If a loco is DCC equiped but without sound

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1

To add sound, does one replace the existing decoder or do they make separate decoders for sound only? Thanks.

2

There are sound systems for locomotives that work both ways – replace the decoder that is already in it, or add a sound-only decoder if it and the speaker will fit. Some of the newer decoders from Digitrax have a sound add-on called the sound bug.

Which you can use depends on the locomotive you’re wanting to equip with sound.

3

I suspect you are interested in diesel but try to be more speific on brand and type of engine.

I have a Bachmann Spectrum 4-4-0 that comes with a speed control only decoder. I removed the decoder and installed a Micro-Tsunami decoder. The tender is ready for a one inch OD speaker.

http://www.soundtraxx.com/

Roundhouse steamers come with decoders or DCC ready. Add your own speaker and decoder.

Rich

4

Thanks guys. That answers my questions. I should have specified On30, but since I only have one Loco (a Porter) right now, I really just wondered in general what the options were.

5

On second thought, I have another question: If I use an add-on sound decoder, say, in a box car behind the engine, does this decoder need to be connected to the engine’s decoder?

6

A SoundTraxx DSX sound-only decoder does not need to be co-located with the motor control decoder, but you must have some way of getting track power to it. With On30, there should be room in the tender for a DSX sound-only decoder, and you would connect it to the same wires as the motor control decoder.

If you put the DSX in a trailing boxcar, you must provide some method of electrical pickup to the wheels.

If it were my engine, I’d get a SoundTraxx Tsunami and put it in place of the motor decoder that is in the tender. The Tsunami sound is far superior to the DSX and there is a Tsunami made specifically for the On30 models.

7

Gotcha. Thanks, Cacole.

8

I would avoid the DSX decoder and buy a Micro Tsunami as mentioned earlier. The DSX is an old, old unit and cant compare to the Tsunami. That being said, I will only install Tsunamis in steam locomotives for customers, never anything else. It replaces what-ever DCC decoder that comes with the loco.

David B