SWA500 input voltage?

xeb

does anyone know if the SWA500 can run off 240v? i'm looking to buy one for use in europe and want to know if i need a transformer. can't find input voltage in any of the specs

ShinAce

There's no switch on the amp, and the manual says nothing about input voltage selection.

My guess is that you will need a step-down transformer.

dorokusai

Ken is sourcing that information now.....good question. They make two different units, domestic and export but the electrical information is unclear. Hold fast XEB.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
I checked with the project manager and the SWA500 is not switch-able. There are two different versions, one export and the other domestic. I'm afraid you would need a step-down transformer to operate in other countries.
Regards, Ken

xeb

thanks for the quick reply. shame, will cost around $1300 to source in europe but can buy for under $500 in the states! something tells me running off a transformer isn't a good idea in terms of noise....

ShinAce

Transformer won't cause any problems. They're roughly 90% efficient so very little power loss and the amp itself contains, wait for it........*gasp* a transformer that all juice flows through. This transformer only needs to worry about a single frequency, and then everything gets filtered to DC, so noise is not even an issue.

Sheesh, paranoid audiophiles are everywhere!!!

xeb

haha not sure i know enough to be classed as audiophile, paranoid for sure though

thanks, yeah that makes sense. so what about running an AV receiver off a transformer as well? same deal or no? i spoke an 'expert' at a hifi store here in NY who told me it was a majorly bad idea for noise issues. again, hoping to source everything i can stateside to save a shitload.

ShinAce

If we're talking about output transformers on tube amps, then soud quality needs to be considered.

However, we are talking about power transformers. They are fed 60 Hz and output 60 Hz. Hmmmm, sounds clean to me.

In terms of noise, sometimes transformers are used to prevent noise. Isolation transformers to avoid ground loops are an example of this. In cases where the transformer is handling wall power only, there are 0 noise issues(minus physical noise from the xformer itself).

[Deleted User]

Hello,
The Thordarson TSD-1000 comes highly recommended.
Regards, Ken

xeb

well europe runs on 50hz not 60hz so does that not mean the amp must be capable of running on 50hz without problems?

xeb

thanks ken

ShinAce

The transformer will handle either frequency just fine.