I have recently purchased two MRC 1629 steam loco sound decoders and have received one more as a replacement for one 1627 decoder that failed. When I tested these decoders, I found that pressing F4 key on the MRC Prodigy advance (or any other hand-held controller) produced a hissing steam sound instead of the short whistle sound that was shown in the instruction sheet. The 1627 decoder did indeed produce a short whistle sound for the same key. The bell sound for the 1627 was very reminiscent of the actual steam loco bell sound, but the 1629 bell was more like a diesel loco bell or, perhaps, like the bell of the Southern Pacific 4449 loco, a constant period bell sound. The 1629 decoder does continue the bell sound during the time the whistle is sounding, in contrast to that of the 1627, which is an advantage. Has anyone had the same results?
Yes, MRC soud decoders generally arent worth the box they come in. According to some though the ones in the Genesis F units are okay.
I wonder if I don’t have a case for refund of my payments on the basis that the product doesn’t perform as specified. I woould gladly have MRC exchange the 1627 for the 1629 decoders I have on hand. I don’t think the 1627s are too bad and I would gladly use them.
The MRC sound decoders in the Genesis F Units are the worst I have ever heard. I am changing mine out to something decent.
It’s so ironic that there’s a ad banner at the top of this page (it might have changed already) for MRC Decoders that reads “Brilliance” Sound Decoders - The Pinnacle Of Performance.
Give me a brake!
Considering how great their other model train control products are, it’s surprising, to me, to consistently hear about problems with MRC DCC decoders. MRC seems to be really getting off to a bad start entering the DCC market. If they keep getting bad word of mouth advertising on their decoders, no will want them even if they fix their quality problems.
That MRC banner is at the top of the page because MRC pays for it to be there –
I, too, have had nothing but horrible experiences with MRC decoders and will never purchase another, no matter what they do to them.
I don’t trust anything but SoundTraxx, especially their Tsunami; QSI; or LokSound from now on.
The instructions packed with the 1629 decoder are not correct. The table of CV functions provided cannot be used to program the decoder. It seems the engineers said they hadn’t changed anything so the old 1627 instructions were used. The good news? The 1629 decoder is much like the new Brillance steam decoder, with a few less options. Contact MRC (sorry, I’m TDY and don’t have the number handy) and they will send you the proper instructions (basically Brillance line instructions with blackouts). I have a 1629 running in Gordon the Big Express engine and it’s working fine.