Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around for ages! But I'm now faced with a new dilemma I thought I need to seek some very wise advice from you guys ;)

I'm thinking of upgrading my 8000s and BL2 to a BL5... but where I live in Australia, it's not close to a dealership at all. I did manage to listen to them personally at one dealership here (in another city) last time I went there a couple of years ago and the sound just blew me away (which is why I've always been thinking about it ever since)...

Now the dilemma is that I realise that sourcing it from the US is a LOT cheaper than buying it here, even if you include exchange rates and fright charges and even an import tax, it will still be at least 20%-30% cheaper than buying here. But that means the speakers will need to be running through 110 to 240V transformers the whole time.

What are your opinions? Are there any potential problems with powering speakers through transformers in the long term? Any potential problems I need to be aware of? With warranty, it's 3 years international but I think once it's finished, it will perhaps be expensive to repair considering it's a different model to the one in Australia. But B&O speakers are built to last, as my 8000s are still perfect, so how worried should I be?

Thanks for everyone's valuable input!!!

Beomud

Hi Beomud,

way back then I was living in the US and bought my B&O system there. Then I moved back to Europe. I took my BL6000 and Ouverture to a technician and he switched everything to 240V. It was simple, fast and cheap. Do not bother with transformers.

Best.

flycub:

I took my BL6000 and Ouverture to a technician and he switched everything to 240V. It was simple, fast and cheap. Do not bother with transformers.

I would backup flycup's solution.

Especially as for a Beolab5 the transformator needs to handle 2500W (and more as this is output power, not input power) for EACH speaker so its size will almost match the lab5's

Problem might be to convince the local B&O technician to convert a "foreign" (= not bought at his location) device

  Gunther

If you buy it from a dealer in the US ask him to do the mod.

hi

you need only a Step Down Transformer For 220V/240V To 110 V

plug in and is done

http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/step-down-transformer.html#vod3000-stepdownvoltagetransformers-cecertified

marijo

I don't really see the problem - the transformer simply needs to be changed - it is mentioned in the service manual for when one changes country. Part numbers are in the service manual on site.

flycub:

If you buy it from a dealer in the US ask him to do the mod.

Or better, order it with aus specs.

Thanks for all the responses guys!! I really appreciate it. Thank you for making me aware of the size of the step down transformer with sufficient voltage to power the lab 5..

I managed to call up the technician and I've been told that it will be quite expensive to have the voltage converted because a FEW parts need to be swapped out and also the parts will be quite expensive because they are applied to a foreign model.

In the end I think I might just go with the Beolab 9, as my place probably isn't big enough to warranty a lab 5 in any case.

Thanks again for the input everyone!

You could ask a US Dealer to order you a 240v pair, its worth a try.

Russ