Lower voltage for old amps

[blownaparte]

I read somewhere, household current has changed over the years and that electrical equipment, including tube amplifiers, built in the 60s is meant for lower voltage. I guess what I'm wondering is does this make sense? Would my amps sound better at lower voltage? and if so, how do I go about doing this?

[Mr.Golden]

I believe the best solution to this is to buy a power conditioner.

Furthermore, one that you can regulate the voltage output with. It'll probably be a little pricey but ultimatley worth it.

If, for instance, your vintage amp says it is meant to use 110V, then it WILL sound DIFFERENT because all of the original components were meant to operate at 110V, not 120V. It all comes down to physics basically. More power is going into the equation than is necessary. It will work regardless but not the way it was meant to.

My amp technician swears by them for vintage amps, especially if you're gigging. You never know what kind of electrical set-up a club is going to have. If there are too many things plugged into the same circuit, you may not even be getting enough voltage to your amp in the first place. What the power conditioner will do is make sure you're amp is always getting a steady 110V, 115V, 120V, etc. with no fluctuation in voltage. It will also protect it from power surges.

I hope this sheds some light.