Since the P2K GP7 did not receive very good sound reports, I would like to know which RTR,HO GP7 rates best overall for DCC and sound.
I don’t know, everyone listens for different things. I for one think the GP7’s sound is fine, and the loco’s fine detail is going to be hard to beat as well.
Rob
It sounds NOTHING like a 567B. We still have GP7s and 9s working here in Calgary.
David B
In my opinion the Atlas GP7 is…Its DCC ready and you could add a Soundtraxx decoder.
I’m with Brakie on this one.
For pulling power and overall reliability, it’s hard to beat an Atlas GP7. Plus, there is a lot more room for installing lighting in the Atlas GP7 than in the Proto 2000, which is a big selling point for me. I’m installing a Gyralight, back-up light and working class lights in my Geeps in addition to lowering the headlights. I’ve done all that in a few P2K GP7s, and in each one I had to cut out a lot of the weight in the short hood to get it all to fit.
Personally, I’m not sold on sound yet, so that’s been a very minor consideration for me. However, even with the lighting features added, there’s still plenty of room for a Soundtraxx decoder if I do decide that I want to add sound later.
This is not a solution if you’re looking for a locomotive that’s DCC and sound-equipped right out of the box, though.
I thought Proto was the only manufacturer that makes GP7’s with sound. If you want RTR sound then thats your only option. The sound isn’t bad, don’t forget they are packing a lot of stuff into a small locomotive.
My GPs are powered by the Digitrax SFX decoders. And they have the correct sound set 
David B
I think thats because they have recordings from the 567 prime mover. it says that in the book anyway. Were can i read the review for the proto 2000 GP7?
I am partially deaf LOL actually I have a hard time really hearing the difference between them , to me they all sound the same [sigh] we still ahve daily GP9’s banging around the train yard in Brantford as well even see them shoved into mainline consists as well.
Rob
I have Proto GP-7s and the sound is OK, but not much like a 567. The best 567B sound I have found is the soundtraxx EMD ist Generation. It actually makes the transition sound as the engine accelerates. Sounds amazingly like the 567B. I also have a couple in F units. I’m ordering more Soundtraxx decoders. You also have a choice of three horns. Single chime, three chime, or five chime, so all units don’t have to sound the same. The Soundtraxx decoders are actual recordings on a chip. I believe the QSI sounds from BLI are computer generated.
Not trying to start an argument here, but a lot of the GP-7s and 9s around today, have been rebuilt and re engined. We are talking 50 year old locomotives. CN has some rebuilt GP9-2s running around that sound like any modern locomotive. Including the whine of a turbo charger.
I have both Atlas and P2K, I am gonna have to go with Atlas. Out of the box P2K has the details but the Atlas performs better.
The CPR GP7/9s did not have their prime mover replaced with another, just rebuilt.
David B
Here is my take on the GP7 ‘war’:
- Detail/Paint - The P2K product is the best.
- Running - The Atlas GP7 is heavier(pulls more), and I have not seen the ‘split gear’ problem like on the P2K engines(to be fair, Walthers has been great about sending the ‘fix kits’). The overall running qualities are about the same.
- Sound - The P2K is the only ‘factory’ sound GP7 right now, and the early QSI sound was sort of poor. I have heard rumors that they taped a GP7 repowered with a ‘Cat’ engine in it, and used this for both the BLI SD40-2 and the P2K GP7/9 versions. It sounds like a ‘faster’ 567 with a very mild ‘turbo’. The new QSI upgrade chips may help, but I have not installed one yet.
The above said, I have 15 P2K GP7/9’s and 1 Atlas GP7. I think the Atlas engines are better ‘out of the box’, but P2K detail and the neat paint jobs are really big sellers. For me, being able to build ‘fleets’ if Milw/C&NW 1st generation GP’s in delivery paint schemes was a ‘plus’. A little ‘re-detail’ with proto-specific details and axle gear replacement was just part of the fun. My Atlas GP7 is rather ‘bare-bones’ and the C&NW ‘delivery paint scheme’ was rather poor(the seperation between the green end chevrons and the yellow was poor on all I looked at). After P2K delivered a run with C&NW 1518, my old Atlas was stripped and rebuilt/repainted/detailed as a CGW GP7(then Atlas releases it factory done!). I think it is time to upgrade the Atlas GP7 and get out of the ‘Classic’ syndrome…
Jim
Everything David says is true. They don’t sound like 567s, and the GP7us in Calgary are still working with their original engine blocks, just upgraded cabs and electrical equiptment. It’s awesome to watch them moving a heavy cut, but that’s beside the point!
Wait, your telling me that the p2k GP7 engine sounds don’t transition. its just gurlding the whole time?
Make no mistake the 567,567B 567C and 567D all had a distinct sound…
Many still have their classic “whine” of the 567 series prime mover.
The 567A thru 567D1(FT thru GP18) all will have that ‘EMD Chant’ as they are non-turbo units(Roots Blowers). The 567D2(GP20), 567D3(SD24/GP30), and the 567D3a(GP35) are all units with the turbo, and will sound different.
The P2K/QSI sound does make transition(as the engine unloads while making the electrical steps). I can put up with the little bit of ‘whine’ in my P2K GP9, but the air horn is terrible(and the bell is great). I am hoping the new QSI ‘upgrade’ chip is better(they offer 2 chips with different air horns). Switching with a sound diesel is very nice as the engine rev’s when working the yard lead. I had never even thought about that, so it was a pleasent surprize.
Jim - Owner of 7 DCC/Sound engines at this point.
567=waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
567b=whummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
567c=waaaaummmmmmmmmwaaaaaaaaaaaaummmmmmmmm
567d=weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I know this si akward but if u listen to the engines u will hear these distict sounds. Hoep this helps.
And Im hearing impaired.
Im considering the Proto QSI units for 2008, I think those will do very well. The Atlas units may or may not be availible in the Chessie paint so… I go with what is availible.
Keep in mind that you can probably pull a sound file from QSI that is the engine wanted and download it or replace the chip with the correct sound you want.
Snorting desiels and working steam over a certain amount of time generates a new sound from the Queen-Director of Operations… my wife… “HEY! Let’s have some quiet shall we?”
Usually happens when I ding the bell one too many. =)
Cheers.