I asked this question on one of the other forums, but thought I would ask here also. I received one of these MRC steam sound decoders as a promotion when I recently bought my MRC wireless DCC system. The older MRC decoders have not been recommended, but I figured this was free so I put it in a P2K USRA 2-8-8-2. My DCC experience is limited to the past several weeks, and the only sound I can compare this decoder to is what I hear at train shows. It seems on par with anything else I have heard. It came with a 1.1" speaker with a rear baffle. It was very easy to install in the P2K loco. It has a variety of selectable chuffs(24!), whistles, and bells as well as all the engine noises. The loco seems to perform fairly well.
The street price of this decoder is about 60-70% of the higher end decoders when you add in a speaker price. Since I am new to this DCC stuff, so I’m wondering if I am missing anything here before I maybe get a couple more as I finish adding decoders to my locos. Anyone else had experience with this decoder?
Check back in a month or so of running. We look forward to your “Why isnt my MRC decoder working anymore?” threads.
Personally, I think that you would be much better off with a Tsunami or a QSI-U for your steamers. Both are high quality and will serve you for many years to come. MRC decoders are feature-limited and have a very-high failure rate…hence why MRC gives them away when you buy their system. In my experience (professional installer) I figure upwards of 50% failure…and up to 90% after time used. When you factor in the failure rate, then the price tends to look less and less attractive. Spend the extra 30%.
David, you’ve gotta find a way to import your horse gif into your signature block. [:D]
To the OP, David has strong feelings about the MRC sound decoders, and I feel it is for a good reason. They get more bad reports on this and on other forums that we feel we can’t recommend them. Truthfully, some users here openly ask what all the fuss is about. They have good MRC sound decoders that serve them well. The problem is that for any one such poster, another 8 or 10 blow up in their posts expressing outrage that they have received a repaired decoder or engine and the decoder still doesn’t work. Decoder installers in many cases won’t install MRC decoders for what they feel are strong ethical reasons.
If you are attracted by a price, may I suggest that the price reflects the availability/supply of these lamentable items? Why is it that a QSI, LokSound, or Sountraxx Tsunami costs so much more? It is the law of supply and demand…demand meaning they are going like hotcakes…including to disgruntled, unfoolable, former MRC owners.
I have…euhhh…had two…one failed after twenty minutes (Athearn N Challenger) but…my Big Boy’s is still shining after four hours running.Still within the 50 % failure rate…
There are many many anti-MRC decoder threads in the archives, found via a search. I’ve got two in my Athearn Genesis Challenger and Big Boy (HO).
The Challenger’s, I’m pretty sure has “bought the farm” and is just sitting there ticking away. I’ll know for sure soon when my friend brings JMRI and his lap top over to reprogram it.
Athearn has since put Tsunami’s in these locos and I believe, the N scale versions as well. I asked them and posters here, to consider a discounted upgrade path to replace the crappy MRCs that have been so well known to be poorly made, engineered and undependable. No joy there. I’ll be saving up for Tsunami Heavy Steam decoders but not happy about it.
Ironically MRC makes great DC power packs but they just don’t seem to “get it” regarding DCC decoders . Even as a beginner, I’d recommend steering entirely clear of MRC decoders.
Thanks for the replies, folks. As Grimek noted, there are a ton of anti-MRC decoder threads. I do know of their reputation. The only reason I have this decoder is that is was a promotion and I was pleasantly surprised at how it worked.
My question asked if anyone else has tried this specific decoder (the #1823); my thinking being maybe MRC has figured out decoder technology.
Let me tell you my story of an MRC 1662 Diesel Sounder, the absolutely last MRC decoder that I will ever own.
After many bad experiences over the years with burned up or defective MRC decoders of all types, including 5 out of 6 of their very first decoder being defective right out of the box, I decided to give MRC the benefit of the doubt and see if they had really improved like their hyperbole seems to indicate in their advertised claims of being “The world leader in DCC sound technology.”
I always test a decoder before installation. The Sounder would do nothing but emit a single click sound about every 10 seconds. I sent an e-mail to MRC and a representative answered that they would waive their normal $10 repair fee, and to send the decoder back to them.
When it was returned to me one month later, it looked like a kindergarten child had attempted to replace some of the surface mount resistors and capacitors on the board, they were so crooked and poorly soldered. Come to think of it, maybe a kindergarten child could have done a better job.
Anyway, the sound works now, if you could really call it sound. To me, it’s more like screeching and there’s no way to turn down the volume. The decoder gets so hot within 10 seconds that you cannot touch it without asbestos gloves. I’ll never install it because it would definitely melt a plastic locomotive shell; and I’ll never, ever, touch another MRC decoder.
Many here including myself have posted our disgruntlement with regards to MRC decoders and tier sound decoders being ore specific, but! I must stand corrected and some what respectfully disagree with David B. MRC sound decoders are in fact USEFUL!
Every night I take one down off the shelf and put it in my back pocket and walk out side with my FOUR count em FOUR very large dogs to let them burn off some steam and head natures call. If on the way back up to the house I just happen to step in some of natures call I just pull out my trusty MRC sound decoder out of my back pocket and scrape what for off the bottom of my boot. So just like a broken clock which tells the correct time twice in a day MRC decoders do in fact have a useful purpose.
The OP stated MRC #1823 which is the newest MRC sound decoder designed to fit 9 pin HO steam ( they also make one for diesel ) . He did not say anything about the older bad mouthed DCC decoders mfg by MRC.
This is a pic of the new #1823 MRC sound decoder. this pic is MRC ad.
This next pic is my pic.and notice that ALL five capacitors are soldered very nice and neat.
MRC #1823 specs.
• 24 types of synchronized chuff sounds
•
Double chuff enabling
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1.5 amp capacity
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34 different types of whistles and 7 types of bells
