UK power amp in US?

Posted by: Graham Clarke on 21 November 2015

Hopefully a quick question - will a NAP300 power amp built for the UK market work in the US?

Outside of needing to change the UK mains lead is anything else required?

Looking at the label on the power inlet on the PSU it seems to suggest that it will work but that the fuse will need to be changed. Is this correct? Anything else?

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Darke Bear

US Mains voltage is half UK and 60Hz rather than 50Hz, so the internal Mains transformer configuration will be different.

Not just a mains plug change.

DB.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by ianrobertm

As @DB said - different voltage and frequency.

How on earth can someone not know that.....???

(smacks head against brick wall - again.......)

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Graham Clarke

Originally Posted by ianrobertm:

As @DB said - different voltage and frequency.

How on earth can someone not know that.....???

(smacks head against brick wall - again.......)

Wow, thanks for the condescending reply, much appreciated.

I do know that US is 110v however many power supplies (particularly for laptops etc) are multi-frequency and therefore work pretty much anywhere.

The back of the NAP 300PSU has the following label:

AC Only

Frequency 50/60 Hz

Fuse Rating

100v to 120v T6.3AL

200v to 240v T3.15

Which could indicate either that the label is a generic label used world wide or that the unit is multi-frequency capable.

Not knowing which to be the case here is why I asked the question. So not so stupid after all.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by 911gt3r

Originally Posted by Graham Clarke:

Hopefully a quick question - will a NAP300 power amp built for the UK market work in the US?

Outside of needing to change the UK mains lead is anything else required?

Looking at the label on the power inlet on the PSU it seems to suggest that it will work but that the fuse will need to be changed. Is this correct? Anything else?

Hi Graham.

Sadly the S1 will go into immediate shut-down mode in the US, but do not despair. My Christmas stocking will take it at a wee stretch, see it's not all bad......... ATB Peter

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by tonym

I think that label only relates to the rating of the fuse Graham, I strongly doubt if such a device will be dual-voltage. Strangely, as I'm sure you've noticed, the manual doesn't specify this, other than saying the supply may be either 120 or 220.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Darke Bear

The mains transformer in a linear supply will need to be reconfigured. Either Naim will have a totally different transformer for US, or there will be different primary taps on it that can be switched-over to work to the different mains voltage. Either way it is a back to the factory job.

DB.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Allante93

Funny, I was thinking about taking advantage of price difference between UK and US as it relates to the SC 2. Not knowing, I contacted Chris West @ AV Options. He quoted me a price of $300 to change the mains.

No further information about any other complications was discussed, I assumed that was it. But I don't know, that's why I contacted an Authorized Naim repair facility.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Graham Clarke

Originally Posted by 911gt3r:

Originally Posted by Graham Clarke:

Hopefully a quick question - will a NAP300 power amp built for the UK market work in the US?

Outside of needing to change the UK mains lead is anything else required?

Looking at the label on the power inlet on the PSU it seems to suggest that it will work but that the fuse will need to be changed. Is this correct? Anything else?

Hi Graham.

Sadly the S1 will go into immediate shut-down mode in the US, but do not despair. My Christmas stocking will take it at a wee stretch, see it's not all bad......... ATB Peter

I didn't say I was going to the US. Unfortunately for you the S1 is happily snuggled up with a brace of 300DRs

Are you wearing your Christmas stockings now?

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Graham Clarke

Thanks everyone for the feedback, gives me what I need to know, much appreciated!

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by sheffieldgraham

Originally Posted by Graham Clarke:

Originally Posted by 911gt3r:

Originally Posted by Graham Clarke:

Hopefully a quick question - will a NAP300 power amp built for the UK market work in the US?

Outside of needing to change the UK mains lead is anything else required?

Looking at the label on the power inlet on the PSU it seems to suggest that it will work but that the fuse will need to be changed. Is this correct? Anything else?

Hi Graham.

Sadly the S1 will go into immediate shut-down mode in the US, but do not despair. My Christmas stocking will take it at a wee stretch, see it's not all bad......... ATB Peter

I didn't say I was going to the US. Unfortunately for you the S1 is happily snuggled up with a brace of 300DRs

Are you wearing your Christmas stockings now?

Down sizing already !

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by George F

Gone are the days of simply changing the voltage inputs on replay components.

ATB from George

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Hook

Hi Graham -

I inferred from the AVOptions web site that the NAP300 had a rewireable transformer, and that the cost of conversion was minimal:

Voltage conversion* - For equipment with a 115V/230V rewirable transformer

includes testing and firmware updates if necessary: $195 - $295

Voltage conversion* - For equipment with a dedicated voltage transformer

The following Naim equipment require replacement transformers to convert them ... CD5i , CD5i2, NAIT5i, NAIT5i2, DVD5, CD5X, CD5XS, NAT 05, NAT05 XS

V1: NAIT5i, NAIT5i2 replace toroidal transformer with required voltage & test -$750

V2: CD5i, CD5i2 replace toroidal transformer with required voltage & test - $625
V3: CD5X, CD5XS replace toroidal transformer with required voltage & test - $725
V4: NAT 05, NAT05 XS replace toroidal transformer with required voltage & test - $725

If this NAP300 will live in the US for a while, then I would suggest contacting Chris West (at http://www.avoptions.com/contact, or perhaps he'll see this post and respond).

ATB.

Hook

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Graham Clarke

Originally Posted by Hook:

Hi Graham -

I inferred from the AVOptions web site that the NAP300 had a rewireable transformer, and that the cost of conversion was minimal:

Voltage conversion* - For equipment with a 115V/230V rewirable transformer

includes testing and firmware updates if necessary: $195 - $295

Voltage conversion* - For equipment with a dedicated voltage transformer

The following Naim equipment require replacement transformers to convert them ... CD5i , CD5i2, NAIT5i, NAIT5i2, DVD5, CD5X, CD5XS, NAT 05, NAT05 XS

V1: NAIT5i, NAIT5i2 replace toroidal transformer with required voltage & test -$750

If this NAP300 will live in the US for a while, then I would suggest contacting Chris West (at http://www.avoptions.com/contact, or perhaps he'll see this post and respond).

ATB.

Hook

Thanks Hook, useful. It's actually someone in U.S. Thinking of purchasing One of my old 300s. Independently he also mentioned Chris West at AVOptions.

Posted on: 21 November 2015 by Allante93

Originally posted by Allante93:

""Funny, I was thinking about taking advantage of price difference between UK and US as it relates to the SC 2. Not knowing, I contacted Chris West @ AV Options. He quoted me a price of $300 to change the mains.

No further information about any other complications was discussed, I assumed that was it. But I don't know, that's why I contacted an Authorized Naim repair facility."""

No, just trying to share my experiences with the Forum, and be helpful! The Forum is beautiful when used properly!