AllegroKnowledgeBase™
What the Manufacturers, Distributors,
Importers and Retailers of electronics
don't want you to know:
Stepping DOWN your Mains Voltage
(which your local power co is doing)
with a step-down mains autoformer
will improve the sound quality.
Audiophiles in Europe are a lucky bunch!
You can operate USA 120-Volt electronics
on 220~240 circuits with the addition
of a step-down AC Autoformer or
Variac (Variable AC Autoformer)
rated for your mains Input voltage
and set to Output 115~120 Volts.
Make sure the Amperage-rating of
the Autoformer or Variac is higher
than the maximum current draw
of equipment you are powering;
the higher the rating, the better.
Some AC Autoformers output voltage
higher than indicated, so TEST the output
voltage with a True-RMS AC voltmeter.
AllegroRule#1:
Assume nothing is correct until you test it.
* Mains Frequency of 50Hz & 60Hz are typically interchangeable;
vintage 1950's~1960's turntables and tape decks with hysteresis-
synchronous motors that lock to line frequency are exceptions.
See ReForming Power Supply Capacitors for more info.
Mains-Voltage Around The World
COUNTRY |
VOLTAGE (V) |
FREQUENCY (Hz) |
Australia |
240 | 50 |
| Argentina | 220 | 50 |
| Bangladesh | 220 | 50 |
| Bhutan | 220 | 50 |
| Bolivia (La Paz) | 110 | 50 |
| Bolivia (elsewhere) | 220 | 50 |
| Brazil (Salvador/Manaus) | 127 | 60 |
| Brazil (Brasilia/Recife) | 220 | 60 |
| Brazil (Rio/Sao Paulo) | 110 | 60 |
| Chile | 220 | 50 |
| Canada | 120 | 60 |
| Colombia | 110 | 60 |
| Denmark | 220 * | 50 |
| Ecuador | 110 | 60 |
| Falklands (Malvinas) | 240 | 50 |
| France | 230 | 50 |
| French Guiana | 220 | 50 |
| Germany | 220 * | 50 |
| Great Britain | 230 | 50 |
| Guyana | 110 | 60 |
| Hungary | 220 | 50 |
| India | 220 | 50 |
| Iceland | 220 | 50 |
| Ireland | 220 * | 50 |
| Japan | 100 | 50 |
| Kyrgyzistan | 220 | 50 |
| Luxembourg | 110 * | 50 |
| Madagascar | 220 | 50 |
| Maldives | 220 | 50 |
| Mexico | 110 | 60 |
| Nepal | 220 | 50 |
| Netherlands | 230 | 50 |
| New Zealand | 230 | 50 |
| Norway | 230 | 50 |
| Pakistan | 220 | 50 |
| Paraguay | 220 | 50 |
| Peru | 220 | 60 |
| Philippines | 220 | 60 |
| Poland | 230 * | 50 |
Romania |
220 |
50 |
| Spain | 127/220 * | 50 |
Sri Lanka |
230/240 | 50 |
| Suriname | 110 | 60 |
| Sweden | 230 | 50 |
| Switzerland | 220/240 | 50/60 |
Taiwan |
110 | 60 |
| Uruguay | 220 | 50 |
| United Kingdom | 230 | 50 |
U.S.A. |
120 | 60 |
former U.S.S.R. |
127/220 |
50 |
Venezuela |
110 |
60 |
− Established 1973 −
"love what you listen with"
Los Angeles, California USA
Rick@AllegroSound.com
FOR SALE - TRADE 
HOME / Master-Index 
* AllegroSound et al assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of products, services, info, etc.
website design & original content ©AllegroSound, Los Angeles USA. All rights reserved.