Have a new MRC Diesel decoder?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

If you have received a new Brilliance Diesel decoder, have you been
able to sort out which chimes and bells are appropriate for which
locomotives?

Regards

Hal

2

You need to research the prototype of the model you are installing it in to figure out what type of horn your railroad used on that model locomotive (assuming the model has the correct one - otherwise, check one of the various horn sites which has pictures of different types and match the one on your model). As for the bell, since most diesel bells aren’t highly visible, only a real nitpicker is going to be able to say “But the XYZ Railroad used ABC Bells, not PQR!” So if you can’t find the bell information (I have several diesel books wich mention what brand of horns were used, but none say a word about the bell!), pick the one you like the best.

–Randy

3

Can anyone comment on the sound quality of this decoder? Is is as good or nearly as a Soundtraxx DSX?

I realize that speaker quality, baffling and the enclosure structure design play an important part. However, I’ve noticed that low quality units sound poor, no matter how much baffling there is.

4

Tony’s Train Exchange has a quite extensive review of the new MRC Brilliance decoder on his web site at http://www.tonystrains.com

5

Thanks for replies.

Randy, my problem is a little different from what you addressed. I
can find out proto info. What I don’t know how to get is what MRC
chime number is what make or variety of chime. MRC gives no clue.
Experienced trainwatchers would probably know.

Antonio, I can only compare to QSI sounds in my three diesels, two
BLI and one Lionel. I would say about on a par. Some of the chimes
had audible sound sample loop points. The bell sounds do not have
the actuator (?) sounds you hear with QSI bells.

Regards

Hal