planning for power allowances can be!
Do you utilize a multi-tap transformer making any AC configuration that is used in the world possible by just changing the connections on the primary transformer coil taps?
Want I would like to know Paul what is the best ratio of windings of the primary to secondary, I'm assuming a heavier winding on the secondary is better.
What happens if 120v ac, 60Hz amplifier is brought to Japan and plugged into 100V ac, 60Hz outlet in some part of Japan I believe uses 60Hz? Will 100v sufficient to function it properly?
You might not notice any difference until you reached the clipping point, which would be somewhat lower than on full voltage. For what it's worth, part of Japan uses 60 Hz and the rest uses 50 Hz.
Wondering if I import a Japanese integrated amp (Accuphase) set for 100volts 50hz and use an external transformer here in the US is the sound quality effected?
If it's a new piece I'd be concerned about warranty, next is how good is that extra transformer going to be at feeding the Accuphase's better engineered onboard transformer. On paper it's possible, but sonically I'd be worried, lots of people try to wait it out for their countries version of a piece to become available.
@@Douglas_Blake In another video, Paul has said that any transformer made for 50 Hz will work just fine at 60 Hz. So PS Audio uses 50 Hz rated transformers in essentially everything.
@@Douglas_Blake My understanding of it is that if a transformer is designed for 60 Hz and you try to run it on 50 Hz, it will run hot. 50 Hz may be too close to DC for some transformers. The audio circuits should tolerate fairly big differences in power supply voltage with no problem other than changing the signal level where it starts to clip.
@@Douglas_Blake In the area near Niagara Falls (specifically N. Tonawanda NY) they historically had 25 Hz power. A few older buildings still use it for certain equipment that’d be too expensive to replace. The power is now electronically converted to 25 Hz, of couse. I know someone who destroyed their wall-wart AC adapter by plugging it into a 25 Hz receptacle in one of those older buildings. Yeah, 25 != 50, but there’s a limit somewhere.
Thank you for your concise presentations🙏 If not redundant; Could you please explain the main reason behind the fact that almost all hi-end headphones (H800, Arya, Audeze’s, Focal’s, etc. …) sound way too bright even to my 59 years old ears which can barely detect 12 khz (sinus…). Is this the price to be paid for a relatively flat frequency response? I suspect that Fletcher&Munson and loudness curves have a lot relation to this subject ; ) Best regards🖖
Those high end headphones you speak of have tweeters that are manufactured to play very HIGH Frequencies MUSIC NOTES. You cannot take those tweeters out of the headphones and replace them with something else..😀😀 you are stuck with what you bought, you own it. Your only course of action is to use an equalizer to TURN THE HIGH FREQUENCIES DOWN.. to a level you are comfortable with. It’s the same with bass notes on those headphones. Too much bass. Turn the bass down with the EQ. This is why I do not buy those types of high end headphones. I don’t want to hear teeth rattling POUNDING BASS and SCREAMING HIGH’s in my ears. You are paying a lot of money for those headphones to hear BASS AND HIGH NOTES. That is what they are designed for and draining your bank account.😀 I like headphones that have a more mellow sound across all frequencies from the speakers the way they were designed from the manufacturer. The PROBLEM..?? The market is flooded with different headphones worldwide. Finding the right headphones online is like finding a needle in a haystack. He cannot necessarily go by reviews or people in the comments. You don’t know any of those people. Some are babbling just to hear themselves babbling on UA-cam. You are never going to get your money back what you paid for those headphones. Keep them and use an EQ if you can. I don’t know how you are using those headphones and what you have them hooked up to, you didn’t say. I don’t give recommendations for numerous reasons. I have no idea who the people are and what they are doing. I don’t know the types of music they listen to the most. I don’t have their ears or their brain. I only have my ears and my brain 🧠😀🤗😎
@@davidfromamerica1871 After a LOT of trials, I decided on Hifiman Arya’s (Stealth) WITH Sonarworks (Calibration&+EQ…) Though they are way too bright natively, no other headphone/driver technology comes even close to the high end planar headphones’s level of “resolution” (even with a lot of eq) imho🤷🏻♂️ So I’m happy but I would like to know the reason(s?) behind this hi-end hp’s treble epidemy ; )
Fun fact: in Computer power supplies, the internals are all made for 240V. If a PC PSU is capable of working on 120V, that's because there's a voltage doubler before the primary of the transformer. This is also why 240V only PSUs are slightly more efficient and slightly cheaper.
