Ok, switched the US two pin plug over to a three pin UK (110v, machine is labelled 120v?) plug, hooked it up to the transformer and gave it a test whirl and errrrm, is it supposed to sound like a bag of nails at low rpm, intermittent 'whirring' noise (but in time with the rotation of the spindle)? Crank it up high and it gives a good consistent noise. Oh yeah, I'm not testing it on the car, just on it's own with no pads attached.
I don't think anything is wrong really, not used to the machine and looking for conformation that this is what they sound like (and therefore mine is working correctly).
Thanks in advance, Christian.