DCC Sound/Spreaker question

I have a Tower 55 with soundFX by Digitrax. I would like to add another speaker to my loco. Is this possible? If so, how much trouble will it be?

I know you can add more to a soundtraxx decoder but I suggest you contact digitrax for if it’s recommended and what ohm speaker to use, make sure they are both wired the same way round + to + and neg to neg or they will partly cancel each other out.
Fitting it in depends on what spare space there is inside the bodyshell, can’t help there as I’ve not seen one.

I have not seen this model either. I own several factory installed sound and DCC locos and there is not any spare room in any of them. The engineering is quite tight to fit all that they get into them. I suspect this would be the case with this model.

I am curious, is there something wrong with the sound from this SoundFX decoder? Too quiet, can’t be adjusted? Let us know why you want a 2nd speaker.

Hey simon1966, I think the sound is great. Was sitting by a Gevo es44dc the other day and the sounds are right on. Volume is definately loud enough, just curious about adding another speaker. Someone told me it might add a stereo effect. Sounds great as it is though.

The important thing to remember is the load. If you have an 8 ohm speaker, which is pretty much standard, and you add another speaker connected in parallel (electrically speaking ) then your resistance (load) will now be 4 ohms, and this might blow your decoder if it cannot handle the current draw. So check the specs on the decoder before you make any mods.

I haven’t seen one of these locomotives but I doubt very much that there is room for another speaker. Why do you want to add another speaker – it’s not going to improve your sound at all unless you can install one with a good baffle, and can do so without creating an impedance mismatch. Adding a speaker can burn out the decoder if it has not been specifically designed to drive two speakers.

The SoundFX decoder is rated to use 32 ohm speakers. That limits the choices for available speakers. You could use two 16 ohm speakers in series. That said, the next issue is placement. The Tower 55 loco has the single speaker in the fuel tank. It may be possible to add an additional speaker internally using an infinite baffle design. Check out http://www.litchfieldstation.com for infinite baffle design techniques.