Problems with using monitors from the US in Australia?

robbo01 · 19th October 2010

Hey guys,

So I was just wondering if anyone has experience using monitors from the US in Australia? Our $ is killing it over here right now, so it's super tempting to buy from the USA.

I was thinking of getting Yamaha HS50M's. Will they be fine over here with just regular power adaptors? Could I even just get replacement power chords from Yamaha here? Or would I need full blown converters?

I'm a total noob when it comes to this voltage conversion stuff, and have struggled to find any specific info in this case. I spoke to yamaha both here and over there, and they were no help whatsoever! haha

Thanks!
Robbo

O.F.F. · 19th October 2010

Get a step down transformer from a building supply store or s/h.
Dirt cheap and very robust. Just plug'em into that.

(I assume that Oz has 220-240V)

HudHudson · 20th October 2010

I really want to tell you to turn the monitors upside down since Oz is in the southern hemisphere, but that would just be wrong.

Young&PostModern · 20th October 2010

A lot of the speakers over here have a switchable power input 110v or 220v. Just check. Unless you auzzies are using 380v or something...... :/

Surp · 20th October 2010

Robbo,
It would be good to learn a bit about electronics if you want to save money. I recently bought some gear from the US and the retailer even put a warning sticker on it saying that it wouldn't work with 220/240v, but opening it up clearly showed a dual voltage power supply. It was a simple matter of rotating the fuse cover to "convert" it to 240v. Unfortunately you can't rely on what's written on the website, the manual, or even the back of the box.

It would have been very silly for me to waste money on a step-down transformer.

robbo01 · 20th October 2010

Thanks guys.

We're 240V at 50 Hz here in AUS. I found pics on google of the back of the monitor: any idea whether this will be fine or not? Does anyone know if this speaker is compatible with both voltages?

Sam

daniel c · 20th October 2010

It's preset to the voltage of the country where it is sold, so no, you can't just plug it in and use it here in Australia.

You can take it to a tech and it's likely that they can open it up and change the voltage to 240V as a previous poster suggested, but it's probably cheaper and easier just get a 240V to 120V step down transformer from Dick Smith or Jaycar, as another poster suggested.

19th October 2010	#1
robbo01 Gear interested Joined: Oct 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 11 Thread Starter	Problems with using monitors from the US in Australia? Hey guys, So I was just wondering if anyone has experience using monitors from the US in Australia? Our $ is killing it over here right now, so it's super tempting to buy from the USA. I was thinking of getting Yamaha HS50M's. Will they be fine over here with just regular power adaptors? Could I even just get replacement power chords from Yamaha here? Or would I need full blown converters? I'm a total noob when it comes to this voltage conversion stuff, and have struggled to find any specific info in this case. I spoke to yamaha both here and over there, and they were no help whatsoever! haha Thanks! Robbo

20th October 2010	#3
HudHudson Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, Texas USofA Posts: 1,671	I really want to tell you to turn the monitors upside down since Oz is in the southern hemisphere, but that would just be wrong. __________________ "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson should have said this, but didn't www.yellowdogstudios.com

20th October 2010	#7
daniel c Gear addict Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Sydney , Australia Posts: 451	It's preset to the voltage of the country where it is sold, so no, you can't just plug it in and use it here in Australia. You can take it to a tech and it's likely that they can open it up and change the voltage to 240V as a previous poster suggested, but it's probably cheaper and easier just get a 240V to 120V step down transformer from Dick Smith or Jaycar, as another poster suggested. __________________ Daniel Clinch Coda Audio Services www.clinchfx.com

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19th October 2010	#2
O.F.F. Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,288	Get a step down transformer from a building supply store or s/h. Dirt cheap and very robust. Just plug'em into that. (I assume that Oz has 220-240V)

20th October 2010	#4
Young&PostModern Gear nut Joined: Nov 2007 Location: LaFayette, GA Posts: 113	A lot of the speakers over here have a switchable power input 110v or 220v. Just check. Unless you auzzies are using 380v or something...... :/

20th October 2010	#5
Surp Gear interested Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 23	Robbo, It would be good to learn a bit about electronics if you want to save money. I recently bought some gear from the US and the retailer even put a warning sticker on it saying that it wouldn't work with 220/240v, but opening it up clearly showed a dual voltage power supply. It was a simple matter of rotating the fuse cover to "convert" it to 240v. Unfortunately you can't rely on what's written on the website, the manual, or even the back of the box. It would have been very silly for me to waste money on a step-down transformer.