N&W J Spectrum with sound

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Just curious to know if anyone has seen these and hear them. The advertisement said they have a Tsunami sound installation.

The BLI version is very good and sound fairly correct with the new sound chip using the alternate chuff version. It would seem this is a good deal also if the Tsunami is included and installed in the spectrum model.

83902 N&W 606 1950s 1 $169

Thanks

CAZEPHYR

2

I wish I could provide an educated answer for you, but I can only urge you to think long and hard about passing up on the Factory Direct BLI version at the discount they offer. It is a smashing model…just not my choice of roads.

To give Bachmann its due, their Spectrum series has an excellent reputation, and the Tsunami is one aitch of a sound decoder.

If you can’t identify an immediate personal issue that separates the two for you, it pretty much comes down to price. The return policies are essentially identical, and the service departments are too close to call.

3

Selector, Thanks for the reply. In all fairness to both, the BLI is the best for my money overall, but I already have two of the BLI J’s with QSI sound and one of the later Spectrum J also without sound.

I was just surprised that you get the Spectrum with a Tsunami installed and questioned if it really is a standard heavy steam Tsunami and how it sounds. The Tsunami’s I already own all cost about eighty bucks each on discount from Tony’s and that would make the Spectrum a good deal if that was installed with a good speaker.

Sorry, I did not make this point clear.

Thanks

CAZEPHYR

4

From what I have read, the Tsunami decoders that are going to be used in Bachmann Spectrum locomotives are a custom product that does not have all of the features of a regular retail Tsunami. I would assume, for example, that the Bachmann version does not have all of the different whistle and bell sound options available that are found in the regular Tsunami.

5

Cacole

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking this deal seemed a little too good to be true. Maybe someone will be to hear one and review if for us.

CAZEPHYR

6

The Tsunami being provided to Bachmann should sound just as good as the retail version, depending on the quality and size of the speaker that Bachmann installs. It just won’t have the 100+ CVs that can be tweaked.

I doubt very seriously that SoundTraxx would risk giving the Tsumani a bad reputation by providing an inferior, poor-sounding product to Bachmann.

7

Thanks

I had not read any details on their using the Tsunami.

CAZEPHYR

8

Does anyone know if Bachmann will be offering upgrade decoders for their existing DCC equiped locos? I have a 2-8-0 that came with DCC (but no sound), and I’d like to get sound into it… Although I suppose I can just do it on my own as well. Any good links would be appreciated and I’m pretty new to this.

9

They should have some information on their web page about the details that we are looking for.