Singapore

[crazy]

Friends - I'm moving to Singapore!! My wife just got a job there and we're moving from the US to Singapore.

Is there anyone from this forum living in Singapore?

One questions for folks on this forum...

Has anyone moved with their beloved speakers (and electronics) to an International country? I would love to find out what is the best way to pack them nicely so that they don't get damaged. I have like 6-7 pieces of electronics and 10-12 odd speakers to ship!!!

[F1nut]

They have different voltage/cycle there, 230V 50Hz.

http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

[Joey_V]

Wow... it's been great talking with you on the phone and it's been great exchanging pms and emails back a few months. I'm going to miss you Dep.... I hope you like Singapore! Send me some black-market goods from there!!

:)

Atleast you'll still surf the forums, right?

Good luck there..... and dont forget the black Krell and the black 804s!!

Joey

[Libertyc]

Good luck in sunny Singapore!

[halo]

All the best bro :)

[danger boy]

Wow. Singapore huh? now that's a big ass move. is this that witness protection relocation thing i keep hearing so much about? LOL JK!

At least you can still peruse the forums here at Club Polk.

[Sami]

I have a friend living there. I wouldn't take any electronics with you, a lot of cheap good stuff over there in Asia. Be sure to travel a lot, it's cheap and a lot to see.

[Ricardo]

Nice move; Singapore is nothing like people might think; cleanest place in the WORLD; the words modern and technology are not enough to describe how advanced they are, and they know how to treat expatriates. Great experience for a few years.

[Frank Z]

Crazy laws over there dude. Watch your step.

[danger boy]

Crazy laws over there dude. Watch your step.

Hell yeah. remember Michael Fay, 22? that punk that keyed those cars over there and got caned 4 times on his buttocks? way back in like 1994.. that's some crazy stuff. but you gotta abide by their laws. :eek:

[Ricardo]

Crazy laws over there dude. Watch your step.

True....you'll better not be caught spitting on a sidewalk, or throwing some gum out the window of your car.....but they manage to make it a very safe place.

Look at these international rankings (watch "freedom".....)
International rankings
Economic
Doing Business project 2006 @ International Finance Corporation, World Bank, ranked 1 out of 175 economies
IMD International: World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005, ranked 3 out of 60 economies (countries and regions)
World Economic Forum: Global Competitiveness Report2006-2007 - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking, ranked 5 out of 124 economies
A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy Magazine: Globalization Index 2005, ranked 1 out of 62 countries
Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal: 2005 Index of Economic Freedom, ranked 2 out of 155 countries [1]
The Economist: The World in 2005 - Worldwide quality-of-life index, 2005, ranked 11 out of 111 countries
Economist Intelligence Unit: 2006 e-readiness rankings, ranked 13 out of 68 economies
Transparency International: Bribe Payers Index 2006, ranked 12 out of 30 leading exporting economies
Educational
International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, ranked 1 out of 46 economies in all four criteria
Educational Testing Service: 2003-2004 TOEFL Test Year Data Summary, ranked 4 out of 227 economies
Political
Transparency International: Corruption Perceptions Index 2005, ranked 5 out of 159 countries and economies
Freedom in the World 2006 ranked Singapore 5 out of 7 for political freedom, and 4 out of 7 for civil liberties (where 1 is the most free), for an overall ranking of "partly free".
The Economist: The World in 2007 - Index of Democracy, ranked 84 out of 167 countries/territories
Social
United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Index 2004, ranked 25 out of 177 countries
Reporters without borders: Press Freedom Index 2006, ranked 146 out of 168 countries
Save the Children: State of the World's Mothers 2004, ranked 16 out of 119 countries (tied with Argentina, Republic of Korea, and Uruguay)
Transportation
Skytrax: Worlds Best Airports 2006, Singapore Changi Airport ranked 1 out of 155 airports
AAPA: World's busiest container ports, ranked 1

[Refefer]

If I recall, Singapore is the last city state in the world.

[Zero]

Excellent stuff Crazy -

Enjoy your time there! Safe Travels. Keep the electronics at home, as others said, the market there is vast and affordable. I've known a few that lived in Singapore for a short period of time, and loved it.

Best wishes and safe travels!

[schwarcw]

Not too many strip bars!

You see a lot of folks from Singapore on the DIY Forum. Apparently hi end electronics has a lot of import duties. People are building their high end toys themselves from parts. Watch the voltages like Jesse says.

[crazy]

Thanks for all the comments and your well wishes - this is why I love hanging out here :)


They have different voltage/cycle there, 230V 50Hz.

http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

The step down convertors should handle the 230-110 V conversion. Only question is, how will the 50Hz impact electronics since US is 60Hz??

I'm not taking too many electronics but I have to take my beloved B&W 804s speakers and my Krell 400 Xi integrated amp. Krell told me that I just need to take my amp to a Krell authorized dealer in Singapore and they'll do the needful to make it work out there.

