Who makes the best steam engines with sound?
There are lots of answers to your question…lots…and everyone here will give you a different answer.
It would be easier to hear which type of steam loco you are most interested in…
And, of course it is very possible to install quality sound into any steam locomotive you can find.
David
I’ve got a Walthers Proto 0-6-0 and a BLI Hudson (4-6-4,) both with sound. I’m very happy with both of them.
I got the Hudson at Trainworld. They’re $159 now. Glad I bought mine earlier in the year when they were $129. Still, even at the new price it’s quite a bargain.
my personal choice is the Tsunami.I have about 15 engines with the Soundtraxx Tsunami,5 or 6 more with the early Soundtraxx sound that I plan on upgrading and another 5 or 6 with QSI sound(which is my second choice)…But I do like the "water stop"and short “toot” of the Tsunami.
I even had a Tsunami placed into my sound equipped Trix 2-8-2,which I enjoy running much more now.Thier whistle was annoying me with the lack of playability.
Do any of you have syncronized sound? Is it worth the extra trouble?
For sheer operation, Trix is hard to beat. Unfortunately, they only have a small assortment of US steamers available. (A 2-8-2 Mike and a 4-8-8-4 Big Boy.)
Proto 2000 is right up there with Trix in operation and they have a better selection of steamers. (0-6-0, 0-8-0, 2-8-8-2 Y-3, 2-10-2, 4-8-2 Berkshire) I have one of their 0-8-0 switchers (non-sound) and have been VERY happy with it’s low-end response and detailing.
BLI is also very good with very nice detailing, as well. They have the best selection of sound steam locomotives of the three mentioned.
Bachmann has just started to come out with sound on their locomotives. I believe that Soundtraxx is supplying the sound for them. If possible, stay clear of the MRC decoders for now. Most comments I’ve heard have not been very favorable on them.
For sound, Trix (ESU LokSound) and Proto 2000/BLI (QSI) I both like. With that said, I like some aspects about one over the other:
-
Chuff - I like the more “throatier” chuff of the LokSound decoder over the higher pitch of the QSI decoder. At lower speeds, the chuff on the LokSound does sound a bit truncated and digitized. However, once you are over speed step 010 or so, it blends together and has a more authentic and pleasant sound to me.
-
Whistle - QSI wins on this one. The LokSound version is “fixed” and only plays one way. The whistle feature on the QSI decoder you can play as short or long as you want. This works very well with the Doppler effect feature. (See below)
-
Bell - Pretty much dead even, although I would give a slight edge to QSI for the decay when turning that feature off. The bell on the LokSound decoder stops too abruptly.
Other subtle items are:
- ESU L
Do you mean a chuff cam?
If you can get it working reliably, then yes, it is well worth the effort.
David
i have a proto 2000 berkshire with qsi sound and i am very satisfied with it.
I have been doing the dcc and sound for about 2 years now. I can say that I have not had the issues that others have reported with the MRC synchro sound decoder. I have them both in steam and diesel. I like the steam version and I have put it into a Athearn Genesis 2-8-2 and also MDC/Roundhouse 2-6-0. Both were easy installs and run great.
I just purchased my first decoder installed steamer from Factory Direct Trains. It is the BLI 2-10-2 with the QSI sound. I have to say this is awesome. It looks and sounds great, I am now reworking the track to get it to run just as well.
Next week I will have the Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 with dcc and sound delivered. I will let you know what I think of that one when it arrives.
I do have to say that buying a locomotive with sound already installed is quite nice. With that being said I do like working on them also, so I will continue to do installs.
Jeff
Do any of these sound equipped steam engines come from the factory with a “Chuff Cam”?
None that I am aware of. This is typically a-user-installed option on aftermarket decoders. It isnt difficult to install, but it is very difficult to make it reliable.
David
I recommend sending that Bachmann product back as soon as you recieve it. Do NOT run it and send it back…it will temp you into buying tsunamis for all your steamers.
The difference between the MRC and Tsunami sound decoders is like comparing a K car with a Corvette…the latter is better in all respects except one…price.
Remember, you are comparing 8 bit vs 16 bit…it isnt just twice as much…it is exponential.
David
I have nothing else to compare it to, but I heard several cite the new Blackstone HOn3 K-27 w/ Tsunami sound as the best RTR steam sound. I hvae to agree.
They start with the Tsunami system (Blackstone is a subsidiary of Soundtraxx), then tuned it specifically to the K-27 installation. It utilizes an optical cam, so wheel slippage, as well as other sound, is quite artfully linked to the loco’s action. I run straight DC and all this great noise is available to me, without DCC, which could only make things better.
BTW, it’s also a great running locomotive at a very reasonable price.
I also bought one at $129. Liked it so much I bought another at the $159 price, with a different number.
I’m also thinking about a 2-8-4 Berkshire. How do they run. What curves will they take. What track reworking are you doing to accomodate it?
.
David,
Thanks for the advice, It is very tempting to send it back and save me a lot of pain and disappointment with my MRC decoders. I feel that it is time to see what everyone has been talking about (tsunami) and its great sound. The BLI 2-10-2 is really nice sounding compared to the MRC decoder. It has a QSI decoder and I had to turn the volume down.
Jeff
Any sound is better than no sound, IMHO.
I personally like the Tsunami sound best and will eventually replace the soundchips in all my steam locos with Tsunamis, as time and money allow.
here are a couple I’ve done already to give you an idea of the output
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MO-GhvtK1M
Jon
my layout has 22" and 24" curves and i run the p2k 2-8-4 berkshire. it seems to bind down a little on the 22" curves but runs perfect on the 24" curves. thouth p2k claims it can negotiate an 18" radius
Most of my curves are at least 24", but the freight yard has a lot of #4 switches. Thanks.