220V 230V 240V on amplifiers

Efraim roots · Post by **Efraim roots** » 2012-11-26 12:35

In theory or practical experience of performance I would like to understand more about the difference in voltage and how it affects poweramplifers, if it does? Anyone?

Older Naim amplifiers in Europe often turn up in different voltage, 220v, 230v(more recent) and 240v. I know that it depended where you lived back in the days and that now there is a standard of 230V. Back then products made for UK was 240v and Sweden 220v, so obviously Naim thought it was an important issue?

What's the result of a 220v amplifier used on 230v power distribution of today? More power? Better or worse performance? Same question regarding 240v used on 230v.

mrco99 · Post by **mrco99** » 2012-11-27 16:34

Here in the Netherlands we should have 220v.
But I don´t know how stable those ratings are.

I recall that in the time you could set a switch on the back to a certain voltage, some hifi gurus claimed that setting this switch on 230/240v in a 220v country will prolong the longevity of the equipment.

I am not technical enough to back this up.
Now it´s all auto-sensing and auto-ranging, so seems less valid.

What will happen to overloading a 220v appliance with 230v or 240v
current, I don´t know. I guess there will be some safety tolerances.
Whether it´s audible is again a different thing.
Never had the luxury or budget to get into power conditioners or a separate power mains group for hifi only.