I’m thinking about doing a small N-Scale layout next to my O layout, but was wondering what sound options exist out there for N-Scale trains. I understand there are plenty of loco’s the you can add DCC too, but what about sound?
There are very few loco’s that come with sound as of yet, but it’s getting better all the time. PCM has their E units with sound, and Athearn has the Challenger. Other then that, I don’t know of any others for off the shelf. But there’s not much to stop you from adding sound to say, a B unit diesel, or maybe a steamer with a large empty tender. Lots of folks even make a head end car the sound carrier and just leave it connected to the loco all the time. From a coupe of feet away you really can’t tell. The sound just sounds like it’s coming from the front of the train.
MRC makes a decoder for certain Kato engines that has a speaker made on the board. Don’t know about availability, I don’t have any Kato engines and I don’t trust MRC decoders. The older Lifelike E-6AB set comes with an unpowered B unit but has power pickups that would make a good sound platform. MRR did a review on Aztec frame with an Atlas engine and a board replacement sound decoder. Aztec does do various frame milling, I don’t have their website address.
Gary
I have two of the MRC sound decoders for Kato engines (1644). Both of them I had to send back to MRC for repairs (the sound died after about 5 min of use). It appears they just sent me back two new decoders (probably a bad first run). Anyway, the two new ones are running fine and I really do enjoy having sound (moble) on the layout. Makes a big difference. Having said that, I don’t think I will ever buy another MRC decoder.
Hope this helps.
Peter
I don’t often trash a product I dont have and can’t vouch for…
…but the general consensus seems to be that whatever skill MRC showed in designing its DCC operating system didn’t carry over to the decoders. Everyone I’ve heard from that’s used them says they’re junk.
True or not, I’ve heard enough bad about them to cause me to think twice. It’s too bad, too, because I have a Kato E8 that would work with their N scale sound drop-in board.
I have a n atlas GP-40 (Guilford) that I want to put a sound decoder in just to get some experience with the technology. However, I have heard about problems with the MRC decoders too and I figure I will wait a year or so and by then hopefully they will have worked out the bugs. The one I really want to put sound into is my Bachman 2-8-0 but I have not seen anything about doing that online yet.
I have heard sound on HO locomotives and have generally been dissapointed. I really think it needs to be coupled with an under-layout subwooder to provide a more complete and satisfying sound. I know its not “scale” but if my trains are going to make noise, I want them to make loud, full noise!
Chris
I have an Atlas N scale GP40-2 with an MRC 1636 sound decoder installed. The sound is ok, although not exactly awesome - how much bass do you expect from a 5x10mm speaker? But the dynamic performance of the engine doesn’t measure up to the rest of my fleet. I have more than a dozen other engines, with Lenz, Digitrax, and the Atlas factory-installed decoders (also by Lenz) All have much smoother starting acceleration and better low-speed performance than the MRC-equipped loco. I’m planning to replace it with a non-sound decoder soon. I’ve gotten feedback from several other guys who said they got the same poor performance from MRC decoders. I suggest you search for “MRC decoder” on this forum for more opinions. They’re not well-regarded.
-Walleye
Thanks for all the info, it gives me something to think about.
I seldom use the sound feature – just when visitors show up. But comparing the scale sound of my Athearn Challenger with the full range sound of my MRC unit, I prefer the scale sound. It seems rather ridiculous to hear a full volume whistle from a tiny N scale locomotive.
I’ve been turning off my sound more often these days too. It can get monotonous on a small layout. My sound decoders are HO scale and mounted under the layout rather than onboard. Cheesey, yes, but visitors like it and so do my kids.
But sometimes I just enjoy listening to the clickety-clack of metal wheels on railjoints.
N scale sound is tricky not just because of size constraints (and the corresponsing issue of speaker-size vs sound quality and range) but because of “scale sound.” Most N scale models are viewed from a foot or two away, which in N scale would be 200 or so feet away. Yes, trains are still loud 200 feet away, but as Ham points out, that level of sound seems a little strange coming from such a tiny locomotive.
Sound may be here to stay, but there are times when I just want silence.