I don't think there is a primary transformer in computer power supply since they are switch mode power supplies. SM power supplies have small transformer that the rectified DC is fired into at high frequency. Much different than linear supplies.
@@gpower That's my thinking as well. A company may find that they overproduce for one market and have a supply shortage for another. I have 3 amps and 2 of them I'm gonna have to leave behind when I move.
Older amps designed for 220V in Europe can be a pain... They'd be ok on 230v, but I'm in West of Ireland... Stiff 239Volt here. 20v AC extra means humming transformers and an extra few volts on DC power rails. This can be problematic depending on amp design.
Depends on how much power your amplifier’s are drawing from your home circuit. If amplifier’s don’t get the energy stored they need to operate at an appropriate voltage. You are starving the amplifier’s.
That has to do with frequency and magnetic fields inside components and it’s noticeable especially in humming. Depending on the transformer’s and grounding in the same circuit
I actually did some servo amplifiers and power supplies that ran on 48Vac 400Hz mains. It's a better way to go. I'll let everyone say, or guess, what that is.
Curious, are You stating that for your servo amplifier design in order to lower distortion measurements you are using using a 400cps supply mains vs a 60cps supply mains?
@@fermitupoupon1754 quite familiar with in flight power as multiple systems of mine, I outfitted both my in flight and air to ground communications, noise cancellation, and emergency board and egress systems. Do You have familiarity with qualities of audible and measurable distortions properties comparing 50cps vs 60cps vs 400cps mains supplies to audio power supplies?
@@fermitupoupon1754 Just to clarify and expand a bit: 400 Hz is an aerospace industry standard. All large transport-category aircraft require 400 Hz frequency. This was standardized many years ago to reduce the size (and therefore the weight) of power supplies. The voltage is set at 115 VAC with 3 phases/120 degrees phase-to-phase. It is also usually rectified to 28 VDC (not 48 VAC) for aircraft components (with very few exceptions). 50, 60, and 400 Hz are all in the audible frequency band and can cause noise interference by induction. The higher the frequency, the more induction (reactance) can arise. Newer aircraft use variable frequency on their on-board electrical generation systems (but still get equalized to 400 Hz steady). Common AC mains (regardless of voltages and phasing) can vary by several volts anywhere in the world; however, frequency has a tight tolerance and should be stable. It is important to understand the concept of VAR (reactive AC voltage).
I'm sorry Paul I would have to disagree with you. I have always heard numerous changes in sound quality due to fluctuations in AC line voltages. "In theory" amplifiers should be able to adjust for this from output filter capacitors but have found that every amplifier I have ever heard alters its sound when AC voltages change. In fact if I recall in a earlier video you do confirm this sound change and why you make your AC power banks. This is especially apparent with tube amplification. There are numerous parts of AC that effect sound quality. From the pole and the power transformer to the electrical panel, the wire and how it is run, to the outlets and phases.
What he didn't say, but is the obvious conclusion from what he did say, is since they find it economical to build larger transformers to handle the lower frequency AC in the rest of the world, means here in the USA with 60Hz they are in essence overbuilt and as a result do sound better. Now I wonder why he didn't say that? It was after all the question, wasn't it? Paul? Paul??
