MRC has two stationary locomotive sound systems: Sound Station 312 and Sound Box.
Does anyone have these systems installed on his layout and what is the experience with them What is the difference and is one better/more
realistic than the other.
Of course I know that DCC sound built in the locomotive is the best
available today but I decided to stick to straight analogue DC control.
Thanks for any information.
Compared to 24 bit 44.1 khz samples played back in Dolby 5.1?
[:D]
The Sound Station 312 is not synchronized with your locomotives. It is a stand alone unit with no connection to the rail or power pack. It appears to be from the same family as the MRC City/Country sound unit. I have that, and the samples are on the thin edge of credibility. The continuous sounds are so short that the looping pattern is obvious immediately, and invasive within a few minutes. Every once in a while, I’ll hit the church bell or the crickets, otherwise I don’t use it much.
The Sound Box is also sold as the MRC Synchro Sound, and it comes in both steam and diesel flavors. I have both, the sounds are ok, when run through a decent stereo system, you can punch them up a little with EQ controls.
I wi***he samples were higher fidelity, but I’m glad I bought it.
I have the diesel MRC Synchro Sound System. I only have two objections: the horns sound good, but there are only three choices; the diesel engine notch-up (if that’s what’s it’s called) is not near as smooth as on a real locomotive. The other sounds are good; well maybe the dynamic break is a little wierd, but who really needs it. All in all, for the price l’m not complaining.
MRC’s sound units are cheep and stationary.
BLI, and other’s are $100 - $200 and move with the train.
Soundtraxx’s ‘Throttle Up’ Div. made units that sound moved with the engine AND used a real speaker under the table @$400 plus speakers.
Soundtraxx’ has a moving SURROUND SOUND in the wings unit that will work with Digitrax DCC, and a Dolby 5.1 sound system - or better. Commercial Theater-in-the-home Surround Sound systems (Amp + 4 spkrs + Sub Woofer) are selling for $500 - $800, and really good sub-woofers (where the bass is) for $400 alone.
Really, MRC’s are little more than entry level 'boom boxes’that play RR sounds.
Just my two cents. Have MRC 312.First train set up with four trains and none of them are DCC.
Two of the trains are on ceiling tile as suggest by local train club. Hard to hear the effects when trains are running however can not to wait when I run them through an amp. (Wife may find out I’m into trains, I just told her it was another woman and she was okay with that.) Haven’t heard these other units described however this unit impressive for a complete novice.
Precisely. By buying into a stationary unit, you end up with orders of magnitude better sound that you only have to buy once, instead of a tiny speaker and amp for each locomotive you own at frankly ridiculous prices. For the cost of one DCC system and one decoder, you can set up a PC which, in addition to playback of samples at up to 192 khz sample rate in 24 bit depth, will also do things like reconstruct the processing chain for a Lexicon 900 studio reverb, for free.
If money is an issue, you can shake plaster off the ceiling with this THX certified system, at audiophile THD specs, for about $300:
http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?affid=301&item=E33562
I’m interested to see how Soundtraxx places the sounds in the 5.1 dispersion fields. Frankly I doubt the can, this is something that will vary from layout to layout. My best guess is that you’re going to end up with tinny treble from the locomotives as they move around the track, and mids ad bass from a stationary point under the layout.
With a PC, Cakewalk, several hours worth of downloading free audio processing plugins from KVR,
So Don, what’s your point?
MRC sound systems aren’t that great, but you can try it. The next best thing I guess would be DCC or a computer hooked to surround sound, but why get that carried away? Yea I dont know either! Good luck!