QSI or Tsunami or ???

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

I recently purchased a BLI Blueline Cab Forward DC loco with factory sound and the sound system is disappointing to say the least. So far I have been unsucessful in getting the exhaust chuff to function and after some communication with BLI they have sent a read switch for me to fit. However in the mean time the static sounds (dynamo, pump, relief valve, etc) have developed irritating static (no pun intended) and then stopped working all together. (probably a poor connection to the speaker which is yet to be investigated).

I also have BLI Northern operating on DC with factory sound an it is superb and i like the fact it does not require a separate sound controller. Based on this experience I am seriously considering replacing the Cab Forward sound system with a QSI unit, but I have read some good reports on the Tsunami unit.

Do you need a separate controller to operate the Tsunami units or will it operate with the standard throttle like the QSI?

What are the experinces of others with QSI and Tsunami?

Which is considered better?

Which unit will fit straight into the Cab Forward without modifications?

Cheers

Philip

2

Tsunamis dont operate with a magic box in DC like other decoders. They are intended for the pure DCC market.

That being said, Tsunamis are the best sounding steam decoders out there by a landslide…

David B

3

Philip,

ESU Loksound might be another consideration for you. I don’t know for sure if they have a specific Cab Forward sound packet for their V3.5 decoder but it’s worth investigating. I’ve been very pleased with the two Loksound decoders I have.

Tom

4

Before I went to the draconian extent of replacing the supplied sound system (and I have done it a couple of times), I would make sure that the fault wasn’t easily corrected. Corrupted sound files are one thing, or sounds that don’t ring true, but if it is a connectivity problem, it should be easily tracked down. Have you seated the tender connector well? I use a wooden skewer and press hard on each side of the connector to fix intermittent sounds. A defective speaker can be replaced.

Most reports I have heard about BlueLine sound is quite enthusiastic. To get motive control, Digitrax or TCS decoders have won favour in the BlueLine crowd.

5

Here’s a comparison

http://qsisolutions.com/products/techinfo/revolution/q-revo_tsunami_comparison.html

6

Yeah, that looks really objective… It´s like if a Chevy magazine would make a comparison with a Ford.

7

Yes you have a good point but there is very little out there in the way of testing and

reviews

If you talke the time to read it you see he’s basicly telling the truth

I own both types of decoders and agree with most of what he says

The Revolution is more flexible The one feature i like is that you can Mute The Revolution in degrees

rather that all or nothing like the Tsunami

One thing he failed to mention with the Tsunami Heavy steam

You can choose between standard and articulated steam

I really like the way my articulateds go in and out of sync when operating

Both decoders are great and the differences are so subtle it’s really dealers choice

8

You are quite right an I intend to do this when I have time, but if a simple solution is not found then replacement is a distinct possibility.

The BLI Cab Forward is a great model which runs well and I want the sound to operate to match the loco’s looks.

Thanks for the comment.

Philip

9

Phillip

Here is a video of a Tsunami equipped H-8 so you can hear the articulated chuff sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyg_q_BIC2s

Here’s a video of a QSI Revolution A equipped Berkshire with a T-1 sound track

I think the T-1 whistle is the best on the market

But the Tsunami Chuff is better

The last part is the QSI Sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvx1M0uYqO4

10

Your comparision is invalid because the decoder you are using (Tsunami) is the wrong one for the OP’s locomotive.

Soundtraxx offers a Tsunami with Cabforward soundsets. It is a different chuff and the whistle is correct for the CFs.

David B

11

What i was trying to show him was the way the Tsunami Chuff goes in and out of sync

and the QSI Decoders don’t have this Ability

Yes Soundtraxx offers a cab forward version and the chuff sound is different but IT TOO goes in and out of Sync

Southern Pacific Cab Forward - includes classic SP whistles (and a few extra for variety) as well as the signature ‘aspirated’ airpump. Whistles included are:

  • Southern Pacific 6-Chime
  • Southern Pacific #4449 (whistle)
  • Southern Pacific #4449 (horn)
  • Frisco #1522
  • Norfolk & Western #1218
  • USRA 6-Chime

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?printable=Y&productid=999002769&cat=153&bestseller=Y

12

Philip, I am very happy with the sound of the 3 Blue Line I have, but they are diesels. Could be a bad decoder? This is the only post I have seen where someone did not like there Blue Line sound. One thing you could check is to see if a speaker has sucked up a rail spike. I am guessing the Cab Forward speakers are facing down like my PCM and BLI steamers. Mine have sucked up a few spikes and make them sound god awful.

Before I drop $100.00 on any new decoder I would look at better speakers as well.

C&O Fan (Terry) hated the sound from his H-8 with a Loksound decoder. Terry was so kind to send me the old decoder and speaker. Soon as I looked at the speaker Ii knew it was a piece of caboose. Had Ulrich Models up load Big Boy sounds into the decoder and bought the correct speakers for my PCM Big Boy and it sound great. Terry told me I would not be happy with it sound.

http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j284/cudaken/?action=view&current=BigBoySound.flv

It sound better now after I played with the CV’s. Yet to make new video.

I have heard only one Tsunami and it was in a Big Boy, I found it to be very lack luster. But, again it was more than likely the speakes.

Cuda Ken