@@Douglas_Blake I wouldn’t know I use pro amps crown ones and they can run on dirty electric pretty well, I just notice when it’s a stable 120 volts the music is cleaner and more efficient lower the volts it’s not much of a difference at all for some reason I can hear it
@@Douglas_Blake yes but voltage drops, con edison is either playing around with the voltage or the breakers I am using need to be replaced maybe i will replace them
@@Douglas_Blake sorry to hear that, i use furman power conditioners to help with voltage spikes. The lowest the volts drop down too is around 107 volts maybe a little lower so it’s not as bad as yours good luck and have fun
Very informative, I enjoyed your presentation off. Thank you.
The 119 Volts down here in S. California was enough to blow out the fuse in my turntable that had a jumped arrangement under the hood that said ‘Japan’. I found the jumper and managed to fix that turntable! That’s how I got such a killer deal on a semi rare ‘broken’ Turntable that was being sold for parts!! That’s also how I learned a little about Japanese electronic appliances and how subtle the differences, and the planning for power allowances can be!
Thanks Sir for the info
GOOD TO REPEAT ,PAUL…NEW INFO SOME 👍💚💚💚
Thanks, good to know.
Hello Paul, hoping your Saturday is going great. Would you mind to talk about your UHQR vinyls?
Don't forget that some gear uses switching power supplys which often have a voltage switch built in.
Do you utilize a multi-tap transformer making any AC configuration that is used in the world possible by just changing the connections on the primary transformer coil taps?
Want I would like to know Paul what is the best ratio of windings of the primary to secondary, I'm assuming a heavier winding on the secondary is better.
@@Douglas_Blake yes but doesn't that come down to gauge of wire this would make a difference.
@@hoobsgroove The number of turns, not the gauge of wire, determines the ratio. The ratio would determine the wires gauges
cool.
What happens if 120v ac, 60Hz amplifier is brought to Japan and plugged into 100V ac, 60Hz outlet in some part of Japan I believe uses 60Hz? Will 100v sufficient to function it properly?
You might not notice any difference until you reached the clipping point,
which would be somewhat lower than on full voltage.
For what it's worth, part of Japan uses 60 Hz and the rest uses 50 Hz.
Ah, time to invest in golden socket breakers and AC outlets 😂😜
Invest in audio equipment that doesn’t need a Nuclear Power Plant to listen to music.
but what if there's a low voltage, regardless whether 110v or 220v, will it affect the sound quality of your system?
Wondering if I import a Japanese integrated amp (Accuphase) set for 100volts 50hz and use an external transformer here in the US is the sound quality effected?
If it's a new piece I'd be concerned about warranty, next is how good is that extra transformer going to be at feeding the Accuphase's better engineered onboard transformer. On paper it's possible, but sonically I'd be worried, lots of people try to wait it out for their countries version of a piece to become available.
@@Douglas_Blake In another video, Paul has said that any transformer made for 50 Hz will work just fine at 60 Hz. So PS Audio uses 50 Hz rated transformers in essentially everything.
@@Douglas_Blake My understanding of it is that if a transformer is designed for 60 Hz and you try to run it on 50 Hz, it will run hot. 50 Hz may be too close to DC for some transformers. The audio circuits should tolerate fairly big differences in power supply voltage with no problem other than changing the signal level where it starts to clip.
@@Douglas_Blake In the area near Niagara Falls (specifically N. Tonawanda NY) they historically had 25 Hz power. A few older buildings still use it for certain equipment that’d be too expensive to replace. The power is now electronically converted to 25 Hz, of couse. I know someone who destroyed their wall-wart AC adapter by plugging it into a 25 Hz receptacle in one of those older buildings. Yeah, 25 != 50, but there’s a limit somewhere.
Thank you for your concise presentations🙏
If not redundant;
Could you please explain the main reason behind the fact that almost all hi-end headphones (H800, Arya, Audeze’s, Focal’s, etc. …) sound way too bright even to my 59 years old ears which can barely detect 12 khz (sinus…).
Is this the price to be paid for a relatively flat frequency response?
