Bachmann Dynamis, questions/opinions

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

First question, is it worth it? I’ve been told anything Bachmann is bad, I’ve been told anything Bachmann is good, and I’ve been told some is good some is bad. Second question, can it be used with sound equiped loco’s? Third question, has anyone besides MR use it? They used the Dynamis on their beer line module, and breifly talked about it in their DCC starter article about a year back. Last question, does Bachmann still do that deal where they give you a choice of undecorated, DCC equiped diesel locomorive when you buy a Dynamis?

2

MILW,

Having owned and used the Bachmann E-Z Command prior to moving to the NCE Power Cab, I can only making judgment that is based on that experience and what I have read. To answer your questions:

  1. Is the Dynamis worth it? I think it’s a little pricey but the Dynamis it will definitely do more than it’s earlier cousin, the E-Z Command - in particular, program and alter CVs. Having used the Power Cab now for about 4 years, I don’t think I would enjoy needing to use 2 hands to operate the Dynamis. Even so, the Dynamis should be a very good system and is available in a (IR) wireless version. It was designed by ESU (the makers of Loksound decoders) and closely resembles their ECoS DCC system.

  2. Can it be used with sound equipped locos? Yes - Both the Dynamis and E-Z Command can operate and run sound-equipped locomotives. The E-Z Command only controls 8 functions (F1-F8). The Dynamis should be able to control F1-F12. It may actually have access to 28, as well.

  3. Has anyone besides MR used it? There’s a couple of folks for sure here on the forum who have purchased a Bachmann Dynamis. I trust they will chime in with their experiences.

  4. Does Bachmann still do that deal where they give you a choice of undecorated, DCC equipped diesel locomotive when you buy a Dynamis? I’ve only seen this with the E-Z Command but I’m not entirely sure. The locomotives offered through the E-Z Command are decent and equipped with a low-cost Lenz decoder.

Hope that helps…

Tom

3

Is it worth it? In my opinion, unless you are a lone wolf operator who never intends to have anyone else operate with you, no. The reason being that you cannot add additional cabs to the base system. You have to add the “Pro” box (for around $300) to be able to add additional cabs. If you do add the pro box, you can then add up to three more cabs for a grand total of four cabs, still not really what I would call a “Pro” system.

4

I like it very much. It does what most other systems do but is more user friendly. I recently purchased one with an undecorated Dash 8 for a very reasonable price. Very pleased with the system and its wireless capabilities.

5

The “pro box” expansion is quite expensive. Taking the Dynamis and adding the Pro Box results in what ESU sells as the Navigator. Combined its ‘street price’ (I just checked at MB Klein) is around $430. You can get a full-blown (not a ‘starter’) system from NCE or Digitrax for that, either of which has WAY more expandability and capability. The Dynamis is a much better system that the EZ Command, but IMO just too expensive for what it is.

–Randy