[dpump]

Just purchased a Line Magnetic Mini 218IA from AudioCircle. Uses a 12AX7 and EL84 per channel. The amp is a non-USA model and calls for 220V/50 cycles. The seller sent me a step-up transformer so I have 240v going into the amp. Seller says he used it this way for a while with no problems. I used a variac to drop the voltage to 220V and it seems to work fine. Amp power transformer gets warm but not hot. My question is:does the 60 cycles in the USA have any effect on the amp calling for 50 cycles?

I emailed Tone Imports about this. Got a kinda rude response from Jonathan Halpern saying it wouldn't work on 240V, it can't be changed to 120V, it's gray market goods, the ones he imports are 120V. and he won't provide any support. I understand his response since he didn't sell it, but didn't care for the way he said it. I'm just trying to make the best of the situation. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[vortrex]

I've emailed LM directly in China at lmaudio@lm-audio.com and got responses from a tech named James.  Maybe give that a shot.

[RPM123]

Just purchased a Line Magnetic Mini 218IA from AudioCircle. Uses a 12AX7 and E84 per channel. The amp is a non-USA model and calls for 220V/50 cycles. The seller sent me a step-up transformer so I have 240v going into the amp. Seller says he used it this way for a while with no problems. I used a variac to drop the voltage to 220V and it seems to work fine. Amp power transformer gets warm but not hot. My question is:does the 60 cycles in the USA have any effect on the amp calling for 50 cycles?

I emailed Tone Imports about this. Got a kinda rude response from Jonathan Halpern saying it wouldn't work on 240V, it can't be changed to 120V, it's gray market goods, the ones he imports are 120V. and he won't provide any support. I understand his response since he didn't sell it, but didn't care for the way he said it. I'm just trying to make the best of the situation. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

So...you bought a grey market item and the US importer did not offer you any support or sympathy? What the hell did you expect? Caveat emptor!

[JakeJ]

So...you bought a grey market item and the US importer did not offer you any support or sympathy? What the hell did you expect? Caveat emptor!

Gee, kinda rough, dude.  Enhance your calm.

dpump,

Sorry you got the cold shoulder from the US importer but it is typical when one buys gray market goods.  To answer your question the difference between 50 and 60 cycles is minor and if the power tranny is well built you will likely not have any problems but it is something to be aware of.  I would follow vortex's advice and contact Line Magnetic directly.

Hope this helps.

Jake

[Whitese]

Well, he bought it from me. Not long ao I got it through Audiogon as part of a trade after reading good things about other LM
Amps. So the original poster did not seek to buy a grey market amp. Neither did I...

[JakeJ]

Whitese,

Thanks for stepping up and providing some further clarification.  It is appreciated.

I knowingly purchased a gray market Accuphase E-212 integrated amp for my office/PC system and the seller also included a step down transformer (120 to 100 VAC).  I just looked it up online to find that Japan is split on frequency, 50 cycles in the west and 60 cycles in the east.  Have no idea why they would do this but I have not had any issues with power frequency.  Only highly sensitive test equipment may have a problem so I wouldn't worry about it unless the power transformer got very hot.

[dpump]

Thanks for the responses. I will email Line Magnetic and see what they say. Might be a few days before I hear anything. I should have said I didn't know the amp was 220V/50 cycles when I purchased it. I had talked to a tech friend of mine before connecting the amp and he didn't think the 60-cycles USA would be a problem. I was more worried about having 240V instead of 220V. I have ordered a 100-watt step-up transformer off eBay since the amp is rated for 45-watts and the transformer I received is rated at 40-watts. Read somewhere you should have a transformer that has 1.5 or more higher rating than the maximum the unit is rated at. I will still have 240V with this transformer since my line voltage is 120V. (The amp specs say 220V + or - 5%).

I was also thinking I could check the voltages on the tubes with 240V input to see the readings, but I don't know what I should read except for the heater voltages. I don't have a problem using a step-up transformer, just hoping not to have to use a variac too.

By the way, this little amp sounds wonderful! I have only used it for headphones-both the headphone jack and with a modified HiFiMan HE-Adapter connected to the 8-ohm speaker taps for balanced phones. Totally quiet and very rich and detailed sounding.

I have a Tokyo Sound 100SE tube amp I purchased used about a year ago. It calls for 100V/50/60 cycles. Have a 120V to 100V step-down transformer on it. It is a Japanese made amp. That seems to indicate 50 or 60 cycles is acceptable as the Accuphase owner who posted above stated.

I should also say that Whitese, the member I purchased the amp from, mentioned in his ad that there was a transformer with the unit. I don't fault him at all. I didn't ask him the specifics on the amp or the transformer. I assumed the amp would be like my Tokyo Sound and would need 100V. I just want to make sure I use the amp the best way possible to ensure proper amp and tube life.

[dpump]

Here's an update. Exchanged some emails with James at Line Magnetic. Sometimes takes 3 days to receive a response. He said the amp is ok to use but not ok to use long term? Not sure why that is. The importer said it is ok to use but won't perform with 100% sound quality with a step-up transformer at 240V.

Scott Nixon-the TubeDac man-came over and we measured the heater voltage on the tubes with 241V in.
Got 12.6V on the 12AX7s and 6.2V on the EL84s. Should be 12.6 and 6.3, so that should be fine. Don't see a problem with that. I have used the amp for several hours at a time with no issues so far.

I have ordered a 50V/50V Avel Lindberg transformer to build a 100V balanced power supply. With my 120V house power that will give me 110V. Then the step-up transformer will give me 220V, so I will meet the amp requirements. Will cost me about $100 total but no more worries about AC power.

One more thing. I asked James at Line Magnetic if I could purchase a 120V transformer for my amp to replace the 220V transformer. He said I could and gave me a price:$460 US dollars! I'm still in shock on that one since a new amp purchased in the US is $800. Don't think I'll go that route.