I suspect that Fletcher&Munson and loudness curves have a lot relation to this subject ; )
Best regards🖖
Those high end headphones you speak of have tweeters that are manufactured to play very HIGH Frequencies MUSIC NOTES.
You cannot take those tweeters out of the headphones and replace them with something else..😀😀 you are stuck with what you bought, you own it.
Your only course of action is to use an equalizer to TURN THE HIGH FREQUENCIES DOWN.. to a level you are comfortable with. It’s the same with bass notes on those headphones.
Too much bass. Turn the bass down with the EQ.
This is why I do not buy those types of high end headphones. I don’t want to hear teeth rattling POUNDING BASS and SCREAMING HIGH’s in my ears.
You are paying a lot of money for those headphones to hear BASS AND HIGH NOTES. That is what they are designed for and draining your bank account.😀
I like headphones that have a more mellow sound across all frequencies from the speakers the way they were designed from the manufacturer.
The PROBLEM..?? The market is flooded with different headphones worldwide. Finding the right headphones online is like finding a needle in a haystack. He cannot necessarily go by reviews or people in the comments. You don’t know any of those people. Some are babbling just to hear themselves babbling on UA-cam.
You are never going to get your money back what you paid for those headphones. Keep them and use an EQ if you can. I don’t know how you are using those headphones and what you have them hooked up to, you didn’t say.
I don’t give recommendations for numerous reasons. I have no idea who the people are and what they are doing. I don’t know the types of music they listen to the most. I don’t have their ears or their brain. I only have my ears and my brain 🧠😀🤗😎
@@davidfromamerica1871 After a LOT of trials, I decided on Hifiman Arya’s (Stealth) WITH Sonarworks (Calibration&+EQ…)
Though they are way too bright natively, no other headphone/driver technology comes even close to the high end planar headphones’s level of “resolution” (even with a lot of eq) imho🤷🏻♂️
So I’m happy but I would like to know the reason(s?) behind this hi-end hp’s treble epidemy ; )
@Douglas Blake It is NOT an amp or any intermediary stage problem imho.
@Douglas Blake I did🤷🏻♂️
@@fuatdomanic
It seems your troubles began decades ago before you bought those headphones.
Voltage is a bit variable anyway. It is usually more then 230 here around 235 already.
yeah depends also on how close you are to the transformer. I'm like 50m from it so almost 240V
tuyệt lắm 👍
Fun fact: in Computer power supplies, the internals are all made for 240V. If a PC PSU is capable of working on 120V, that's because there's a voltage doubler before the primary of the transformer.
This is also why 240V only PSUs are slightly more efficient and slightly cheaper.
I don't think there is a primary transformer in computer power supply since they are switch mode power supplies. SM power supplies have small transformer that the rectified DC is fired into at high frequency. Much different than linear supplies.
@@johndavidson6433 That's why I said "primary of the transformer" not "primary transformer"
Curious why some companies choose to make 'universal' components and others have decided on market specific devices.
Likely more cost effective to build something like a multi tap xformer than a single tap for each market the finished unit is sold in.
@@gpower That's my thinking as well. A company may find that they overproduce for one market and have a supply shortage for another. I have 3 amps and 2 of them I'm gonna have to leave behind when I move.
Hans and Rolf agree... bigger is better ;-)
Older amps designed for 220V in Europe can be a pain... They'd be ok on 230v, but I'm in West of Ireland... Stiff 239Volt here. 20v AC extra means humming transformers and an extra few volts on DC power rails. This can be problematic depending on amp design.
Airlink transformers can resolve that issue.
Depends on how much power your amplifier’s are drawing from your home circuit. If amplifier’s don’t get the energy stored they need to operate at an appropriate voltage.
You are starving the amplifier’s.
No, they need to operate at the appropriate *current.*
Voltage is only an issue because lower voltage requires a larger wire
What about polarity?
