buying decks from the US

Omega28

I'm thinking of buy a pair of 2000s from the states and was wondering has anyone had experience with this?

will they work over here? I've heard different stories about voltage etc

old gregg

Voltage will be the main issue you'll face. In simple terms, the USA it's 110 and in Europe 220. If the product you are buying allows for a voltage switch (as on many electric razors) you'll have no problem. Otherwise you'll need to buy an adapter to take a Euro voltage and step it down to 110.

More info: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-electrical-voltage-differences-between-the-us-and-europe.htm#

VinylJunkie

You will have to pay import duty on them too unless you find a way around it.

latenia

Don't quote me on this but I'm sure there's some additional issue besides the basic voltage that means they won't work here-something to do with the rotating platter and amplitude possibly. I remember a friend got a 1200 in a pawn shop in Brooklyn about 15 years ago and it didn't work when he brought it home.

francois

Isn't there a voltage selector anyway on 1200's? There is on 1210's anyway

latenia

Again, I'm no expert, but from googling it seems that it's the fact that (good) decks are direct drive and the US electricity has a different frequency, as well as voltage, that's the problem. You won't notice a difference with everyday appliances but when the speed needs to be precise like in a record player, it's obvious-ie the record plays at the wrong speed.

francois

Ok it seems that the 1210's MK II definitely have a selector under the platter, the 1200's don't-various manuals here

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-1210.shtml

milltown

Erm, was the OP not asking about CDJs?
There was a thread here last year Dylan about importing CDJs and the various model number suffixes and what they meant wrt voltage selection. Not sure it was specific to 2000s but it might be of use if you can find it.


(And my 1200s have a voltage selector switch)