Flying an amp? - How much do you know about this?

[killdozzer]

My question this time is pretty straightforward, nothing theoretical or purely informative like the last time.

I was looking to buy an amp for a long time now. I live in EU and I’ve been deep probing the entire market to find something I like. The prices vary hugely and not only in second hand market.

I found it in Sweden a lot cheaper then anywhere near me. A LOT cheaper. In my home town it costs 900$, in Sweden it coasts 600$. (And might I just add that you’re really lucky with the prices on Japanese stuff in U.S.A. It is 400$ in America if you can imagine this. But no way for me to import it for under 200$ which brings me back to the Sweden price. So if anyone's coming to Zagreb Croatia give me a heads-up, you'll make an easy 100$ ;-) and it is just 4kg - 8 pounds and provided there's a voltage switch to work in Europe)

Naturally I would love to use this difference in price to my benefit. The difference makes up for i.e. all the cables I will need and then some, or wirecutters best buy projector screen and then some.

Someone I know is going to Sweden real soon. Of course if I was paying all the tickets it wouldn’t be any cheaper. But someone could do it for me for free.

Now the question: even a commercial flight climbs as high as 8000m no problem. Cargo bay is almost never pressurized, could this damage the amp? It is a transistor class D amp, no tubes which, I guess might easily pop at that altitude. But this amp has VU meters. Now my guess, and it is just a guess, is that VU meters shouldn’t have any problems because of altitude, but I really don’t know.

Is there anything else that might get damaged in an amp going at least 6000m high?
killdozzer

 

[highfigh]

My question this time is pretty straightforward, nothing theoretical or purely informative like the last time.

I was looking to buy an amp for a long time now. I live in EU and I’ve been deep probing the entire market to find something I like. The prices vary hugely and not only in second hand market.

I found it in Sweden a lot cheaper then anywhere near me. A LOT cheaper. In my home town it costs 900$, in Sweden it coasts 600$. (And might I just add that you’re really lucky with the prices on Japanese stuff in U.S.A. It is 400$ in America if you can imagine this. But no way for me to import it for under 200$ which brings me back to the Sweden price. So if anyone's coming to Zagreb Croatia give me a heads-up, you'll make an easy 100$ ;-) and it is just 4kg - 8 pounds and provided there's a voltage switch to work in Europe)

Naturally I would love to use this difference in price to my benefit. The difference makes up for i.e. all the cables I will need and then some, or wirecutters best buy projector screen and then some.

Someone I know is going to Sweden real soon. Of course if I was paying all the tickets it wouldn’t be any cheaper. But someone could do it for me for free.

Now the question: even a commercial flight climbs as high as 8000m no problem. Cargo bay is almost never pressurized, could this damage the amp? It is a transistor class D amp, no tubes which, I guess might easily pop at that altitude. But this amp has VU meters. Now my guess, and it is just a guess, is that VU meters shouldn’t have any problems because of altitude, but I really don’t know.

Is there anything else that might get damaged in an amp going at least 6000m high?
killdozzer

Altitude and pressure won't do anything to an amplifier and at high altitude, tubes are a bit closer to equilibrium WRT barometric pressure than at sea level. Freeze mist is used for diagnostics at times and that freezes to -60°C.

 

[Adam]

Agreed - it's no problem. You could even ask your local dealer how the amps are delivered to them, and the person might tell you by air freight. Electronics are shipped by air all of the time.

 

[KEW]

I just happy that the jet's electronics don't fail at high altitudes!

 

[killdozzer]

Well that's great news. I must admit I thought this will be far more complex than a simple: 'oh no, don't worry', - but it's better this way.

Reading around this forum and site in general, you get a feeling that everything sound-wise is far more sensitive and demanding, you end up thinking: 'no way that flying an amp will go unnoticed.

thx once more
killdozzer

 

[tyhjaarpa]

Why don't you order it online from sweden? Pretty sure they could just ship it to you and make things much easier. Shipping inside europe usually doesn't cost you a leg either.

 

[efzauner]

Why do you think that cargo areas are not pressurized? A plane is a cylinder, pressurized front to the rear bulkhead. Otherwise forces would be very unequal.
Electronics are regularly shipped by air.

 

[killdozzer]

Why don't you order it online from sweden? Pretty sure they could just ship it to you and make things much easier. Shipping inside europe usually doesn't cost you a leg either.

This is, of course, my plan B. But since I have someone close to me going to Sweden in 10 days time I might even dodge the cost of shipping.
Although there is still "shipping inside Europe" and "shipping inside Europe" unfortunately, but you're right it usually don't cost a leg.