I really want a TEAC UD-701N DAC/network player, but the US price is $1200 more than I can buy from Japan or Europe. Of course there's a voltage problem, and I don't want an external transformer, the alteration would have to be internal. But I'm not sure what would be required, this looks more complicated than a lot of the gear I've owned.
I'm posting an internal photo, wonder if anyone has a good idea of what might be involved, worst case scenario. Easy to get a new toroidal trans, but I'm not sure what else might be involved. Any suggestions welcome, thank you.
I'm posting an internal photo, wonder if anyone has a good idea of what might be involved, worst case scenario. Easy to get a new toroidal trans, but I'm not sure what else might be involved. Any suggestions welcome, thank you.
Thanks Mooly, that’s what I was afraid of. I wasn’t even considering the 3 smaller ones, which I thought would have been common to all regions. But the big input trans looks like it might also require a new board too?
Oh well it was worth a shot, maybe a used one will pop up sometime. Moving to Scandanavia just so I can save a grand on a DAC doesn’t quite make sense 😉
Oh well it was worth a shot, maybe a used one will pop up sometime. Moving to Scandanavia just so I can save a grand on a DAC doesn’t quite make sense 😉
Thanks again Mooly. But the internal voltage is set by the big toroid right? Isn't that one doing the transforming to feed the rest of them from its secondary taps into that board in the lower left? I was thinking the first one could just be replaced and the only difference would be it has a different primary, but the secondary would be the same. I'm not very expert at these things, so just a novice assumption. Still might need a different input board I also assume, so it's a no-fly.
I think you will find they are all connected to the mains. If you look at the board at the lower left you can see the primary connections. The arrow points to what seems to be a relay and so I imagine the larger transformer keeps the logic and so on powered when in standby and the relay connects the other three to the mains when it is taken out of standby. All those brown and white wires will connect to the incoming mains.
All the toroids have multiple secondaries. Red/Black/Red on the little ones will likely be something like 15-0-15 to derive a split rail and the yellow single secondary for some other use.
All the toroids have multiple secondaries. Red/Black/Red on the little ones will likely be something like 15-0-15 to derive a split rail and the yellow single secondary for some other use.
those are definitely 100v only transformers. might work at 120v, probably the unit will overheat. get a 120v to 100v transformer.
stax does this crap too, limiting japan only units to 100v. other companies over the years have gone to significant lengths to limit the ability
to change power voltages.
stax does this crap too, limiting japan only units to 100v. other companies over the years have gone to significant lengths to limit the ability
to change power voltages.
Mooly, thank you for pointing those details out, it’s educational. On my current dac, a Gustard R26, you flip a switch and done. Same with other components. But I have to presume these bespoke arrangements are a bit cleaner overall, it’s got to cost more to make 3 versions than just install a switch.
Yeah Kevin wish I could use 100v but having imported Japanese carpentry tools over the years, I’m sure you’re right.
Any suggestions for an external transformer, even a diy solution? I could buy either the Japanese or Euro version but I lean a little towards the 100v. It’s easy enough to buy a cheap stepup transformer but I want it to do a clean job.
Yeah Kevin wish I could use 100v but having imported Japanese carpentry tools over the years, I’m sure you’re right.
Any suggestions for an external transformer, even a diy solution? I could buy either the Japanese or Euro version but I lean a little towards the 100v. It’s easy enough to buy a cheap stepup transformer but I want it to do a clean job.
Often transformers have multi voltage primary windings which as you say can be either user switchable or perhaps a simple internal rearrangement of a plug/socket but unfortunately these do not appear to have that.
I would think ultimately the reason will come down to cost (it always does in one way or another). It may be a few percent cheaper to have a single voltage rather than multi standard. Also less cost in adding user switching.
I would think ultimately the reason will come down to cost (it always does in one way or another). It may be a few percent cheaper to have a single voltage rather than multi standard. Also less cost in adding user switching.
That makes sense. Do you think it’s worth it to just buy one from Japan and use a stepup tranny? And if so, where would I want to look for one that’s appropriate for audio use, ie quality materials etc?
I've never looked into step up or down transformers tbh and so would be starting from zero to find out what was available. I know you like the DAC but using external transformers is a messy solution to me, it would have to look good, be unobtrusive and also be silent mechanically.
No easy answer to this one.
No easy answer to this one.
I’m going to hold my horses and buy a US model, sooner or later someone will sell one. I think you’re right Mooly it’s messy and I’d most certainly be introducing some degree of noise and a bulky giant magnetic thing to the system I’ve worked so hard to clean up, not to mention resale.