I am just starting a new HO layout and want it to be DCC. I bought a Digitrax Zephyr and have many engines that need decoder installation. I really want to add sound to most of these engines. I saw Soundtraxx and Dallee sound systems. Since I model Pennsy I am leaning toward Dallee. I need help from someone who is experienced with these systems. Any information on your experiences would be appreciated.
I have installed approximately 12 SoundTraxx systems in various locomotives, with mixed results. The decoders themselves are not as critical as the speaker. In order to get good sound with adequate volume, you must have room for at least a 1" speaker that is properly baffled. In a Bachmann Shay, for example, that’s impossible to do because a 3/4" speaker is the largest you can fit into it, and there is no room for a baffle.
I’m expectantly awaiting release of the new SoundTraxx Tsunami, which should give much better sound that the LC products. I have an A-B-B-A Proto 2000 E-8 Illinois Central passenger locomotive set with SoundTraxx DSD150 decoders, and the volume and quality of the sounds is very good because there was ample room for larger speakers and baffles. The Tsunami is supposed to improve on the DSD150.
Would oval speakers with the small dimension = the space available make a difference in the amount of bass available?
Judging by cacole’s answer would I be correct in thinking that you cannot fit sound to an N gauge loco, if this is the case can you buy them with factory fitted sound. [?][?]
James.
Check Tony’s Train Exchange (http://www.tonystrains.com) for good advice and information about the various types of speakers that are available for model railroading use, including N-scale and oval speakers. Tony’s even has speakers with baffles, and baffles that can be purchased separately. Also check http://www.allelectronics.com for a 1" round speaker that is already enclosed in a baffle.
Yes.
Befor you buy anything from Dallee I would talked to them to find out if they updated thier products. Last time I talked to them you could only have one sound playing at a time, so if you blew the horn / whistle the engine sound cut out until you were done. Also, you could not “play” the whistle, it was a recording and all you could do was pu***he button and it would play through the recording.
From what I found, I would would go with Soundtraxx or hold off until QSI releases sound decoders.
Search for a post that we did a while back about Dallee on this forum
I checked the Dallee site http://www.dallee.com/dc_electric.htm and it said, “Play the Horn the way #4877 did…Ring the bell with the blowers running or by itself sitting still.” I think I will make a phone call to be sure. Dallee costs about $100.00 for each decoder but the sounds match the Pennsy engines I have now (36). In addition can I run more then one engine at the same time with Digitraxx Zephyr or are additional throttles needed? Thanks for the help so far.
Does your Digitrax Zephyr have all the function keys, etc. to operate the sounds you want to operate? I know the larger Digitrax systems can handle it, but I have not looked at the Zephyr. Some entry level systems don’t have all the function keys you will need.
The zephyr has all the function keys.
I believe it is either 8 or 10 of them in fact. I am running the MRC sound decoders in my engines for now and they work well enough. They of course aren’t the prototypical sounds for the engines I have but they provide a decent sound and work well to control the locomotives I have.
MRC sound decoders don’t have nearly as many sounds and functions (12) that you get with SoundTraxx or QSI systems, and I don’t think the Dallee system does, either. The as-yet unreleased SoundTraxx Tsunami might be worth waiting for, since you will supposedly be able to choose from any type bell, whistle, air pump, injector, etc. that you need for a specific locomotive, and you can customize the sounds. The MRC sound system that I have heard cannot be changed in any way. The older SoundTraxx systems, particularly the “LC” (Low Cost) versions, were also limited.