Any one heard these new loco’s, in particular the Pacific? What did you think? If you have also heard the Walthers/Lifelike QSI 0-8-0, how does the Bachmann compare? Do the Bachmanns make randon sounds when idle, like the 0-8-0 does?
Bachmann uses the Soundtraxx Tsunami. It is superior in every way compared to the QSI systems. No comparison.
It has wonderful idling sounds.
David B
Thanks David! Anyone else have an opinion?
I can’t comment on the QSI sound but I received a Spectrum Consolidation with Tsunami sound this month. It really sounds great and has a very realistic chuff. I do remember how steam locomotives sound as I spent many hours by the CNR westbound mainline in Winnipeg when I was a lad in the late '50s. CN was still running about 50% steam there at that time. The Tsunami captures the sounds I remember very well.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Charlie.
Hate to ruin the ride… But bachmann doesn’t make a pacific.
Their consolidation with sound is great though, btw.
A check of the Bachmann website shows the PRR Pacific has been re-released again in the Spectrum line. It comes with and without sound/DCC
D’oh!
I totally forgot about the K4… Whoops…
I guess I’m not the observant kind…
The Tsunami is great for sound and motor control. I put a Micro-Tsunami in a Spectrum Richmond 4-4-0.
Rich
For steam engine sounds, nothing comes close to the Tsunami. I have several QSI-equipped Broadway Limited Mikado and Northern steam engines, and an IHC 2-10-2 that I equipped with a Tsunami heavy steam decoder. A fellow club member has a Bachmann Spectrum Consolidation with the Tsunami, and the sound of the Tsunamis is much better than the QSIs.
Do the Tsumani-equipped Bachmann engines have Back EMF?? Seems to me I read somewhere that the Tsumani does have it, but not sure.
I have both the QSI 0-8-0 and a Bachman 2-6-6-2 with a Tsunami heavy steam decoder
I like the double speakers in the 0-8-0 and the whistle
The Tsunami has more random sounds ie shoveling coal, oil can pumping,Ratchet working and
taking on water. It even has a preset grade crossing whistle and a choice of short or long
The chuff is great
The only thing i don’t like is the whistle selection
One question: Does Soundtraxx decoders need some special programming booster, or ordinary DCC system can program them?
I have not personally heard it but I am guessing that it sounds, like a steam engine perhaps [D)] [:D]
You are almost certainly going to need a booster. I think the most common one is the PowerPax available from Tony’s Train Exchange.
I’ve programmed at least 4-5 Soundtraxx decoders with my Digitrax Zephyr with no trouble. Unless there is something unusual about the Tsunami I wouldn’t assume you would need anything else. Some of the very first QSI-equipped engines (like first run 4-6-4’s) had some trouble where a booster was needed, but I haven’t heard of it being a problem with other systems.
I have a Spectrum 4-4-0 with a Micro-Tsunami, and two Roundhouse 2-6-0s with Micro-Tsunamis. I program then with a NCE Power Cab that does not have a booster.
Rich
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BachmannTsunami vs. QSI. I have 4 BLI/QSI steamers. Loved their sound – really great. Until my friend just recently bought a Bachmann 2-10-0 w/ Tsunami from Tony’s. Oh, my God. That heavy steam is awesome, just awesome.
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Programmer - well, lots of people, especially those selling them say you need it. But it depends. My friend above was talked into it by Tony’s (it’s like $60!). I sort of yelled at him and showed him that it is fully programmable, including long and short addresses, on his and also my NCE system without any programming add-on unit. To be fair though, I think many systems, perhaps Digitrax and MRC, don’t allow it. Unless you don’t care about the money, I suggest you try it without the extra programmer on your system and buy it only if needed.
Ken
forgot to note, our systems are the full NCE PowerPro systems.
Ken
I use the NCE Power Cab. Can always read and write cv’s. well so far. both qsi and tsunami.