Hello,
I have come arcoss one of these for sale. I have emailed MRC but I wanted to ask here if any one rembered this unit?
If so How did it sound?
was it a decent transformer?
Thanks
Is this the 7000 series device? If so, it was mainly marketed at G scale but hada switch to allow you to run it for HO/N. I’m not aware of an O/O-27 MRC product taht included “sound” support.
no it’s not the 7000. It is a AC xformer for Lionel and Flyer.
OK, do you have a model number? Most of the MRC units were Tech II, Tech III, Tech IV or the newer ones are Pure Power.
Here is what I have
The AC Sound & Power 027 Includes Speaker!
Steam and diesel locomotive sound system including steam whistle and diesel horn provides a new dimension to your model railroading pleasure.
Provides high power demanded by sophisticated railroaders.
Solid state AC train control for Lionel American Flyer and other AC powered O gauge trains.
Slowest speed-top speeds, wide range control.
Whistle switch, direction switch and master on-off switch.
Easy hook-up-no special tools needed.
Operational lights-power monitor and LED overload indicator.
Automatic circuit protector.
I have looked online and everyone calls it the AC sound and power 02
Garfield, I don’t have one, but I know I have tried one out at a show some time ago where someone had one on a display layout. I know at the time I thought it seemed suitable. The sounds were certainly not Railsounds, and they weren’t real loud, but it was also in an environment where there was a lot of background noise (being at a show). I remember thinking it was a good idea to have sound and a transformer combined to just give basic sounds for a layout. I can’t claim more than that, as it’s totally different to try a transformer on someone else’s layout versus having one yourself and using it every day.
Now I do have the MRC Sound Station 312 that I got for a deal years ago at Wholesale Trains. Again it’s not Railsounds… the sounds are not synchronized. In other words, the diesel roar or the steam engine chuff sounds are at a set rate and do not increase or decrease. But for the price, you get a wide variety of sounds in one single separate plug in unit that is more than simple to set up and use.
For a 3-rail layout it isn’t very loud, even a small layout like mine. So I wired in an extra set of speakers I had from old boombox and that helped alot.
The steam loco sounds are the weakest on the 312, but the diesel horns are great… 2 different types. And you get an diesel engine idle, brake sounds, bell sounds, steam release, crossing gate bell, and others - all operated via push button control. For kids or kids that visit your layout, this is a big plus and they love it.
Must be MRC didn’t have a lot of success with the Sound-n-Power transformers because I believe they’ve been dropped. But they’ve added a second Sound Station to their line up, with the new one having background kinds of noises. I personally like the Sound Station. For a low budget operator who doesn’t buy high end locos with sound, this is a suitable affordable alternative to give basic sound effects to a layout at one lo
If memory serves me correctly there was a post on here concerning MRC in the past and I think that the MRC transformer had a problem with handling newer Lionel & MTH engines that use either TMCC or DCS. Legacy was not out as of that time but I am under the opion that MRC won’t work with Lionel’s new Legacy.
Best way to make sure is to test one at a train show or hobby shop with your engine and track similar to what you are using at home. My advice is don’t buy one from ebay!! Test it first with your engine, and then make the decision to buy or not buy.
Lee F.