Japanese SA-8800

[kvining]

So I purchased an SA-8800 shipped from Japan off a well known auction site. It was an odd little unit, an SA-8800 should be a flouroscan unit in the states, but apparently 100v units for export called SA-8800 look to me like they are actually US SA-8500ii. When it arrived, the unit looked absolutely brand new. Not a scratch on it, the paint on the metal cover looks like it was sprayed yesterday. So I'm wondering, I have a SA-8500ii parts dog, can I just swap the transformers to convert it to 120v?

 

[GlasgowGrip]

If they are really the same design then they should have the same VA rating on both transformers, just different winding ratios, so in theory, sure. But I'd want to compare the transformer ratings and also the schematics for both units to be sure you can get the right voltages on whatever combination of secondary windings the donor has to offer.
Please let us know how it works out.

 

[mbz]

There is a thread in the Pioneer forum that give mapping between JDM and export models. I have a JDM SA-8800ii which is the same as export SA-8500ii.
Guessing the JDM SA-8800 is the same as the SA-8500???

 

[GainbrainX]

There is a thread in the Pioneer forum that give mapping between JDM and export models. I have a JDM SA-8800ii which is the same as export SA-8500ii.
Guessing the JDM SA-8800 is the same as the SA-8500???

No! The1975 JDM SA- 8800 100v (Japanese Doomestic Market) model was only sold in Japan, It was marketed elsewhere as the SA - 7500 UL, KCU, FV, GN at higher voltages.. Check it out. This is the one with the simple, concentric, two piece volume knob, an equel diameter function selection knob to the right, and four toggle switches bel ow. No power meters. In 1979 They reused the model number SA-8800 for an 80 wpc, American based verson with the meters. (I Think). The takeaway is in 1975 the SA-8800 and the SA-7500 were the same amps with different voltages. Oh! the SA-7500 changed in 1976. Still a silver face but reconfigured. I might be making this up so check it out,

 

[Tomrd]

No! The1975 JDM SA- 8800 100v (Japanese Doomestic Market) model was only sold in Japan, It was marketed elsewhere as the SA - 7500 UL, KCU, FV, GN at higher voltages.. Check it out. This is the one with the simple, concentric, two piece volume knob, an equel diameter function selection knob to the right, and four toggle switches bel ow. No power meters. In 1979 They reused the model number SA-8800 for an 80 wpc, American based verson with the meters. (I Think). The takeaway is in 1975 the SA-8800 and the SA-7500 were the same amps with different voltages. Oh! the SA-7500 changed in 1976. Still a silver face but reconfigured. I might be making this up so check it out,

 

[Tomrd]

I too bought a a Japanese market SA8800. So far, the boards match up with the SA 7500. A difference I found today, is power supply and protection. The two main caps for the rails are rated at 2200uf and 63v. Apparently, this area of the amp was designed specifically for the JDM. This stuff is new to me. I asked the Japanese seller if he could get a service manual for the 8800 and he can not find anything.

 

[emsrph]

A search states that the Japanese SA-8800 is the same as the export SA-7500 except for the input voltage 100 vs 120.

The transformer supposedly provides the same secondary voltage as the US SA-7500 so you can use that manual for everything else.

The protection board is separate in the Japanese SA-8800 but combined with the power supply regulation circuit, the rectifier diodes, and the entire power amplifier driver section in the US SA-7500.

All this may be true if AI is having a good day today.

 

[Tomrd]

I measured the rails and they come in at 40.5 volts. I tested the output with dummy loads and volt reading on each load. The sine wave from my phone was crisp as far as I can turn the dial up. I backed off to 24 volts. I believe the architecture is close to the same as the 7500 but something must be different. Anyway, I don't play music very loud, so I am good to go. This is a lot of fun for me, learning about audio equipment. Thank you for the reply.