Will my hi-fi work in USA? I know I can get an adaptor for the plug but will the electrical current affect it? When I took my hairdryer there and used the adaptor the air was no stronger than a mild breeze - I'm just wondering whether it would play my CDs. Do you think I'm better off buying a hi-fi when I get there??

If it's a good one (amp + CD deck cost more than, say, £500) take it with you and get a current smoothing transformer (DVD Overseas has a good range, and buy with extra capacity, say 2KW, as an amp will draw high power spikes on occasions), other wise don't bother, buy a new one in the US.

I brought my CD player and amp with me and they work perfectly on a smoothing transformer.

Some HiFi Stereo equipment have a switch on the back or underneath 110v - 220v. Check yours out. If not then follow Pulaski advice. Expensive then bring, Inexpensive leave behind.


Reg. Frank R.

Im an electrical engineer so I think I know a little about this subject. Most items that contain a motor that have the little changeover switch 240/110 will work ok. If not they will run veeeery sloooowly
Things like PC's Hi Fi and such are a bit more picky and you will need to follow Pulaskis remark. Without getting too technical they operate on a different voltage frequency to the UK which can spike them. I found that most items in the US are CHEAPER then the UK so just go to Walmart and pick up a new one.........good old Walmart

I agree with you, and CD players are one of very few things with motors that will run OK on the US's 60Hz (compared to the UK 50Hz) because CD mechanisms (including DVDs and computer CD ROM drives) have their own internal speed governor, most electric motors do not.