Step Up/Down Transformers - Good or Bad?

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.

Me - "twice the volts gets you twice the amps". In context of electrocution hazard.
Ngjockey - "BTW,twice the volts is half the amps". In context of transformer characteristics.

Alberporter & Detlof - Thanks for the feedback. 'Damage dynamics' gives me a bit more to think about.

Regards

Hmm.
1. We all like specific types of disortion in our audio. My personal favorite is the high magnitude even order harmonic distortion that you get with vaccum tubes.
2. It seems reasonably well established that distortion in the upper frequency range can make music sound more dynamic. For example Vandersteen goes to the expense of installing back firing tweeters on their 5a's because some listeners/systems benefit from the timing and frequency distortion inherent to bouncing tweeters off of back walls & etc.
3. If a person is basically happy with their system & then they insert a device that tends to eliminate higher frequency distortion would this most likely be percieved as a loss of dynamics?

"My personal favorite is the high magnitude even order harmonic distortion that you get with vaccum (sic)tubes."

Not to get off topic but the more accurate statement is, if tubes have distortion it is more likely to be even order.
The better tube designs can sound quite neutral.