I'm planning to sell my Polk Monitor front speakers and Onkyo receiver here in the US and then get a receiver once I'm out there to use with my remaining Polk Audio speakers to create a 5.1 setup with my B&W as front speakers. I just need a receiver with pre-outs.

I've heard about how strict the law is in Singapore which is great for law abiding citizens like us :D - I rarely cross the road without the "walk" signal, except of course in NYC!!


Wow... it's been great talking with you on the phone and it's been great exchanging pms and emails back a few months. I'm going to miss you Dep.... I hope you like Singapore! Send me some black-market goods from there!!

:)

Atleast you'll still surf the forums, right?

Good luck there..... and dont forget the black Krell and the black 804s!!

Joey

Yup, I'll still keep visiting the forum for sure and I hope to keep a US number thanks to Skype - not sure if Skype works from Singapore though.

... and yes, I'm definitely taking my speakers :cool:

Will definitely need to send some pictures once I'm there ...

[disneyjoe7]

I would consider buying new over there, and selling or storing your other equipment you wish to hold on. My reason's for this is most 60hz transformer need to swapped out for 50hz transformers, I think a step down converter could work but not sound 100%.

[polkatese]

Singapore is a fun city. It gets very humid in the summertime, borderline unbearably sticky icky outdoor. Other than that, very westernized Asian city.

Here is a link that would help you to know Singapore, from an expat view:

http://www.warrenssingapore.com/home_page.htm

Singapore is not a good place to find cheap electronics, Hong Kong is.

Either way, have fun in Singapore! One of the few cities that I enjoy to visit. Btw, Hawker food rules!

[fredv]

Audio gears operates on rectified current (DC), does the AC frequency matter that much?

[disneyjoe7]

The power transformer which changes 120vac to 60vac for output +/-voltage rails, needs 60hz ac input. If 50hz is the AC line then the power transformer will be heated up more then 60hz was due to the fact the transformer is designed for 60hz not 50hz. I know what you're thinking about London people who have 50hz goes to this country and use a voltage converter for their VHS or video stuff their equipment is designed for 50hz and they are input 60hz AC now but the power transformer are cooling then when they are home. So this is not hurting they equipment.

[disneyjoe7]

Also I don't think a 60vac transformer design for 120vac 60hz will give you 60vac output for 120vac 50hz input.

[AudioVideo]

I would watch yourself and your family. My daughter will only be four years old in January. She was kidnapped by her non-custodial mother at age two and taken to Indonesia.

In fact, I recently received emails from my daughter's mother wanting money but giving me nothing in exchange except for a couple pictures of my daughter. Two of the recent emails had come from Singapore. However, there was no trace of the mother traveling into Singapore. The last email from the mother came from Indonesia.

The FBI tells me that it will be nearly as difficult to get my daughter back from Singapore as it would Indonesia. Even though the U.S. sends millions of dollars to Indonesia none of our politicians has the courage to stand up for my daughter's rights as a U.S citizen.

Please be careful... losing my daughter has devastated me. I have learned how dangerous other countries can be for even children that are citizens of the United States. Once in another country you go by their laws.

[disneyjoe7]

AudioVideo, Sorry about your daughter that is horrible. Let's all hope Crazy's issue's are just amp related only.

[Refefer]

My Lord. AudioVideo, good luck and I hope it all works out for the best.

[AudioVideo]

Thanks for your well wishes. I too hope Crazy will only have minor amp problems. Good luck to you Crazy. :)

[seo]

Make sure the compensation package is good, living expenses, salary uplift, etc.

Singapore is very expensive. Also, check on the availability of hot water in your living situation.

Also, alcohol is taxed heavily and is very expensive.

[disneyjoe7]

I also heard alcohol is very expensive.

[crazy]

DisneyJoe7, F1nut - thanks a lot for all your tips.

The http://kropla.com/ website sure was helpful indeed.

I've decided to junk most of my electronic stuff except for the following:

1) Arcam CD player - works on a 220/50 Hz setup

2) Krell 400Xi - Singapore dealer said that they would do the needful to make it run in Singapore (labor charge only since it's under warrantee - that's why you shouldn't buy grey market stuff! he!he!)

3) iMac - you can get an adapter straight from Apple

4) Macbook (yet to buy)

5) Nikon - charger works on 220/50 Hz setup

I'm taking ALL my speakers since speakers (Polks + B&W) since they don't need any electrical input EXCEPT for my sub.

Ok, so here's another questions:

Since I have not been able to sell my Onkyo TX-SR603X receiver, will I be able to run it using a 220/110 V convertor? Since it converts the current internally to DC, the 50/60Hz thing shouldn't really matter, right? (according to kropla.com?

Finally, what should I do with my Belkin PURE AV line conditioner? This is a tricky one!! If I get a 220/110 V convertor for this, shouldn't I be able to run my US 110 / 50Hz audio equipment through this???

Same question for my UPS.

THANKS a tone for all your help!!!

[Sami]

Ok, so here's another questions:

Onkyo TX-SR603X receiver
Belkin PURE AV line conditioner
Set the price so they will sell. Get something that is designed for 220V.