That has to do with frequency and magnetic fields inside components and it’s noticeable especially in humming. Depending on the transformer’s and grounding in the same circuit
It's AC (alternating current)
Germany has 230 Volts/50 Hertz, not 220 V. That has changed long ago. 😉
People still continuously say power in NA is 110v, drives me nuts. It changed in 1984, it's not that difficult lol!
@@michaelchase1911 Is it 120 V in every state now?
I actually did some servo amplifiers and power supplies that ran on 48Vac 400Hz mains. It's a better way to go. I'll let everyone say, or guess, what that is.
Curious, are You stating that for your servo amplifier design in order to lower distortion measurements you are using using a 400cps supply mains vs a 60cps supply mains?
@@davidcross890 48V AC at 400Hz is not uncommon in aircraft. I think it's mostly a Boeing thing, but AIrbus might use the same.
@@fermitupoupon1754 I am quite familiar
@@fermitupoupon1754 quite familiar with in flight power as multiple systems of mine, I outfitted both my in flight and air to ground communications, noise cancellation, and emergency board and egress systems. Do You have familiarity with qualities of audible and measurable distortions properties comparing 50cps vs 60cps vs 400cps mains supplies to audio power supplies?
@@fermitupoupon1754 Just to clarify and expand a bit: 400 Hz is an aerospace industry standard. All large transport-category aircraft require 400 Hz frequency. This was standardized many years ago to reduce the size (and therefore the weight) of power supplies. The voltage is set at 115 VAC with 3 phases/120 degrees phase-to-phase. It is also usually rectified to 28 VDC (not 48 VAC) for aircraft components (with very few exceptions).
50, 60, and 400 Hz are all in the audible frequency band and can cause noise interference by induction. The higher the frequency, the more induction (reactance) can arise.
Newer aircraft use variable frequency on their on-board electrical generation systems (but still get equalized to 400 Hz steady).
Common AC mains (regardless of voltages and phasing) can vary by several volts anywhere in the world; however, frequency has a tight tolerance and should be stable. It is important to understand the concept of VAR (reactive AC voltage).
Damn Tesla !
Europe is 230!
European grid is much more stable and cleaner sine wave than the erratic mess distributed trough a spiderweb of wires strung above ground.
Just a zero gauge power cord full of snake oil and you will be just fine.
I'm sorry Paul I would have to disagree with you. I have always heard numerous changes in sound quality due to fluctuations in AC line voltages. "In theory" amplifiers should be able to adjust for this from output filter capacitors but have found that every amplifier I have ever heard alters its sound when AC voltages change. In fact if I recall in a earlier video you do confirm this sound change and why you make your AC power banks. This is especially apparent with tube amplification.
There are numerous parts of AC that effect sound quality. From the pole and the power transformer to the electrical panel, the wire and how it is run, to the outlets and phases.
What he didn't say, but is the obvious conclusion from what he did say, is since they find it economical to build larger transformers to handle the lower frequency AC in the rest of the world, means here in the USA with 60Hz they are in essence overbuilt and as a result do sound better. Now I wonder why he didn't say that? It was after all the question, wasn't it? Paul? Paul??
Yes it does affect sound quality there is some difference in lower the volts
@@Douglas_Blake I wouldn’t know I use pro amps crown ones and they can run on dirty electric pretty well, I just notice when it’s a stable 120 volts the music is cleaner and more efficient lower the volts it’s not much of a difference at all for some reason I can hear it
@@Douglas_Blake yes but voltage drops, con edison is either playing around with the voltage or the breakers I am using need to be replaced maybe i will replace them
@@Douglas_Blake sorry to hear that, i use furman power conditioners to help with voltage spikes. The lowest the volts drop down too is around 107 volts maybe a little lower so it’s not as bad as yours good luck and have fun
@@Douglas_Blake thank you
50 is divisible by three, just not into whole numbers. Poor Nikola Tesla...
Hahaha