220v to 110v power converter, there sound difference?

[augustin01]

I salute you, can you tell me the difference between Express 5:25 1x10 buy it from USA and Express 5:25 1x10 buy it from Europe? If I use a Mesa brought from USA in Europe, with 220v to 110v power converter, there sound difference? Can you tell me what power converter to use? Thank you very much, Augustin A

 

[tmac]

If I remember my own measurements correctly, the 5:25 draws 60-90W of power. I use a 100W step-down converter with it here in Norway (wall voltage is around 230VAC), and it works fine. Of course, I've never been able to compare, but I don't think it should make any difference in tone as long as the step-down transformer is powerful enough. I get around 115VAC on the amp side of the transformer.

I did have a 300W stepdown-transformer for it earlier, before I found the smaller 100W one. I didn't do a direct comparison but did not notice any tone degradation when I made that switch.

 

[augustin01]

Hi, If you turn up the volume, loud noise is heard in the background? Cheers

 

[tmac]

No, I don't think it is any noisier than any other typical tube amp.

 

[J.J]

The 5:25 can be very noisy, even the clean channel if the master volume is set high. I don't think a setp down transformer will change that at all though.

 

[augustin01]

Tubes borken

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmaoggMepwo

 

[tmac]

Mine, with a 100W stepdown transformer does not do anything like that. I have more hiss than hum when I crank it, although even that is not much I would say, compared to how loud the amp is. Nothing connected to the amp input in that video?

If you suspect a broken preamp tube, you can do some preamp tube swapping. If you take out the reverb tube and put the reverb knob on 0 you have an spare tube that you can swap into the other positions one by one to see if it solves the problem.

I don't know how experienced you are, so if you want to try that: Don't put your fingers inside the amp (it should be easily possible without removing the chassis on the combo, right)... Also, turn the amp off and wait a few minutes before you swap a tube. If the tube glass breaks while you hold it you can get hit by the B+ voltage from the components inside the tube.