Step Up/Down Transformers - Good or Bad?

"think your buddy would tell you that twice the volts gets you twice the amps, when other factors are equal."

Makes sense since my 120 line fuse is 15 amps and my 220 line fuse for ac is 30 amps.
Point is you can get a high voltage low amp line.
Today's' circuits are safe. They even have lines that detect a short and shut off. (Modern bathrooms and kitchens are required to have such a circuit by code. Just in case you drop the hair dryer into the tub.)A determined individual can still electrocute themselves.

Detlof - Thanks for the feedback, am trying to understand. I assume you are specifically refering to power transformers and not transformers in the audio signal path?

Jeff,
Yes of course. Sorry to have been unclear (:

Consumer grade step-up transformers are usually poor quality and not really transformers but autoformers and have virtually no AC filtering.

Industrial grade step-down transformers can, technically, be wired backwards but, although I've never tried, I'll bet that would be noisy.

So, in this case, I'll suspend my normal xformer promoting and go along with the 240V line. Not because a well selected transformer would degrade sound. 240V also provides balanced AC, or close enough, which some gear appreciates. However, an electrician might wisely and legally insist using 240V outlets or horizontal spades so that nothing 120V can be plugged in. Which means that your power cords would have to be modified. Might even insist on GFCI's.

BTW, twice the volts is half the amps.

Detlof have answered the same way I would have. I don't like transformers hanging on amps.

In my system I use one isolation transformer that drops (USA) 120 Volt to (Japan) 100 volt to supply the motor controller for my Technics MK3. Even though it's a simple job, I opted for a large transformer rated 10 times over, in hope it would not damage performance.

As Detlof said, transformers typically damage dynamics and I've had my share here for trial.