2. misc-audio
  3. 1276382582

Audio and the "jet set" - please help

Hi all,

It's looking like my life will be global for the foreseeable future, with 2-3 year stints in countries all over the world (including the U.S.). This poses some challenges for my audio obsession. Constantly changing voltage requirements and shifting room sizes mean that long-term planning is difficult. Are there others in this situation? How do you cope?

I've tried a few things. Shifting away from speakers to great headphones is what I'm doing now, especially because space is very limited, but in the end, I'm a speaker guy. I've also tried to focus on components with switchable voltage, but in the end this is just really limiting. I've thought about relying on step-down transformers, but this scares me a little (should it?).

Anyway, I'd love to hear from any of you in similar positions who have found ways to make it work.

Thanks!
lousyreeds1
lapierre
547 posts
 
I would go a bit more mobile if your moving that much.

If limited on space, how about a great set of speakers (B&O Beo 4) with a macintosh computer.
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
If I were going to be constantly on the move, I'd want a pair of AKG K1000s and an amp to drive them with to which I could apply a stepup or stepdown transformer. I'd feed it with a DAC with my music on a Mac Mini.

If I was going to be in place for 2-3yrs, I'd probably want some speakers. If you use bookshelf speakers, you need an amp big enough to drive them which means voltage change is a problem. As to small speakers which would work in a small room, I'd look at the small Maggies introduced last year or the year before.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Phones are certainly one route. My career may put me in a similar position one day soon. I am not sure I can give up my vinyl collection though. It'd have to come with me.

One reason I purchased a Nagra pre and phono is exactly this reason, international voltage ability. I know their VPA amp has a selector for various voltage settings.

I am sure other mfg have this ability to, so you maybe able to make some prudent buys that can follow you...just another option to consider. Good luck !
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