Earlier this week I posted a question regarding DC vs: DCC and those that responded help me make the decision to start with DC on the layout that I’m constructing. It’s a two-rail O-scale switching layout that has about thirty-five linear feet of track. I currently have two locomotives - an Atlas SW1200 and a Weaver VO1000. I may add a soon to be released sweet Atlas DC/DCC GP-9 that includes QSI sound. I will be running only one locomotive at a time.
Since I will be using DC, at least initially, what are my options for sound? Are there sound decoders available that will run over the top of the DC or is sound in a DC only environment typically a standalone black-box hooked up to speakers?
MRC made a Sync Diesel sound and steam sound in a small kit. It consisted of a small speaker, black box with controls for sound, I have a diesel sound unit and it worked “ok”. The thing is, I don’t think they make it anymore. That system worked well with DC.
I used it on my switch yard and it worked pretty good, the speaker was kind of small so sound was buzzy sounding. I ended up hooking it up to a Audiosource 50 watt per channel amp and 2 small audio speakers, this helped allot. I know thats a bit of over kill, but it did help. I think they have a new system out though that is close to the same concept.