Dynaudio BM12A's for 240V - Isolating stepdown transformer needed?

[tj7]

i've gone for the stepdown transformer option for a pair of dynaudio BM12A monitors i bought from the US for use in Australia (they were less than half the price of locally available stock).

do i need an "isolating" transformer or will this autotransformer be suitable..?

300W 240v - 110v step down transformer Stepdown | eBay

sorry for the dumb question but i've never owned a pair of active monitors from the US before.... will a non-isolating transformer be ok or am i asking for trouble here..?

dynaudio don't offer much direct assistance about this, i've tried them, by the way....

cheers

[DanDan]

Non isolating is fine in terms of power. However different countries have different safety and earthing ideas.
The 110V Yellow iso transformers used on building sites would be a better idea.
The Dynaudios may have a 240V winding on the transformer, and they may not want to tell you! Try to find out. Open one up or have a tech do it.
BTW the real techies hang out at the geekslutz part of the forum.

DD

[tj7]

thanks. have posted in the geek area too...

in the meantime:

aaaarrrrrggghhhhh

set up with an autotransformer -
then within 5 mins, one of my speakers just died. sound comes through but is distorted. just fuzzy sounding at all volume levels.
if this was a transformer / power issue, wouldn't that have just blown the thing outright? could this distortion be related to a power / voltage issue?

it's a standard 240V > 110V stepdown, non isolating (i'm in australia).

wasn't even running the speakers very loud - and only one of them has this permanent distortion issue now.

any suggestions for cause of this prob ?

going to have to try sending it back as it may well be a faulty speaker -