I posted this on the Blu-Ray forum and got no replies. I guess they are still too busy with the format war. :)


Due to this region coding BS and not many titles in EU region, I'll get my BR and HD-DVD player from US. But most of these US model players are only 110V/60hz. I can use a transformer to get the 220V down to 110V but what about the difference in frequency? Does it matter for these players if fed with 50Hz?

Thanks Rene, it looks like the ultimate solution but those Equitech stuff weighs at least +60lbs and cost more than the players (both) I plan to buy :) It will also be just too difficult and expensive to import Equitech.

So I need some answers from "electrical" experts here. Do you think those DVD players will work with 50Hz?

BTW, I have a US model D-VHS player (110V) and it works just fine at 50hz with a simple 220V>110V transformer.

I posted this on the Blu-Ray forum and got no replies. I guess they are still too busy with the format war. :)


Due to this region coding BS and not many titles in EU region, I'll get my BR and HD-DVD player from US. But most of these US model players are only 110V/60hz. I can use a transformer to get the 220V down to 110V but what about the difference in frequency? Does it matter for these players if fed with 50Hz?

Hi Murat,

Me to from a 240Volt 50Hz country and I have both, an US Samsung Blu Ray and an US Toshiba HX-A1 HD-DVD Player.
Both connected to a cheap 220V to 110V step down converter. Works perfectly.
Even my D-Box XL- Odyssee runs on a (big)converter that doesn´t change the power rate from 50 to 60Hz. Never had any problems. Modern power supplys don´t care for 50 or 60Hz.
So I think there is no need for such a "expensive" equipment.

best regards from Germany
Christoph

theres a stack of people down here using American HD-DVD players on step down transformers.

Australia is a 50 Hz power supply and the american players are all working fine

also none of the step down transformers are converting the 50Hz to 60 hz

Enjoy your gear!!

Thx guys...

it's time to order :)

Thx guys...

it's time to order :)

what are you buying?

hope you are looking at the XA2 HD DVD?

and which BR player?

Murat,

nothing to worry about. A $50 step-down converter will just work fine with any player as long as the players power consumption does not exceed that of the converter.

Since you want both, HD DVD and BD I'd recomment one of the new Toshiba players for HD DVD and the Sony PS3 for BD. The PS3 has a universal power supply and works with 110/120 and 220/230 volts, so no transformer is required. In addition to that, it's currently the best available BD player on the market and already has HDMI 1.3.

Actually, I'll wait after CES. If there are no soon-to be-released new players, I'll probably get a Toshiba HD-XA2 and a Panasonic DMP-BD10

FYI: An "older" PS Audio Powerplant P300/600/1200 have an internal switch for 120/240 operation. They will output 120v 60Hz, and also act as a very good PLC, improving the sonics overall. P300's are pretty cheap these days.

A Canadian friend bought a P600 before he moved to Germany 3 years ago (& now in the UK ) and took all his North American gear with him, including power ML CLS-2z speakers, Innersound amp, and Sony 777 SACD -> all runs fine.

- Andy

Actually, I'll wait after CES. If there are no soon-to be-released new players, I'll probably get a Toshiba HD-XA2 and a Panasonic DMP-BD10

I recently acquired a Smasung player.. I am exchanging in favor of the Sony Blu Ray player... It is the best BD player I have seen so far. Give it an audition ....

You should be able to plug the BluRay player directly into any world AC outlet without worry. Just cut the American plug off and wire on the local AC plug. Hint: it's far cheaper to build just one power supply versus several different units for the world market. Also most mainstream consumer products such as DVD players use one main PC board which also houses the power supply. Here different power supplies would mean different main boards - not very cost effective manufacturing.

Most modern digital equipment has a switch mode power supply. These will typically run anywhere from 87 to 274 volts at 47 to 75hz. While they don't state it, they will even run on DC if you happen to wind up where they still use DC and some third world countries still do.

Of course using a step down transformer is also OK as long as it's ratings aren't exceeded. For the purposes of this discussion, VA is the same as watts.

P.S. Not that's it's critical but American HOT conductor is BLACK. Our NEUTRAL is WHITE. The WIDE blade on the AC plug is the NEUTRAL. European uses BROWN for HOT and BLUE for NEUTRAL. Japan sometimes uses ORANGE for HOT and WHITE for NEUTRAL.

You should be able to plug the BluRay player directly into any world AC outlet without worry. Just cut the American plug off and wire on the local AC plug. Hint: it's far cheaper to build just one power supply versus several different units for the world market. Also most mainstream consumer products such as DVD players use one main PC board which also houses the power supply. Here different power supplies would mean different main boards - not very cost effective manufacturing.


Sounds logical but are you 100% sure??? I 've looked at the back panel pics of some BR & HDDVD players and they are labeled 120V. Now if what you say is true then why would they just put 120V wording there? They could have just said 100-240V. I don't think I have a chance to confirm or test your claim, so I rather stick to a transformer. Otherwise I'll have a fried player which can't be repaired here.

Sounds logical but are you 100% sure??? I 've looked at the back panel pics of some BR & HDDVD players and they are labeled 120V. Now if what you say is true then why would they just put 120V wording there? They could have just said 100-240V. I don't think I have a chance to confirm or test your claim, so I rather stick to a transformer. Otherwise I'll have a fried player which can't be repaired here.

Well I must agree with your logic, the transformer is a safer bet and at a small cost. And since I don't own an HD-DVD or BluRay player yet, I don't want to have to buy my first one to replace yours. :rolleyes:

But you can find EURO to USA adaptors that are nothing more than pin convertors. In other words, there is nothing but metal inside. These are intended for universal power supplies. Next time you are at the airport or hotels look around. You may find laptops plugged in through these adaptors. That's because the power supplies don't care.

But I will safely claim that the 50/60hz is a non issue. If you had an old AC motor driven tunrtable or tape deck, the speed would be off. But this is not a problem in modern gear.

Many but not all players have a switch mode power supply.

Winess the poor bastard in Sweden who plugged his HD-DVD player straight into the wall and fried it. Theres a thread about it in the UK avforums

Winess the poor bastard in Sweden who plugged his HD-DVD player straight into the wall and fried it.

Did he confess "Glimmie told me so" ? :D :D

Even a switch mode power supply will run hotter at 50Hz than 60Hz so there is a chance the power supply may not last as long if it was not spec'd for 50Hz operation. Also, switch mode power supplies can draw a lot of harmonic current and over power these stepdown transformers. Be sure to purchase a transformer at least twice the power rating of the player just to be safe. I read where someone with the Toshiba had a transformer fry because it was to small. It fried the player too!

Cheers,

Ron